Looking for general info - advice

[Red Rocket]

Guys,

Just signed up as I just started considering a purchase of a Moomba for the family cottage.

I am on a budget and want a DD boat. So considering early 2000s Outbacks or I believe the Mobius was essentially the same back then (but with tower etc).

Let me know any issues I should look for in a used Moomba of that vintage.

Is there any wood in any of these boats that I should be aware of? Thanks.

[iwaterskihard]

Welcome to the site! :)

I'm a former Moomba owner and still love to hang out on this site. There is a ton of GREAT people here who are more than willing to help you out! Even me if I can? :)

We just sold our 2006 Outback DD this spring. It had some options that some of the earlier models didn't. What are you looking for in a boat and what activities do you want to do mostly?

The fact you want a DD tells me you're more inclined to do a lot more slalom skiing than anything else? Our boat came with a small ballast bag when we bought it and teh first thing I did when I got home was remove the bag and put it up in the rafters of the garage. Where it stayed until we sold the boat I might add. My point with this comment is if you want to wakeboard and even try some entry level surfing it can be done with the newer Outbacks. I'm not sure when Moomba started putting that sac in the back under the seat?

Budget is budget and everyone has one. Tell us what you want to use your boat for and you will get lots of replies here!

Good luck finding what you want and need? You will also probably have people showing you Craigs List links and trying to help you find a boat too! :)

[Sharpshooter]

I have a nice 2006 outback back with great sound system perfect pass only 275 hrs.also has great interior only reason thinking of selling is to swap to a v drive

[Red Rocket]

Welcome to the site! :)

I'm a former Moomba owner and still love to hang out on this site. There is a ton of GREAT people here who are more than willing to help you out! Even me if I can? :)

We just sold our 2006 Outback DD this spring. It had some options that some of the earlier models didn't. What are you looking for in a boat and what activities do you want to do mostly?

The fact you want a DD tells me you're more inclined to do a lot more slalom skiing than anything else? Our boat came with a small ballast bag when we bought it and teh first thing I did when I got home was remove the bag and put it up in the rafters of the garage. Where it stayed until we sold the boat I might add. My point with this comment is if you want to wakeboard and even try some entry level surfing it can be done with the newer Outbacks. I'm not sure when Moomba started putting that sac in the back under the seat?

Budget is budget and everyone has one. Tell us what you want to use your boat for and you will get lots of replies here!

Good luck finding what you want and need? You will also probably have people showing you Craigs List links and trying to help you find a boat too! :)

Thanks for the response.

Some history about me and the intended use of the boat.

I am "old" LOL. Back in the late 1980s (just as wakeboarding was being invented) I was a member of a local water ski club in Southern Ontario. I used to ski 5 days a week and even taught kids for a while. I mainly focused on slalom and really enjoyed it. I was never that great but got to where I could run into 28 off.

Ended up going away to school, moved, ski club closed, interest changed etc. I wake boarded once in the ocean on my honeymoon 12 years ago. LOL

I have a really nice teal green and hot pink Connelly Concept that I haven't touched in probably 15 years! LOL.

Now I am married with a couple kids (5 and 7) and now howe a cottage on a small land locked lake in cottage country north of Toronto Ontario.

So I need a boat. The question is what type and then what brand/model.

As I said it is a smallish lake where we will never "spend the day" on the boat. It will be used for watersports and the odd cruise around. Gear can be left on the dock.

Given the age of my kids I am looking for something that is an open bow just for the increased functionality and ability to haul my kids and their friends etc. Given my history I am partial to a DD ski boat and "think" it will be a better tow boat for skiing (obviously), be able to grow with my kids, and be able capable of introducing them to wakeboarding etc for quite a few years before I ever have to worry about them out growing it. Plus it will allow Daddy to recapture my former glory (after I teach my wife how to drive it!).

So just trying to educate myself on the options currently available since the last towboat I had any experience with was the club's late 80's MC Prostar 190.

I just think an early 2000s relatively low hours, cherry DD open bow boat is a vastly better option that will grow with us over the standard 18 foot I/O Bowrider 3.0L that every other cottager buys as their first boat.

I welcome all opinions and advice. Please let me know if I am all wet!

Cheers.

