Any 230 SLX-W owners out there?

fsudelt

Member
Jul 25, 2008
190
Orlando, FL & Port Austin, MI
Boat Info
2019 230 SLX
Previous:
2006 Malibu Ride XTi
2007 210 Select
2007 310DA
2007 240DA
Engines
6.2L Mercruiser 300HP w/ Bravo III Drives
We were close (almost signed last night) to agreeing to a new 2019 SPX 230. After more thought my wife and I are really intrigued by the 230 SLX-W. I know it is discontinued this year (was only built for 2017 & 2018) but we are coming from a Malibu wakeboard boat and looking for something that we can take more places and this seems to be the best of both worlds (higher bow ride but still great wakeboard/wakesurf options). I've found a few 2017's for sale at pretty good prices compared to what they were new. Anyone out there own one and have any thoughts (negative or positive)? We are going to take a step back and sell our Malibu privately and then pull the trigger on a new boat as the trade values just seem a bit low for what we think our Malibu will sell for.

Thanks!
 
We were close (almost signed last night) to agreeing to a new 2019 SPX 230. After more thought my wife and I are really intrigued by the 230 SLX-W. I know it is discontinued this year (was only built for 2017 & 2018) but we are coming from a Malibu wakeboard boat and looking for something that we can take more places and this seems to be the best of both worlds (higher bow ride but still great wakeboard/wakesurf options). I've found a few 2017's for sale at pretty good prices compared to what they were new. Anyone out there own one and have any thoughts (negative or positive)? We are going to take a step back and sell our Malibu privately and then pull the trigger on a new boat as the trade values just seem a bit low for what we think our Malibu will sell for.

Thanks!
I was fortunate enough to stumble upon a "used" one last spring. The first owner never even registered the boat. I also bought it because we boat in Little Traverse Bay mostly and I find the boat is really good in open water and I'm guessing much better than a Mastercraft / Malibu or similar. I have had some concerns with the control box (which controls the surf tab system). This is not a Sea Ray issue, Lenco is the company I have dealt with and their customer service has been good so far. This has been the only issue. Otherwise it's a great boat. I bought it for about 55% off list price, it came with a trailer and most all options including the bow and stern thrusters. It had 32 hours on it when I bought it. So, it was a steal. People at the dock or launch are left with their jaw hanging after watching the boat spin around using the bow/stern thrusters. It's a lot of fun!!
My previous boat: 2001 SRay 240 Sundeck. It was a great boat, but my boys got into surfing, so I determined it was time to make a trade (can't surf behind an I/O). Overall, I would do this deal over again in a minute.
 
I was fortunate enough to stumble upon a "used" one last spring. The first owner never even registered the boat. I also bought it because we boat in Little Traverse Bay mostly and I find the boat is really good in open water and I'm guessing much better than a Mastercraft / Malibu or similar. I have had some concerns with the control box (which controls the surf tab system). This is not a Sea Ray issue, Lenco is the company I have dealt with and their customer service has been good so far. This has been the only issue. Otherwise it's a great boat. I bought it for about 55% off list price, it came with a trailer and most all options including the bow and stern thrusters. It had 32 hours on it when I bought it. So, it was a steal. People at the dock or launch are left with their jaw hanging after watching the boat spin around using the bow/stern thrusters. It's a lot of fun!!
My previous boat: 2001 SRay 240 Sundeck. It was a great boat, but my boys got into surfing, so I determined it was time to make a trade (can't surf behind an I/O). Overall, I would do this deal over again in a minute.

Glad to hear you like the boat. I was just looking at one yesterday. I am trying get smarter about these boats. What issues have you had with the control box?

Jon
 
It just stopped working, so I couldn’t make the wake to surf. Still able to use the boat while the control box was being figured out. The first time took less than 48 hours. This time it’s been about a week.
 
I believe it was “refrurbished” last year. This year they are sending me a new unit. We’ll see how it goes.
 
I was fortunate enough to stumble upon a "used" one last spring. The first owner never even registered the boat. I also bought it because we boat in Little Traverse Bay mostly and I find the boat is really good in open water and I'm guessing much better than a Mastercraft / Malibu or similar. I have had some concerns with the control box (which controls the surf tab system). This is not a Sea Ray issue, Lenco is the company I have dealt with and their customer service has been good so far. This has been the only issue. Otherwise it's a great boat. I bought it for about 55% off list price, it came with a trailer and most all options including the bow and stern thrusters. It had 32 hours on it when I bought it. So, it was a steal. People at the dock or launch are left with their jaw hanging after watching the boat spin around using the bow/stern thrusters. It's a lot of fun!!
My previous boat: 2001 SRay 240 Sundeck. It was a great boat, but my boys got into surfing, so I determined it was time to make a trade (can't surf behind an I/O). Overall, I would do this deal over again in a minute.
Bow and stern thrusters on a 230? Would love to see some pics.
 
I believe it was “refrurbished” last year. This year they are sending me a new unit. We’ll see how it goes.

Thanks for the info. Any other issues with the boat? Anything surprise you about it versus your previous boat?

