We have a 2017 GS22 that we just got a little over a month ago. I agree with the GS22 surf wave, it just doesn't have enough push at stock for heavier people. After adding bags to the rear lockers, it totally transformed the wave. TONS of push. I went from never being able to drop the rope, to being able to instantly drop the rope. The bow rise however is a lot more though with the additional rear weight.
Amazing the lengths that Nautique competitors will go to to make their boat’s wave look better. Comparing a crossover boat against a larger, heavier, deeper V hull boat just to say the wave is bigger.
Centurion had a much better looking surf wave. It’s a shame you had the settings wrong on the gs. The nss was on 5 and should have been around 0 or 1 at most. Ruined the nautique wave.
I had a 2015 Moomba Mojo, a 2016 G21 and a 2017 G23. I tried all manner of bags and ghetto-gates on the Mojo, and got the Goofy-Side working pretty well, but it never matched the G21. As a 58 year old, I hated the G21 in rough water, liked the g23;much more, but liked the Malibu 25’ wave even better because it didn’t have the board-grabbing trough next to the stern. (The Malibu was running heavy accessory bags and the G’s had 800# of lead opposite the driver). I felt like I could surf way out to the side on the Malibu and not lose the push. In reality, it was probably 12-18” further out than other boats. Having been on dry land for 3 seasons, I’m looking for a boat with the longest wave with a round top and minimal trough at the bottom. I also want a fast transfer from side to side. Another top priority is a rear and/or front thruster for tight parking, or possibly a forward-prop outboard. I normally surf with just a driver and observer and never waterski, wakeboard or pull tubes. WHICH NEW BOAT DOES THESE THINGS BEST?
Looked like he was a few more feet off for the ski passes in the centurion. Give him those extra feet in the nautique because it mellows out a little more back there. Also with extra ballast (which you said the centurion had) the wake gets rampy and the wave has a lot more length and push. Still not up to the level of the centurion but enough for the weekender
Love both boats but why do you compare 2 different boats designs. Fi23 is 550 lbs 1 foot longer heavier with almost half the potential. Compair the g23 not cross over 22
The reason for the comparison is because these two boats are in a similar price bracket and both can qualify as a "crossover". We would be happy to do a test with a G23, but we would want to compare it to the Ri237 which is closer in price to the G23 and also closer in features, size and design. You get us a G23 and we will happily compare it!
I just got an Fi23. What do you have the center stinger plate set at to get this waterski wake (I know it will vary based on the crew in the boat, etc)? Also do you adjust the right and left surf tabs at all or are they at 0 (I assume they're at zero, but want to confirm). Thanks!
You only adjust the surf plate on the side you aren't surfing on (the other side will always be 0). In this video we probably had the center plate at around 30. Also, this boat did not have a transom bag and you may want more center plate if your boat does.
Great review! I have been a Nautique guy for 40 years but lately Centurion has caught my attention. These days we ski about 10%, wakeboard about 40%, and surf about 50%. I am going from a Nautique SV211 and I was thinking about a GS22 but I am giving some serious consideration to the Centurion Fi23. I recently spent a day on a Fi25 and was quite impressed. Curious, what RPMs were these boats turning at 32 or 34MPH? What is the top speed, should I just give up barefooting? I need a solid 38MPH to do that at my current weight...
38mph is definitely doable, it just depends on what engine you have in the boat and what prop / elevation you are running at. At high elevation you would want the ZZ6 in a Fi23 to get that speed. At sea level a HO450 should get you there no problem. The same answer goes for RPM - there are a lot of factors.
We’re in the same boat right now. We’ve been fans of nautiques for a while, but the centurions are really starting to catch our eye. Saw a Fi23 on the lake yesterday that was rolling by far the biggest wake i’ve ever seen for wake surfing. We really like the gs22 but for the money that Fi23 is convincing.
Boardco, can you comment on the surf wave better fi21 vs fi23. Fi21 more appealing because because it will fit in the garage and I don't think I'll ever have more than 12 people... But concerned that it's not going to be comparable wave.
Really it comes down to physics. A 21 foot boat with "X" ballast will sit deeper in the water than a 23 foot boat with the same "X" ballast. Ultimately a bigger boat will produce a bigger/longer wave but only if it has more ballast than the smaller boat.
You can start around 100k and to the moon. After seeing a Ri257 in action all summer, I would take a used one over a new Fi. The Ri will put out a wake that is insane, and switch between what you want to do fast.
We have a 2017 GS22 that we just got a little over a month ago. I agree with the GS22 surf wave, it just doesn't have enough push at stock for heavier people. After adding bags to the rear lockers, it totally transformed the wave. TONS of push. I went from never being able to drop the rope, to being able to instantly drop the rope. The bow rise however is a lot more though with the additional rear weight.
Would probably be a good idea to add more to the bow & belly also. They like to be balanced bow:stern and it will produce a longer wake too.
Amazing the lengths that Nautique competitors will go to to make their boat’s wave look better. Comparing a crossover boat against a larger, heavier, deeper V hull boat just to say the wave is bigger.
You missed the point completely which is that the Fi is actually a decent crossover boat.