RR

[wolfeman131]

I agree that an inboard will allow your family to enjoy watersports to a much greater degree than an I/O. However, I believe that a V-drive will better suit your needs.

Why?

1) doesn't sound like you're a die-hard slalom guy anymore and that slalom isn't the sole focus for the boat.
2) V-drives offer more interior room - kids will soon ask for friends to come along. 2 families of 4 in a DD is crowded.
3) while you can certainly wakeboard, surf, tube behind a DD it's easier, IMO, to set up a V-drive for those activities

Good luck with the search!

[Red Rocket]

I agree that an inboard will allow your family to enjoy watersports to a much greater degree than an I/O. However, I believe that a V-drive will better suit your needs.

Why?

1) doesn't sound like you're a die-hard slalom guy anymore and that slalom isn't the sole focus for the boat.
2) V-drives offer more interior room - kids will soon ask for friends to come along. 2 families of 4 in a DD is crowded.
3) while you can certainly wakeboard, surf, tube behind a DD it's easier, IMO, to set up a V-drive for those activities

Good luck with the search!

Thanks for the comments.

Like I said the lake is small - only about 300 acres in total. So the room in the boat while pulling isn't that big of a concern. They can sit on the dock and wave! LOL.

Given I have little experience with wakeboarding and don't think I will get into surfing the slalom wake is still fairly important to me.

Not sure which trade off is more important. My kids are small so it will be years before they even come close to the capability of either option.

[bergermaister]

Didn't you say 5 and 7? There are some early riders seen on here, younger than yours if I'm not mistaken.

Glad to hear you're ruling out the I/O. But come on now, who wants to watch from the dock?

[wolfeman131]

you will find yourself surfing. all us old farts are doing it as it's so much easier on the body.

and the young ones are doing it, too. my son is 5 and we're teaching him to surf this season. he loves it!

the current women's wakesurfing world champion was 10 last fall when she brought home the hardware.

go get a V-drive. :)

[wolfeman131]

But come on now, who wants to watch from the dock?

the guy that is sitting on the beer cooler that won't fit in a DD!

[motosno963]

ill sell ya my 04 outback DD just under 400 hours haha i want to upgrade to an XLV, it seems like more and more people want to go out on the boat, im a nice guy so i hate saying no to people ( they do pay for the gas in the boat). granted if i get the XLV ill swap the system i have now into it and put the system from the xlv into the outback

[Red Rocket]

you will find yourself surfing. all us old farts are doing it as it's so much easier on the body.

and the young ones are doing it, too. my son is 5 and we're teaching him to surf this season. he loves it!

the current women's wakesurfing world champion was 10 last fall when she brought home the hardware.

go get a V-drive. :)

You might be right but at this point it doesn't interest me. I am not an "expression" type of a guy and have always thought the culture around skateboarding and wakeboarding etc to be ***moderated***. Not saying I am right just saying that is how I feel.

I am a go fast guy and spend more time at the cottage in the winter when I can ride my snowmobile than I do in the summer.

Should I buy a boat tailored to a sport I am not really interested in? Don't know??

[volfo]

Hey, I would recommend you look for the following boats: 2001-2005 Outback LS or Mobius LS. These are direct drive boats and they are identical, just the mobius would come with a tower. The later model years will have a few more options, but they are the same boat. I had a 2001 Outback LS and it was a good boat. Some of them in that model year range are fuel injected, some are not. This boat hull was used from 2001 through 2005 in the Outback LS / Mobius LS and also same hull same years in a v drive configuration as the Outback LSV / Mobius LSV. For 2006, they developed a newer, deeper hull more suited to wakeboarding. At that time the old 01-05 hull became used for the Outback V for 2 or 3 years until 2008 or 2009 or so when they came out with an all new Outback V.

In short, 2001-2005 Outback LS, Mobius LS, Outback LSV, Mobius LSV are all the same boat as well the 2006-2008? Outback V. They are all 20'8" with a 95" beam. It is an AWSA certified hull but has just a bit more room and storage in it than the standard Outback. These were good quality boats that were designed after the current Skier's Choice ownership took over the company. I believe the standard Outback was redesigned in 2003 but check the archives on that - I'd want one the year of the redesign or newer.

Also, you can still slalom behind that boat in a vdrive. It's not too big and is a great crossover boat. I would be open to etiher the LS or the LSV version of the boat if you're not a hard-core slalom course skier because the v drive configuration is more family friendly. Hope this helps some.

