buying a Moomba Makai vs MC NXT24

[mike gag]

hello everyone,

I am new to this forum, joined to try and get some real world details on buying the Moomba Makai boat. We put our deposit down on a Moomba Makai for an order. We currently have a 2003 Supra Launch "non Vdrive" boat its been a great boat but looking for bigger newer boat. I have looked around but so far Moomba seems to be the most Boat for the money. I haven't actually seen a Makai yet due to no dealers having any instock. I did however test drive MC NXT24 and that boat seemed awesome but was plain and didn't seem like it came with near as much as the Makai for 15K more.

I am mainly into wakeboarding, although I know the wake surfing thing is the hot thing now and i am sure we will be into that as well, so the wake is important for sure, we will also be taking the boat in the saltwater, intercoastal and want a good boat handling chop and salt.

the NXT24 seem like it might be better at handling chop but again I have nothing to compare it too? it seems both boats will have a good wake surf wake once dialed in?

anyways just wanted to get some input.

thanks guys!

Mike

[Josh828]

I don't know anything about salt water on either boat or really much about the NXT24 however I looked at a NXT22 when I was shopping and if you were to park my mojo beside the NXT22 you would pick the Moomba every single time. The interior was light years ahead. Engine was better, surf system was better, styling was better. The mojo was way deeper than the NXT22 and would handle chop much better and you wouldn't worry as much about a wave coming over the bow.
I would go in blind on the makai however if you are on the fence wait until you can see a makai in person because I'm almost positive it will take the cake!

[mike gag]

josh,

yes I am feeling that way for sure and I haven't even seen the makai, I also really like the walkthrough which the NTX does not have. is it easy on the Mojo to get in and service the motor, on NXT the guy pulled the back out like it was nothing and the entire motor was very easy to get too? never owned a V drive boat so that's new to me.

[brad460]

The ridiculously cheap looking tower on the NXT boats would keep me from buying one...also not a fan of the slopping mid section lines. Of course we all have our own tastes.

I am not a big fan of the Moomba front bird look or the Max front stout look..

At the end I’d go Moomba versus buying a cheap looking Mastercraft.

Of course this is a cosmetic comparison only. I am sure the Mastercraft performs great.

[sleek98]

Its 4 screws to pull the hump to change the V drive oil, the top tray over the motor comes out easy when you open both reach hatches to open the center hatch. The side panels on the motor can be pulled easy too. I am 6' 190# and can just about sit in the rear locker of my Mojo. With the side engine panels removed I could easily sit back there and change plugs, etc. Tons of room in there.

I dont think you will need to do anything but pull the top motor tray to change the oil, and that can be done in under 30 seconds.

[Josh828]

What engine comes in the NXT now? The one I looked at had the 5.7L so going to the 6.2L was a huge win for me.
Plus with the 7 year engine warranty from indmar (if they are still offering it) I don't plan on ever having to be back there.

https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20210607/7f8c47bdf297437e99d60ab5d46c6468.jpg
Pic of the nxt22 I looked into because who doesn’t like pics haha

[Holdmybeer]

The Makai would win everyday for me. You get all the options and nice upgrades over the NXT24 and the price is still the same. In 2019 local dealer wanted $102k for a NXT24 with teak platform, basic stereo, and the small screen you see in Josh's photo.

[sandm]

that interior does not even begin to look appealing to me. have only been on a couple of nxt's and it's been a few years but they did feel like they would not hold up in a comparison with other value boats.
they do sell a lot of them tho so def. have a fan base or good salesmen. or in this market, one of the only dealers with boats in stock- just like axis.. makes ya wonder :)

[SONIC]

I looked at both side by side at the dealer and the Makai is miles ahead of the NXT.
Not brand biased here I like both manufacturers but the Makai feels like a base level luxury boat.
The NXT just feels like a budget boat.

[bergermaister]

I'm pretty sure my interior is even better than that NXT in the photo posted...

[mike gag]

yeah I don't think i have heard one person knock the fit and finish of the Moomba boats! I agree the tower on the NXT looks bad, they could have at least painted it lol, i don't think the NXT boat it self is bad but yes the interior isn't close to the Makai or the Mojo, I am trying to get the dealer here in Orlando to setup something so I can either see a boat in service or a customers. other than that not really sure if the wake for either wakeboarding or surfing is any better on either one the boats? the NXT did look good! but from what i am hearing the Makai is awesome as well, but it needs more than the 4K of ballast, we usually go out with a lot of people so probably not an an issue...

mike

[Holdmybeer]

yeah I don't think i have heard one person knock the fit and finish of the Moomba boats! I agree the tower on the NXT looks bad, they could have at least painted it lol, i don't think the NXT boat it self is bad but yes the interior isn't close to the Makai or the Mojo, I am trying to get the dealer here in Orlando to setup something so I can either see a boat in service or a customers. other than that not really sure if the wake for either wakeboarding or surfing is any better on either one the boats? the NXT did look good! but from what i am hearing the Makai is awesome as well, but it needs more than the 4K of ballast, we usually go out with a lot of people so probably not an an issue...

mike

You are correct. The Makai is going to love more than 4K but the MC is only 2600 stock. So you are going to need more in it also.
MC does give you the ability to steer in reverse, which is a huge plus for any inboard. Someone put a thruster setup on their Makai and that is something you could look into also if you choose Moomba and want/need the handling. I like MC but not the NXT line. For a "budget" brand Skier's Choice is doing everything right to incorporate Supra tech and comfort into something the working class can enjoy. (No knock on the guys with Supras...I'm jealous). Mastercraft looks like they took all the scraps from making a killer X24 and called it a boat. Not being biased because if I had the coin I would buy a Centurion Ri245....but I digress.
Regardless, it is your money and once you are on the water it is just a nice to sit in a $50K, $100K, or $150K boat as long as it does the sports you want. Good luck shopping.

[HFarr]

This is the inside of my Makai. We love it. We looked at the MC NXT24, and the Axis A24 at the Orlando Boat show earlier this year, and they both looked similar in that they appeared stripped down. My wife was sold the minute she saw the Moomba Makai. And it surfs very well with stock ballast and 4 people. Now I have also had 12 people, and wow what a difference in the wave size. https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20210607/cabbdba21d241a6518fa138372b1dee6.jpg

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