Opinions needed re:Purchase of a 2007 20V

[z.beer]

As you can see I am very new to this site and I am contemplating buying a buddy of mines 2007 20V with 13 hours on it. He bought it at end of last season. It looks like he added various items for the long run but due to his cluster headache problem worsening severely over the last few months he has offered to sell it to me at a very good price compared to other 07 20V's I have seen on craigslist etc. You know the owner as 1Lab.
He is not putting it on the open market. He would rather do a private sale to others he boated with over the years. He sent me here because he seems to value opinions from this site and he did not want to bias my decision on his opinion alone
He has added a couple of Wet Sounds Tower Speakers, Dual batteries with Perko switch, a Blue Sea Isolator, front cleats in the bow area, an Ipod interface, a spare prop and a spare impeller. Factory options include E Tower with racks, Custom Vanguard Trailer, Premium stereo upgrade, 340HP MP, Transom remote, possibly a teak deck, flushing kit, Speed Set, Adjustable Driver Seat base, bimini top, custom colors, shark eye nav lights and a bow/cockpit cover set.
I have ridden in it and it seems very sporty with great handling. It accelerates very well. One thing that concerns me is handling in rough water since it is a 20ft. boat. Lakes by me in the weekend are rough due to being shallow. It looks like the wake would be good for recreational skiing and beginning wakeboarding which my kids an older grandkids want to try. Without ballast can you wakeboard behind it?
I really am trying to get opinions on the 20V! I know he has some warranty issues to deal with and he indicated he would care for them before he sold it.
So in a nutshell what is the forums general opinion of the 20V? How much better are the 2008 and 2009 models? How much do you think Jim’s 20V is worth?
Also I really don't need rhetoric on Jim/! 1Lab. We have been friends since the 70’s and I know him well. He would give the shirt off his back for a friend but does no tolerate bs and back stabbing among other things.

Zach

[Lucky 275]

Wow only 13 hrs. It will handle well in rough water compared to other 20ft boats. It's pretty heavy. It's a nice v-drive. Looks like the only thing you'll need to add in the future is Ballast, and if it gets real rough you can fill up the front ballast for an even better ride. I don't know what a fair price would be for a 20V, but you might check Kelly Blue Book.

[chpthril]

The 20v is an awesome boat, and one of the best riding towboats in that size range IMO. Throws a great surf wake, skies well, and can put out a good wakeboard wake with some ballast added. Without ballast, this wake will be alot friendlier for beginners and youngsters, but anyone with skill can board behind anything. Lots of storage in the rear as well.

The differences between the 07 and the 08/09 are minor (other then the PCM motor for 09) so the construction of the boat is still just as solid as it was.

Unfortunately, with the market today, a fair price and what the boat is worth, may be a few grand apart.

[jwanck11]

Are you near the boat?? If so, I imagine that you'd be able to test it out and answer your own questions regarding performance and safety. As for the value, best to search craigslist, ebay, onlyinboards, etc and see what others are selling their boats for.

For reference, I would also suggest visiting a dealer and taking other boats out as well - tiges or otherwise - to make sure you are going to end up with what you really want.

Good Luck.

[akdoc]

z,

We had a 2004 Switch V before upgrading to a 24ve. The boat is solid, we rode all over the Lake of the Ozarks with it, and it is a very rough lake! The wakesurf wake can be solid, the ski wake is good and the wakeboarding wake with ballast is sufficient, not huge but good enough!

On another note, tell 1lab he needs to go see a chiropractor/acupuncturist and I bet he will get relief. Hell, if he wants to come to Overland Park Kansas I will treat him!!

[Paublo]

For comparison purposes, our local dealer has a left over '07 20V that can be had for $38k w/ a good trailer and most standard accessories- speed set, bimini, cover, tower, stereo, etc.- but probably not as loaded as that one.

[dogbert]

The 20v is a good solid boat and Tige has sold plenty of them. Jim's boat is basically brand new and not even had it's 20 hour service. Judging from his posts, he's a meticulous guy so I'm sure it's well cared for. Too bad he wasn't able to enjoy it.

If you can get a good deal on it, I'd go for it.

[xpjim1]

I lived my 02 20V. It was very solid in rough water. Unfortuneatley after we bought it, I had a bunch of new friends. Needed to get larger boat.

