Re: V drive or directv drive?? perfect pass? fat sacs?
you'll have to raise your price range closer to $20k to get a vdrive. you might find a beater for $18k. keep in mind many people currently in d-drive boats are looking to move up to v-drives so they go pretty quickly when they're priced right.
an open bow is great but not really for putting ballast up front. there isn't a whole lot of storage room under the seats. they are great just for letting people spread out, especially when you're done riding and just relaxing. otherwise, it gets crowded in the rear when you consider people have gear, ice chest, fat sacs on the floor if they aren't plumbed into storage areas.
closed bow boats are also more commonly designed for slalom skiing. that means a smaller boat that creates a smaller wake since that's desirable for slalom. take a look at that gekko pic, it's not a closed bow but look how low it sits in the water. that's called a low freeboard. load it up with people and ballast and you're even closer to the water. slalom types boats ride very rough in anything but glass.
other larger inboards aren't awful in 2-3' chop but you have to slow down compared to how you'd drive in an i/o. it just comes with the territory unless you move into a 23-24' boat as they are making now.
that MC 205 hull as oldjeep said is one of the best wakeboarding hulls designed. if you find another jump on it.
other thoughts...you really want a tower but you can get an after market one if necessary. a tower frees up floor space by holding boards. it also allows people to sit in the rear seats while someone boards since the rope isn't connected to the factory pylon which will be in front of the engine in your $10k price range.
if you can move in the $mid-teens you might be able to find a 92+ supra which is probably going to be the best value. those boats have composite stringers so you won't have to worry about the stringers rotting which is a fairly common problem in the $10k and under range.
nautiques are expensive for their size. they are great boats though.
malibus are also nice but in your price range they'll also be small compared to supras.
mastercrafts like nautiques are pricey but great boats. your link to the 205 has already been deleted so i can't compare the price or age. i'm guessing it was prob around $18k if it was 92+.
this is what i'm talking about with the supras:
1998 Supra Sunsport
it needs a tower but it's priced great. composite stringers and a very successful hull design with enough room for your family and even a few friends. the sunsport hull was the basis for the supra launch series of boats as the mastercraft 205 was the basis for their original x-star series.
perfect pass is great and can be a marriage saver but in your price range it will be hard to find unless it's a smaller boat. they cost about a boat buck ($1k) but can be added easily.
