Makai underpowered and unreliable?

[TXSurf4]

I have owned 3 SC boats...2016 Moomba Mojo with 400, a 2017 Supra SA with 400 and a 2018 Supra SL with the 575. All of my boats have had an additional 850lbs of lead in them and we usually run a crew of 2 families for a total of 8 people (4 adults/4 kids ages 8-13). This debate has gone on over the years on this forum time and time again. The people with the 400 typically say they have never needed more power...I disagree. With both my 2016 Mojo and 2017 SA that had the 400 in it I had to flip it to wakeboard advanced mode to drop all 3 plates down to get on plane and move people to the bow or it would take forever. The other option was to drain half the ballast out to get on plane.

My good buddy bought a 2019 SL450 (early model that does not have the 1.76:1 tranny). It still has similar issues that the 400 had getting on plane but is noticeably better than the 400 was in my other 2 boats. We are in the DFW area so obviously elevation is not an issue for us.

My 575 is unbelievable...never an issue getting on plane not matter how many people in the boat with 3500lbs of ballast and 850llbs of lead. I would love to go 575 again but with the 1.76 tranny and the ability to run a 16x17 prop I wouldn't pay the upcharge again. Even though the whine of that blower on the 575 is worth the price!!!

If you go Makai with the 5200lb dry weight, 4000lbs of ballast and from what I read there is a definite need for lead or additional ballast (lets say 800lbs of lead), along with 370lbs in fuel, then gear and people you are looking at roughly 11,000 pounds I would say the 450 is a must...I am sure there will be people that disagree.

When I was building my boat I heard all the same things about the 400 (it had the 1.5 Transmission at the time). I did stumble across one member on here (some people will know who I am talking about) that had a 2019 Makai with the 450 at the time that he had "slammed" for surfing. By "slammed" on a Makai I am talking about 1,700 lbs of lead and the Wakemakers 1345s in place of the factory 1k rear bags (4 adults). He told me that in his older SE he had the 440 (1.5 Transmission) and had it set up the same way and that it was maxed out surfing like that and would sometimes struggle holding speed in rougher water. He said on his Makai the 450 didn't mind the weight at all.

All that being said when I opted for the 450 (MY 2019) it was the only motor in SC's lineup with the 1.76 Transmission and I made that decision as much for the transmission gearing if not more than the extra power. Also the clearance to run a larger prop was another added bonus with the 1.76 transmission. I run 1K in lead and just upgraded to the Wakemaker's 1345s in the rear and this boat/motor doesn't bat an eye at the weight. I haven't ridden in any 2020s with the 400 so I can't speak as to how it compares to the 450 what I can say is that I have never regretted getting the bigger motor!