[rileyk]

I started with a 90 supra comp DD last year I also have two kids - 13 and 7. We bought the boat thinking we will keep for a few years till we grow out of it - Well the oldest invites a friend, the wife invites a friend, the cousins want to go, I have to make two trips from the launch to the dock on a very small lake (Lake Seed) to get all that is going (boat can hold 6). Well I couldn't move do to everyone wanted to ride in the boat, the kids took up wake-boarding, and I bought a 2013 Mobius LSV about 4 weeks ago due to the above!! I love to slalom - The wife loves to slalom - the kids wakeboard and wake-surf - I can hold 13 people (not that I will) and I can tell you it was the best thing I ever did - The V Drive is fantastic for room - slalom wake is not ideal but it was the best decision I ever made! A happy wife and kids are an old mans dream!!!

[Sharpshooter]

I have a real nice 2006 outback 280 hrs.great stereo perfect pass and real clean

[NateHaskovec]

You might be right but at this point it doesn't interest me. I am not an "expression" type of a guy and have always thought the culture around skateboarding and wakeboarding etc to be ***moderated***. Not saying I am right just saying that is how I feel.

I am a go fast guy and spend more time at the cottage in the winter when I can ride my snowmobile than I do in the summer.

Should I buy a boat tailored to a sport I am not really interested in? Don't know??

So you come on to a site full of wakeboarders, ask for advice, and call the "culture" of wakeboarding "gay"?

Good luck with your search, but please choose another brand. I would prefer to have nothing in common with you.

[jpetty3023]

I can easily second that Nate


Sent from this thing called tapatalk 2

[jmvotto]

Buy. Motos. DD so he can get an xlv, red rocket won't want a big stereo anyhow. He's only a couple hours away in ny.

Fwiw, my friend slaloms a course regularly and stated my 07 obv was almost a clean as their 2001 nautique dd,

I skied them both and yes my friend was right

[maxpower220]

A late 80s Prostar was a small boat (19') with a small wake. It is very hard to compare to a 20.5' boat. So the wake will be slightly bigger. Depending on what rope length and your abilities, it really won't matter. DD boats are great and I find comments about space pretty funny. The outback or Mobius will have a good enough wake for wakeboarding and you can get it to surf if needed. Small lakes need some depth in order to get a "good" surf wake.

You will find an open boat DD will fit what you want and allow your family to grow. It will be a lot nicer than the 80s boat for sure.

[wolfeman131]

So you come on to a site full of wakeboarders, ask for advice, and call the "culture" of wakeboarding "gay"?

.

Maybe this is his only frame of reference

http://i530.photobucket.com/albums/dd344/wolfeman131/photobucket-26974-1346173388639.jpg

Or this. One member once claimed these were his board shorts

http://i530.photobucket.com/albums/dd344/wolfeman131/freak-in-tight-jeans-shorts.jpg

[jmvotto]

Dammit drew, you saved that pic, my eyes hurt now..

[kaneboats]

Aw, man. I have to clean this barf off my keyboard now. Knew I shouldn't have had eggs with ketchup for breakfast.

[Red Rocket]

Hey, I would recommend you look for the following boats: 2001-2005 Outback LS or Mobius LS. These are direct drive boats and they are identical, just the mobius would come with a tower. The later model years will have a few more options, but they are the same boat. I had a 2001 Outback LS and it was a good boat. Some of them in that model year range are fuel injected, some are not. This boat hull was used from 2001 through 2005 in the Outback LS / Mobius LS and also same hull same years in a v drive configuration as the Outback LSV / Mobius LSV. For 2006, they developed a newer, deeper hull more suited to wakeboarding. At that time the old 01-05 hull became used for the Outback V for 2 or 3 years until 2008 or 2009 or so when they came out with an all new Outback V.

In short, 2001-2005 Outback LS, Mobius LS, Outback LSV, Mobius LSV are all the same boat as well the 2006-2008? Outback V. They are all 20'8" with a 95" beam. It is an AWSA certified hull but has just a bit more room and storage in it than the standard Outback. These were good quality boats that were designed after the current Skier's Choice ownership took over the company. I believe the standard Outback was redesigned in 2003 but check the archives on that - I'd want one the year of the redesign or newer.

