Thoughts and demo rides of wake / towsports boats: Moomba Max, Axis A22, MB Sports

[OrangeTJ]

Sweeeeeeeet!

 

[haknslash]

Just pulled the trigger on a new 2017 Moomba Helix. I'll report back on how it compares to our 2008 212X, but I was exceptionally impressed on the demo ride.

Awesome man! You'll love it I'm sure. I was going to demo a Helix earlier this summer but they ended up selling it. It was completely blacked out and looked sweet! Would be a pain to keep an all black boat clean and water spotless but man it looks killer! Be sure to keep us posted. Drop in some 1200 lb bags in the rear and a 700 lb up front and the wave really comes alive on them from what I've read and seen pics of on the Moomba forum.

 

[spatty99]

Extremely excited, should be here late next week, counting the days. It has the surf package, so 2100 pounds of factory ballast.

 

[OrangeTJ]

2100 lbs is a good start. I bet you'll end up with a ton more (literally)!

 

[haknslash]

Yup you’ll want to use a bit more if you want to go a more powerful and bigger wave from it. Those boats like to have a lot of bow weight so be sure to fill the bow sac. The rear 750’s should be swapped for the 1200 bags if you got some extra cash. Set the wake plate up and have surf tab no more than 60% and should be a good starting point.

What color and gel scheme did you get?

 

[d_coyne1984]

My buddy has a Supreme S211. I have never surfed it before, but it the first time I hit the wake on a wake board I almost shat myself. It's wake is huge and super peaky! The Supreme's also have the ram fill, but I think they call it quick-fill and it is awesome to fill in no time and go. I feel like the build quality is excellent; miles ahead of my Yamaha. I have never checked out the Moomba's before, but I think with everyone's praise that I might need to. I hope to upgrade in a couple years.

A note on the Malibu's/Axis: I have a friend who is one of those guys who knows EVERYONE and has been on every wake boat out there. He has told me from a source within the Malibu network that they build in about $10k of expected warranty costs to their boats. Their business plan is quantity and marketing over quality. Now I am sure someone will want to defend the brand, so I am not saying they are junk or that they are not a tone of fun, I just know where I would put my money.

The same buddy hooked me up with an afternoon on a 2018 Supra SL and that is one sweet boat. I would say it is on par with the Centurion's I've been in. If that boat is any representation of what the Moomba's can offer, I am very intrigued.

 

[haknslash]

The Supreme boats are very nice! They are Centurions "budget/entry level" wake boat. You get the same build quality and process as Centurion just less bells and whistles and interior appointments. The Supremes don't have Ram Fill but they do have Quick Fill. With Quick Fill there are gates on the transom below the waterline that open to fill and also drain the ballast. MB Boats also use a Quick Fill system like found on the Supremes. Ram Fill is a Centurion exclusive which has a large duct made into the keel of the boat just before the driveshaft area towards the front. Inside the duct are two large gates that open on command to literally force water into the tanks as you drive. Takes them less than a minute to fill thousands of lbs of ballast! I think Centurion likes to keep the Ram Fill and CatS technology for their higher end boats and leave it more simple for the Supreme helping keep costs lower. The Supreme boats have really nice interiors these days and have come along. They also ride really nice as they have a deep v hull.

 

[spatty99]

It's the plain red and white. Not my ideal choices, but found a great deal on a holdover in stock, so still super pleased.

I'll be easing into all that ballast, it is quite the difference!

 

[haknslash]

As an Alabama fan I like the red and white . Excited for ya!

I was supposed to check out the Makai today but weather is not going to cooperate so I guess it'll be next weekend.

 

[2kwik4u]

I can confirm the Centurions ride super smooth. Even through some significantly choppy water at the Lake Cumberland Poker run two years ago. Rollers in the 2-3ft range, and I sat in the bow with zero concerns about bouncing out while on plane. It's a really nice boat......and it damn well better be considering it costs over 50% of my house!

 

[OrangeTJ]

The boat is gorgeous! Congrats! What do you mean by "easing into" the ballast? For wakeboarding? Or for surfing? For surfing, you're going to want to run all of it (and don't be surprised/disappointed if it turns out that even more would be good). For wakeboarding - yeah, be careful. We frequently run with no ballast at all for wakeboarding behind my MB and the wake is still plenty tall & steep to boot riders up and across.

 

[spatty99]

Will be easing into wakeboarding for sure, and will see how the surf wave looks stock. I'm a heavy rider, so it looks like another ~600 pounds is simple plug and play.

 

[haknslash]

Local dealer now has 2 Makai's in stock! Hope to go check out the red and black one soon. Dealer called me during the week to come demo it but we don’t have time this weekend to get down there.

Blue and black https://www.skiersmarine.com/default.asp?page=xInventoryDetail&id=6056214&p=1&make=moomba&s=Year&d=D&fr=xAllInventory



Red and black. This one looks real sharp! https://www.skiersmarine.com/default.asp?page=xInventoryDetail&id=6179909&p=1&make=moomba&s=Year&d=D&fr=xAllInventory



They also have this sweet 2019 Max that I love the platinum white bottom hull, blue flake with black top! https://www.skiersmarine.com/default.asp?page=xInventoryDetail&id=5976847&p=1&make=moomba&s=Year&d=D&fr=xAllInventory

 

[DavisAR195]

Local dealer now has 2 Makai's in stock! Hope to go check out the red and black one soon. Dealer called me during the week to come demo it but we don’t have time this weekend to get down there.

