Buying a boat for use on the sea

[will2k]

Hi, I'm new to wakeboarding but have become totally hooked and as a result am selling my Extreme and looking to buy a wakeboard specific boat. I can see there has been a lot of discussion here on this subject but I can't find any conclusions ... (although I read a few of the threads)!

I wakeboard in either Poole harbour or in Poole bay depending on sea conditions. I've decided that I want a proper w/b boat with shaft (not I/O), but like others I'm concerned about suitability.

So far, from the research I've done, the MC Maristar is my favourite. I see there has been some chat around the Maristar .. can anyone offer an opinion/advice on using the Maristar for sea use? I would be looking to spend up to 15k, so I guess I'd be looking at one approx 7-9 years old ..

Any help greatly appreciated!

[j3r3m7]

w2k,

Well I might be able to help out with impressions of Maristars for sea use as I've just bought one ;-) Also, should be able to assist with the thought process that you may go through as it'll probably be similar what I've just done.

From my perspective a lake wakeboard boat needs the following, in rough order of importance: awesome wake, direct or vdrive, tower, ballast, sound system, safety features, resale value, style.

After pondering on a suitable boat for the sea I came up with: safety, rough water handling + deep v hull, either vdrive or IO, closed water cooling, wake, tower, ballast, sound system, resale, style.

As you can see safety came to the top of the list along with the associated features of rough water handling and a deep v hull. Although you start out with an ideal of glassy lake like water you're more likely to find a bigger swell than you'd hoped for so all the wake features nudge down the list as safety come to the front. Obviously if you ride only when it's super flat you might prefer a more hardcore wake boat but you'll be able to work out what you're likely to be doing.

I had a test run in my new?(99) Maristar 230 recently with Tower Boy on board for his sea going skills... and it was distinctly lively out there in the Bristol channel. He gave the Maristar a thumbs up which was good considering he's owned and run a number of runabouts and an Air Nautique. I've gone and sprained my ankle so am hopping around unable to get fully out an enjoy the boat but will report back as soon as I'm able ;-)

[will2k]

Cool .. thanks for the info, I think the Maristar is a good choice as it has a fair bit of freeboard and a fairly deep v at the front of the hull. I've seen a couple of 225 VRS's? 1995/6 that look like they could be OK - Are they similar to the newer ones? i.e will the wake be similar to yours (seeing that it got the thumbs up!)

What is the ride like in small chop?

[will2k]

Hi, any news on this? I've sold my old boat so have the cash ready now. Still think a Maristar is the way to go, maybe looking to import one from the U.S.

Would like to know about anyone who has a Maristar, or anyone who boards in the salty stuff that cn give advice .. thanks.

[saltwater_cowboy]

You'll do well with a maristar. My maxum 210ss hull is almost identical to a 225VRS and handles the Essex coast with ease.

I was looking at several maristars before I got mine and they are great boats. Depending on your budget and amount of people you take with you you may find the 200VRS a little small but the 225 is a good bet 22ft with built in swim platform it will seat up to 12 and have plenty of room for ballast.
If your importing one expect to pay about £1500 - £2000 RORO shipping costs ohg and try to find one on a galv'ed trailer. A typical US painted one will last about 5 years in the saltwater.

[will2k]

Hi, cheers for reply. Been out looking at a few more boats, Maristars just seem to be too hard to find and I'm alos concerned about using shaft where I do my boarding. What I/O boat can people recommend. I looked at a Maxum 2000 SR3 last week and it certainly looked good etc. I looked at a Four Winns today which was also nice. How good can you make the wake from a normal bowrider, say Searay/Maxum type boat? Is it true that they will never make as good as wake as a wakeboard specific boat? The For Winns I looked at was onlt 18 feet, but seemed reallty spacious and well built, it also had a nice big lock up for a nice ballast set up. Do you think 18 feet is too small, in that the wake won't be too good?