Jon
 
The You Tube video by boattest.com is a good representation of the boat. (You’ll see the bow/stern thrusters in action) This boat goes through waves very well for 22 foot long hull. Because it is 1000 pounds heavier than my 2001 Sea Ray 240 sundeck, I’d say it is a better boat in choppy water. Certainly a bit less room inside than the 240, I knew that would be a concession. Also, the inboard engine / prop combo has a ton of torque compared to the sundeck. Gets people out of the water in a hurry, great for tow sports. The drawback there is a lower top speed 40mph vs the sundeck’s 50mph. (I had the 6.2L engine in the sundeck which isn’t that common.) sundeck did go through less gas, but I don’t buy boat to save $$ on gas. Lol. Overall, the 230 SLX w is a darn nice boat, the bow and stern thrusters are super cool and it is luxurious / well put together. I wouldn’t buy one without the thrusters. A good boat for surfing, but there are a lot of those.
 
The You Tube video by boattest.com is a good representation of the boat. (You’ll see the bow/stern thrusters in action) This boat goes through waves very well for 22 foot long hull. Because it is 1000 pounds heavier than my 2001 Sea Ray 240 sundeck, I’d say it is a better boat in choppy water. Certainly a bit less room inside than the 240, I knew that would be a concession. Also, the inboard engine / prop combo has a ton of torque compared to the sundeck. Gets people out of the water in a hurry, great for tow sports. The drawback there is a lower top speed 40mph vs the sundeck’s 50mph. (I had the 6.2L engine in the sundeck which isn’t that common.) sundeck did go through less gas, but I don’t buy boat to save $$ on gas. Lol. Overall, the 230 SLX w is a darn nice boat, the bow and stern thrusters are super cool and it is luxurious / well put together. I wouldn’t buy one without the thrusters. A good boat for surfing, but there are a lot of those.

That’s great to hear. I have plowed through all the information I can find and been to see one at the marina. Thanks for your owner experience info. One last question. What are you pulling it with?

Jon
 
That’s a funny ? I used to pull it with a 2006 Tahoe which in it’s younger days was rated to pull 7500. After buying the 230 and realizing that the boat, while shorter than my old boat, was 1000 heavier, I went on the u haul website to evaluate my hitch. The Tahoe had 210,000 miles on it. All these warnings on the u haul website had me...... shopping for a new truck. I pull the 230 with a 2018 half ton Sierra SLT, rated to pull 9100. My first pick up truck, great for hauling stuff, but a tougher ride than the Tahoe.
 
That’s a funny ? I used to pull it with a 2006 Tahoe which in it’s younger days was rated to pull 7500. After buying the 230 and realizing that the boat, while shorter than my old boat, was 1000 heavier, I went on the u haul website to evaluate my hitch. The Tahoe had 210,000 miles on it. All these warnings on the u haul website had me...... shopping for a new truck. I pull the 230 with a 2018 half ton Sierra SLT, rated to pull 9100. My first pick up truck, great for hauling stuff, but a tougher ride than the Tahoe.

That is funny. I have done it the other way around. I used to tow our 205 Sport with a VW Touareg and bought an F150 with max tow on it last fall. Now I’m looking at bigger boats. That’s how they get you. Bigger, better, faster, more...
Where do you put in?
 
Harbor Springs, MI. I keep it in my garage there, it’s a short 8 minutes down to the public launch there. How about you?
 
Harbor Springs, MI. I keep it in my garage there, it’s a short 8 minutes down to the public launch there. How about you?

Nice. You are way up there. We spend a week each month of summer on Kentucky Lake. Currently waiting for Barry to move on so the water will calm down. We live west of Chicago though and make day trips to Lake Geneva WI and Coralville Lake near Iowa City IA the rest of the time.
 
Lenco, the trim tab / surf system company, did stand by their product and sent me a new control box (at no cost) which does work, happy to report.
 
Lenco, the trim tab / surf system company, did stand by their product and sent me a new control box (at no cost) which does work, happy to report.

Was this something you replaced yourself? Was it not covered by the Sea Ray warranty?

Jon
 
To have the Sea Ray dealer do it would have meant my boat would’ve been at the marina for a couple weeks. And it’s not a Sea Ray issue as the surf system is sub-contracted to Lenco. So, instead, I figured out how to remove the control box (4 screws and one simple wiring harness, took me 10 minutes to figure it out and 5 minutes to remove). I sent the box directly to Lenco myself and re installed when it was returned. By doing this, I still had the use of my boat in the meantime. Lenco did not charge me for the new control box.
 
To have the Sea Ray dealer do it would have meant my boat would’ve been at the marina for a couple weeks. And it’s not a Sea Ray issue as the surf system is sub-contracted to Lenco. So, instead, I figured out how to remove the control box (4 screws and one simple wiring harness, took me 10 minutes to figure it out and 5 minutes to remove). I sent the box directly to Lenco myself and re installed when it was returned. By doing this, I still had the use of my boat in the meantime. Lenco did not charge me for the new control box.

Thanks for the info again. There’s a vacuum of information on this boat. I really appreciate you sharing your experience.

Jon
 
Been away from this site for a while, apologies. I own a SLX-W 230, its actually the prototype boat (serial 01) and is the actual boat you see in that boat test video. We love the boat, is perfect for us here on Lake Norman. The only current issue I have is that sometimes the wake system doesnt work. I have found that if I shut off the boat and kill the batteries and start back up it will correct itself. Doesnt always do it. Also, when it cruising mode, if 2 or less people are in the boat it will lean hard to the right when trying to get on plane. I have to quickly try to adjust the trim tabs so I can get it back under control. I am going to try and create my own launch setting for that this year so will see..
 

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