Blue and black https://www.skiersmarine.com/default.asp?page=xInventoryDetail&id=6056214&p=1&make=moomba&s=Year&d=D&fr=xAllInventory

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Red and black. This one looks real sharp! https://www.skiersmarine.com/default.asp?page=xInventoryDetail&id=6179909&p=1&make=moomba&s=Year&d=D&fr=xAllInventory

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They also have this sweet 2019 Max that I love the platinum white bottom hull, blue flake with black top! https://www.skiersmarine.com/default.asp?page=xInventoryDetail&id=5976847&p=1&make=moomba&s=Year&d=D&fr=xAllInventory

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How much do these Run $$$? Also on a side note I was talking with on the service tech’s here in Oregon and was telling me the new Indmar motors have a design flaw with the O2 sensors at least in the new Malibu’s.

 

[haknslash]

How much do these Run $$$? Also on a side note I was talking with on the service tech’s here in Oregon and was telling me the new Indmar motors have a design flaw with the O2 sensors at least in the new Malibu’s.

The Max starts at $63k and the Makai starts at $80k. Expect to add about $4k to outfit them with all the surf/wake enhancement options you likely would want to add. Anything else is personally suiting the boat how you like it. By comparison the 2019 212X and 242X are $61k and $77k respectively.

Newer Malibu’s (and Axis) come with GM engines http://investors.malibuboats.com/press-releases/press-release-details/2016/Malibu-Boats-Inc-Announces-Engine-Vertical-Integration-Initiative/default.aspx

The Indmar Raptor engines are used in many different boat manufacturers. I think there were some early on O2 issues on some boats mfgs but not all. All boats will have their share of issues but it’s general consensus the Raptor engines are pretty reliable and offer some of the best power to fuel economy in this class of boat. I have driven both the 6.0L GM/PCM Monsoon powerplant and the 6.2L Indmar/Raptor and there is a noticeable difference in power (torque) and I would take the Raptor even if it’s noticeably louder than the PCM. It never had issue getting on plane with 3,000 lbs while the GM struggled big time and took forever to plane out.

 

[swatski]

Local dealer now has 2 Makai's in stock! Hope to go check out the red and black one soon. Dealer called me during the week to come demo it but we don’t have time this weekend to get down there.

Blue and black https://www.skiersmarine.com/default.asp?page=xInventoryDetail&id=6056214&p=1&make=moomba&s=Year&d=D&fr=xAllInventory

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Red and black. This one looks real sharp! https://www.skiersmarine.com/default.asp?page=xInventoryDetail&id=6179909&p=1&make=moomba&s=Year&d=D&fr=xAllInventory

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They also have this sweet 2019 Max that I love the platinum white bottom hull, blue flake with black top! https://www.skiersmarine.com/default.asp?page=xInventoryDetail&id=5976847&p=1&make=moomba&s=Year&d=D&fr=xAllInventory

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This is boat porn!

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[haknslash]

DO you have any pics? - of the stern/hull!

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I wanted to update as one of these pontoon boats popped up recently at a guys shop. Got a decent pic of the boat where you can see the hull a little better. Doesn't seem like a pontoon at all other than decking since there are no toons that I can tell. It looks like it would slap pretty hard on a windy or rough day. IMO it's pretty hideous but that's in the eye of the beholder.

 

[MattFX4]

Look at this beast. Wonder how well it surfs?

 

[haknslash]

Chaparral has been using Malibu's Surf gates since they came out with their surf lineup a few years back. The waves aren't anything great IMO. In fact I've seen better waves from jet boats on here! I think their hull, modified transom design and Volvo Penta forward drive is holding back any wave from developing into a huge wave you can get in most wake boats. Hull design plays such a critical role in having a true surf class wave and wake. Some of these MFG's think slapping on a delayed convergence device and adding some weight is all it takes but there's just so much design into the hull that must be taken into account from the get-go. Having all that running gear disturb the water and wave developing doesn't help either. That being said I do like their boats, I just wouldn't get one if surfing was a main priority on my checklist.

Wave is small and with a short pocket....

 

[MattFX4]

Chaparral has been using Malibu's Surf gates since they came out with their surf lineup a few years back. The waves aren't anything great IMO. In fact I've seen better waves from jet boats on here! I think their hull, modified transom design and Volvo Penta forward drive is holding back any wave from developing into a huge wave you can get in most wake boats. Hull design plays such a critical role in having a true surf class wave and wake. Some of these MFG's think slapping on a delayed convergence device and adding some weight is all it takes but there's just so much design into the hull that must be taken into account from the get-go. Having all that running gear disturb the water and wave developing doesn't help either. That being said I do like their boats, I just wouldn't get one if surfing was a main priority on my checklist.

Wave is small and with a short pocket....

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Yeah, for the money that boat costs you can get much better surfing options. That’s a nice boat though. 29’! Bet it has tons of space and rides like a dream in rough water.