Centurion had a much better looking surf wave. It’s a shame you had the settings wrong on the gs. The nss was on 5 and should have been around 0 or 1 at most. Ruined the nautique wave.
What’s the point of having 5 if you can’t use 5
5 is steep steep and 1 is longer less steep
That centurion wave is so much cleaner at the top.
Watching the rope drag the Nautique rear upholstery with each turn.
They changed the rope length on the centurion and they are comparing a crossover to a wakeboard boat, Nautique is way better
Sandy Maselli no the wake was just better
It’s called being a salesman
I had a 2015 Moomba Mojo, a 2016 G21 and a 2017 G23. I tried all manner of bags and ghetto-gates on the Mojo, and got the Goofy-Side working pretty well, but it never matched the G21. As a 58 year old, I hated the G21 in rough water, liked the g23;much more, but liked the Malibu 25’ wave even better because it didn’t have the board-grabbing trough next to the stern. (The Malibu was running heavy accessory bags and the G’s had 800# of lead opposite the driver).
I felt like I could surf way out to the side on the Malibu and not lose the push. In reality, it was probably 12-18” further out than other boats.
Having been on dry land for 3 seasons, I’m looking for a boat with the longest wave with a round top and minimal trough at the bottom.
I also want a fast transfer from side to side.
Another top priority is a rear and/or front thruster for tight parking, or possibly a forward-prop outboard.
I normally surf with just a driver and observer and never waterski, wakeboard or pull tubes.
WHICH NEW BOAT DOES THESE THINGS BEST?
Looked like he was a few more feet off for the ski passes in the centurion. Give him those extra feet in the nautique because it mellows out a little more back there. Also with extra ballast (which you said the centurion had) the wake gets rampy and the wave has a lot more length and push. Still not up to the level of the centurion but enough for the weekender
The rope was set at the same length (15 off) when skiing being both boats.
Love both boats but why do you compare 2 different boats designs. Fi23 is 550 lbs 1 foot longer heavier with almost half the potential. Compair the g23 not cross over 22
If you were using a g23 then you'd compare it with the ri not the fi
The reason for the comparison is because these two boats are in a similar price bracket and both can qualify as a "crossover". We would be happy to do a test with a G23, but we would want to compare it to the Ri237 which is closer in price to the G23 and also closer in features, size and design. You get us a G23 and we will happily compare it!
What settings did you run for waterskiing behind the Fi
nss should have been set to 0 not 5? Thats why it looked like crap
True I wonder if the wakeboarding settings were bad too
I just got an Fi23. What do you have the center stinger plate set at to get this waterski wake (I know it will vary based on the crew in the boat, etc)? Also do you adjust the right and left surf tabs at all or are they at 0 (I assume they're at zero, but want to confirm). Thanks!
You only adjust the surf plate on the side you aren't surfing on (the other side will always be 0). In this video we probably had the center plate at around 30. Also, this boat did not have a transom bag and you may want more center plate if your boat does.
@@BoardCo thanks for the response. I should clarify, I was asking about the center plate settings for waterskiing, not wake surfing. Thanks!
Isn't the GS subfloor ballast and the Fi compartment ballast, thus leaving room for more ballast or gear?
Great review! I have been a Nautique guy for 40 years but lately Centurion has caught my attention. These days we ski about 10%, wakeboard about 40%, and surf about 50%. I am going from a Nautique SV211 and I was thinking about a GS22 but I am giving some serious consideration to the Centurion Fi23. I recently spent a day on a Fi25 and was quite impressed. Curious, what RPMs were these boats turning at 32 or 34MPH? What is the top speed, should I just give up barefooting? I need a solid 38MPH to do that at my current weight...
38mph is definitely doable, it just depends on what engine you have in the boat and what prop / elevation you are running at. At high elevation you would want the ZZ6 in a Fi23 to get that speed. At sea level a HO450 should get you there no problem.
The same answer goes for RPM - there are a lot of factors.
We’re in the same boat right now. We’ve been fans of nautiques for a while, but the centurions are really starting to catch our eye. Saw a Fi23 on the lake yesterday that was rolling by far the biggest wake i’ve ever seen for wake surfing. We really like the gs22 but for the money that Fi23 is convincing.
Is that lake Kaweah?
I believe this was filmed at Duck Creek!
Boardco, can you comment on the surf wave better fi21 vs fi23. Fi21 more appealing because because it will fit in the garage and I don't think I'll ever have more than 12 people... But concerned that it's not going to be comparable wave.
Really it comes down to physics. A 21 foot boat with "X" ballast will sit deeper in the water than a 23 foot boat with the same "X" ballast. Ultimately a bigger boat will produce a bigger/longer wave but only if it has more ballast than the smaller boat.
What do those centurions go for new?
You can start around 100k and to the moon. After seeing a Ri257 in action all summer, I would take a used one over a new Fi. The Ri will put out a wake that is insane, and switch between what you want to do fast.
What lake is this review taken at?
Deer Creek Reservoir in Utah
BoardCo Thanks for that. Just moved to the area, looking for a boat and areas to go
Centurion is the best
Surprised how bad the GS 22 looks. But the GS23 would be more fair.
no such thing.. G23 maybe? Anyways, read above... not a direct comparison.
G23 is a way better boat then every centurion