Also, you can still slalom behind that boat in a vdrive. It's not too big and is a great crossover boat. I would be open to etiher the LS or the LSV version of the boat if you're not a hard-core slalom course skier because the v drive configuration is more family friendly. Hope this helps some.

That is great info - thank you very much. I really appreciate the info on the hulls and years etc.

I saw a 2003 Outback posted up here. It looks like a nice DD. It has the rear ski locker etc. Not sure if that means it is the redesigned model. There is also a 2001 Mobius at a marina not far from the cottage.


I started with a 90 supra comp DD last year I also have two kids - 13 and 7. We bought the boat thinking we will keep for a few years till we grow out of it - Well the oldest invites a friend, the wife invites a friend, the cousins want to go, I have to make two trips from the launch to the dock on a very small lake (Lake Seed) to get all that is going (boat can hold 6). Well I couldn't move do to everyone wanted to ride in the boat, the kids took up wake-boarding, and I bought a 2013 Mobius LSV about 4 weeks ago due to the above!! I love to slalom - The wife loves to slalom - the kids wakeboard and wake-surf - I can hold 13 people (not that I will) and I can tell you it was the best thing I ever did - The V Drive is fantastic for room - slalom wake is not ideal but it was the best decision I ever made! A happy wife and kids are an old mans dream!!!

I can see that. Our cottage is road access to the back door. The plan is for the boat to sit dock side on a lift all summer. No need to ferry anybody around.


So you come on to a site full of wakeboarders, ask for advice, and call the "culture" of wakeboarding "gay"?

Good luck with your search, but please choose another brand. I would prefer to have nothing in common with you.

No worries. Maybe I was a bit harsh! LOL

Wakeboarding just isn't my thing and doubt it will become a focus for me. Perhaps my kids will get into to it but I suspect any DD with a tower will satisfy them for many years to come.

Figured there were lots of skiers here too?


A late 80s Prostar was a small boat (19') with a small wake. It is very hard to compare to a 20.5' boat. So the wake will be slightly bigger. Depending on what rope length and your abilities, it really won't matter. DD boats are great and I find comments about space pretty funny. The outback or Mobius will have a good enough wake for wakeboarding and you can get it to surf if needed. Small lakes need some depth in order to get a "good" surf wake.

You will find an open boat DD will fit what you want and allow your family to grow. It will be a lot nicer than the 80s boat for sure.

Thanks - I appreciate the comments.

[Mikey]

as some one mentioned this site is dominated by wake boarders and surfers. you definetely sound more ski oriented. sounds like a Outback DD is likely the best fit for what you have described. An Ls DD might work for what yo want ao a Vdrive Outback , . I have skied behind both and both have ther good points , BUT The outback DD still has the flattest wake of the bunch,and can and does sufficiently for wake boarding and surfing. go with your gut,feeling. my vote goes to Outback DD. I,m biased of course but ...You have listed all the criteria that an Outback DD would provide.





That is great info - thank you very much. I really appreciate the info on the hulls and years etc.

I saw a 2003 Outback posted up here. It looks like a nice DD. It has the rear ski locker etc. Not sure if that means it is the redesigned model. There is also a 2001 Mobius at a marina not far from the cottage.



I can see that. Our cottage is road access to the back door. The plan is for the boat to sit dock side on a lift all summer. No need to ferry anybody around.



No worries. Maybe I was a bit harsh! LOL

Wakeboarding just isn't my thing and doubt it will become a focus for me. Perhaps my kids will get into to it but I suspect any DD with a tower will satisfy them for many years to come.

Figured there were lots of skiers here too?



Thanks - I appreciate the comments.

[smokedog2]

We cannot save you. Get the dd, in three years you will be out of boating or in a v-drive. 2005 and b4 the v drives were still race cars. Today, they are all SUVs. Most DDs are still race cars.

Worse still, leaving your boat docked all summer. I cringe at the thought, but my 2005 looks new and many people are good with that plan. I pulled my plug with 2 fingers after a hard 4 days last week. Check it often.

My crew includes an old slalom guy. DD traded for a v-drive there as well.

I'm done.

Would someone please tell this guy what he wants to hear, he needs to walk the path, not look at the map.

[brain_rinse]

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