[z.beer]

z,

We had a 2004 Switch V before upgrading to a 24ve. The boat is solid, we rode all over the Lake of the Ozarks with it, and it is a very rough lake! The wakesurf wake can be solid, the ski wake is good and the wakeboarding wake with ballast is sufficient, not huge but good enough!

On another note, tell 1lab he needs to go see a chiropractor/acupuncturist and I bet he will get relief. Hell, if he wants to come to Overland Park Kansas I will treat him!!

I will let him know about acupuncture and chiropractic but right now he is bad enough that he might be admitted again to deal with getting the pain down thru chemicals for better living.

[z.beer]

Are you near the boat?? If so, I imagine that you'd be able to test it out and answer your own questions regarding performance and safety. As for the value, best to search craigslist, ebay, onlyinboards, etc and see what others are selling their boats for.

For reference, I would also suggest visiting a dealer and taking other boats out as well - tiges or otherwise - to make sure you are going to end up with what you really want.

Good Luck.

Since I know Jim, he has already taken me out and I have skied the boat and driven it but not in rough water which was my concern before the replies from a bunch of you. I like the solid feel of the boat and how it drives. The only change I would do to it is add an FAE. Jim was planning on doing it but never was able to get to it.

I have also looked at brands like Supra, Mastercraft, Correct Craft and for the money his Tige comes in hands down if I look at it as new boat which it is except for Lifetime Warranty issues. One thing I do not like is the way the vinyl bunches up in the corners and in the very front of the bow. He is trying to get that cared for but I am not crazy about it since he has barely used the boat. There are a couple more interior issues where under the seats where the seams attach to the backing that the seams are twisted and the staples have pulled out.

Thanks all for the feedback on the ride. That was my only concern. We went out on a fairly normal day with some boat traffic and wind chop but I don't consider that rough.

Low hour 07's I have seen range from $39500 to $42000. I am not worried about the deal he cuts me because he will have those numbers researched to hell and back for me.

[xpjim1]

z.beer
Out of curiousity do you own a boat already? Inboards handle a little diferrently than IO's. A little diferrent for launching docking etc. If you have not already I would make sure you experience that part of boating.

On a plus note my 20V was a pice of cake at that. My 24V sometimes has a mind of its own and does not cooperate

[da.bell]

Since I know Jim, he has already taken me out and I have skied the boat and driven it but not in rough water which was my concern before the replies from a bunch of you. I like the solid feel of the boat and how it drives. The only change I would do to it is add an FAE. Jim was planning on doing it but never was able to get to it.

I have also looked at brands like Supra, Mastercraft, Correct Craft and for the money his Tige comes in hands down if I look at it as new boat which it is except for Lifetime Warranty issues. One thing I do not like is the way the vinyl bunches up in the corners and in the very front of the bow. He is trying to get that cared for but I am not crazy about it since he has barely used the boat. There are a couple more interior issues where under the seats where the seams attach to the backing that the seams are twisted and the staples have pulled out.

Thanks all for the feedback on the ride. That was my only concern. We went out on a fairly normal day with some boat traffic and wind chop but I don't consider that rough.

Low hour 07's I have seen range from $39500 to $42000. I am not worried about the deal he cuts me because he will have those numbers researched to hell and back for me.

You can get a new 20v from trivalleymarine for $38k. Why would you buy a used 20v that will have a limited warranty when you can have new with a lifetime warranty. I am sure you can get it transported to your location. But again, how much is 1lab/Jim selling it for? I understand that you are his friend, but you can get a better deal with a better warranty out of this for less money I am sure.

[Bandsecurity]

I saw a used 20v on this site for $29k today. I think it was an 06 or 07.

[z.beer]

z.beer
Out of curiosity do you own a boat already? Inboards handle a little differently than IO's. A little diferrent for launching docking etc. If you have not already I would make sure you experience that part of boating.

On a plus note my 20V was a pice of cake at that. My 24V sometimes has a mind of its own and does not cooperate

I have an older SeaRay I/O that is a bit underpowered but I have driven numerous inboards. The only thing I would need to get used to is docking and slow speed maneuvering again. Numerous friends we go Air chairing with have Mastercrafts and Supras and a Malibu or two. Tige is new in our market with the one dealer at Lake Delavan.

[Bandsecurity]

it was a 2006
http://onlyinboards.com/Details.aspx?ID=578165