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Skierdad

Jet Boat Junkie
Messages
177
Reaction score
106
Points
132
Location
Bismarck, ND
Boat Make
Yamaha
Year
2019
Boat Model
AR195
Boat Length
19
Good morning everyone. Former AR195 owner that left for a Malibu 23 LSV and can honestly say I regret that decision. Should have stayed with the jetboat. After 3 summers and numerous issues with the Malibu I am back here thinking of the jetboat route, but this time either a 222 FSH or 255 FSH. I believe I can put a wakebooster plate on either one of these and still surf with some help. And would like the option of having a trolling motor on the bow for some fishing.

Hope you are all doing well.
 
Good morning everyone. Former AR195 owner that left for a Malibu 23 LSV and can honestly say I regret that decision. Should have stayed with the jetboat. After 3 summers and numerous issues with the Malibu I am back here thinking of the jetboat route, but this time either a 222 FSH or 255 FSH. I believe I can put a wakebooster plate on either one of these and still surf with some help. And would like the option of having a trolling motor on the bow for some fishing.

Hope you are all doing well.
Welcome back!
 
I was just reading on the Malibu FB group last night about all the post-covide build issues. On person stated that his dealer even took him aside to warn him to wait a few more seasons to get into one. What a phenomenal way to ruin a brand...

What were the issues you ran into?

Anyway, welcome back!
 
Mine was a 2014 with only 400 hrs on it. That boat has been my dream boat for a long long time and this one was showroom condition by a very particular owner (like no shoes in the boat particular). That 6.2 liter corvette engine would blow O2 sensors often, computer issues, water pump, etc.. Each time it was a month loss of a boat. We have 3 months of boating season. Losing a boat for a month every summer while making payments to a loan, storage fee (since my garage door wasn't tall enough), winterization fee, $900 insurance, was just a killer.

I loved our AR195. It was probably the perfect family boat but you have to "drive" them so much more than a dedicated "tow" boat. The Malibu was simple to drive, casted a great wake, but I never lost an hour or a day in my Yamaha.

I am thinking of the FSH 222. I moved to a place where I can be on the Missouri River or the big lake. I like to fish a bit and the kids are older and off to college. I will put a wakebooster on it and probably store a bag or two to fill up if need be. I can fish and waterski. Kids can surf or wakeskate if they want. Just need to figure out a trolling motor with quick release and then a higher tow point for pulling things. If I can make that work, I think the FSH series will be a perfect blend.

It is crazy. Growing up on a 17'6" Larson, then I bought my first boat which was a 1994 Ski Ray 175 hp outboard (waterskiing and barefooting), then onto a Mastercraft Prostar, the AR195, then the Malibu.....and possibly back to a jetboat if the stars align.
 
Mine was a 2014 with only 400 hrs on it. That boat has been my dream boat for a long long time and this one was showroom condition by a very particular owner (like no shoes in the boat particular). That 6.2 liter corvette engine would blow O2 sensors often, computer issues, water pump, etc.. Each time it was a month loss of a boat. We have 3 months of boating season. Losing a boat for a month every summer while making payments to a loan, storage fee (since my garage door wasn't tall enough), winterization fee, $900 insurance, was just a killer.

I loved our AR195. It was probably the perfect family boat but you have to "drive" them so much more than a dedicated "tow" boat. The Malibu was simple to drive, casted a great wake, but I never lost an hour or a day in my Yamaha.

I am thinking of the FSH 222. I moved to a place where I can be on the Missouri River or the big lake. I like to fish a bit and the kids are older and off to college. I will put a wakebooster on it and probably store a bag or two to fill up if need be. I can fish and waterski. Kids can surf or wakeskate if they want. Just need to figure out a trolling motor with quick release and then a higher tow point for pulling things. If I can make that work, I think the FSH series will be a perfect blend.

It is crazy. Growing up on a 17'6" Larson, then I bought my first boat which was a 1994 Ski Ray 175 hp outboard (waterskiing and barefooting), then onto a Mastercraft Prostar, the AR195, then the Malibu.....and possibly back to a jetboat if the stars align.
Interesting you had that many issues with an older boat - I always thought they were pretty bullet proof. Either way, if you're main body of water is a river (like us on the Wisconsin River), jet boats are the way to go.
 
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