Considering R5 Surf purchase- opinions?

[mbobo24]

I currently have a Chaparral 257, and considering trading for an R5 surf. Anyone have any thoughts/experiences on the transition to the reversed prop on the surf boats?

Getting conflicting opinions on the best size engine for R5 -350 or 380 hp??


Also, never wake surfed before, but enjoy wakeboarding and slalom skiing. Is the skiing okay behind the R5? Is it difficult to learn wake surfing?

[Big Block Power]

Welcome to CC from Wisconsin. I personally would go with the 430. Don't short yourself. Lol no one ever says I wish I had a smaller engine. Go big or go home!
380 from the sounds of it has been a great engine.

[mbobo24]

430! Now you're talking! Trying to maintain some semblance of a budget though!

[Big Block Power]

430! Now you're talking! Trying to maintain some semblance of a budget though!

Cobalt and budget don't go together!
Read the list post in here to buy surf or not to buy a surf. Some good reading in there.

[mbobo24]

Interesting opinions out there. Seems to be widespread concern/negativity toward the whole forward drive concept. Our water gets very shallow by late season, so I am worried. Center drives like in the mastercraft, etc, appear to have more "protection" for the prop.
Like some postings mentioned, I too worry that surfing may be a fad of sorts, eventually killing you on resale of the surf models.

[Big Block Power]

What lake will you be on? Shallow water is not your friend. I don't think Inboard has more protection. It just draws less water empty. I don't think it's a fad. It will be around a long time till the next things comes along.

[mbobo24]

Kentucky lake. Right now water levels around my cove when we do watersports averages 10 feet. That will drop significantly over the next few weeks. The problem is that you can unpredictably run into 2-3 feet of water at any time. Also, navigating up and down the main lake to eat out, etc, shallow water of 3 feet depth or less is not uncommon to encounter as you enter coves. Even this time of year, the prop on my I/O will churn up some mud in many areas.

[JTinMO]

If I were in your shoes, I would not even consider the forward drive in that case. Sounds like a recipe for a lot of lower unit work in the future.

[Big Block Power]

Yea if you were on Cumberland or TR ot Norris then I would say go for it. But like tin said you might be looking for trouble.

[tgrace98]

with that shallow of water I wouldn't consider a forward drive. Or any sort of boat with an inboard. A guy in my condo complex at the lake has a new Malibu that he keeps on the trailer while he is looking for a slip. I noticed it didn't have much protection for the prop either.

[Norris_Boating]

Just bought an R7 Surf, of course I am on Norris so when the water gets to 20ft deep I start to get worried! LOL
Do you find that you trim up now to get over those spots? If so then the forward facing might be an issue. I was talking to the guys at two different dealers in the area and they have yet to replace a prop on a forward facing drive and said they have been selling really well. (40% of all cobalt sales is the rumor I heard).
I don't think surfing is a Fad.
My brother has an R5 with 350 HP and pulled me right out on a slalom ski (hadn't gotten up on a slalom in years), talking to Travis Marine in Knoxville he said the 350HP is what they usually sell and nobody has ever said it felt underpowered. With that being said nobody has ever said the 380 was underpowered either. I don't think the 430 is needed IMO.
Also remember that when you see 3ft deep on the depth finder, that is from the bottom of the boat not from the top of the water.
The only time I have heard of the forward drive getting damaged is someone on here did it pulling onto a trailer. So make sure you get the right type of trailer!!

[mbobo24]

On my I/O, I never have found it necessary to trim up. However, at the end of every boating season, I generally have a few rough edges on my propellers that need smoothing, but no lower unit damage (so far)!

Dealership in Nashville and Birmingham say that 350 is all they order, but my local dealer says they would not order less than a 380. It seems to me that 350 will be fine, but might want to have the extra hp when you have several passengers. Is the extra hp worth $5000? Maybe so if you are already paying > $125,000 for the boat??

[AsLan7]

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Hello mbobo24. Welcome to the CobaltChat forum.

Wake Surfing is certainly here to stay, (although interest will come and go over the years). The largest factor which will hurt your forward drive resale is a recession, boat condition, and / or someone not being able to use a forward drive wake surf boat on a particular body of water—mainly shallow areas where trimming up the outdrive would be necessary to protect the prop(s).

The forward drive is an offshoot of the VP IPS drive. Volvo redesigned their IPS into an outdrive configuration to fill a niche market—mainly folks who want a deeper vee I/O boat used for bigger water where the higher freeboard is necessary as well as a smoother ride in rougher water over the flatter bottom inboard ski boats. Most importantly, with the props facing forward, you can now wake surf safely behind an I/O.

The newer technology 380 horse VP engine is a great fit for that boat.

Chaparral makes a very nice boat as well and I think you’ll be pleased with the Cobalt quality. It is a step up.

Wake surfing is low impact and folks seem to pick it up quickly from what I’ve read. Definitely test drive before you buy. All we ask for are pics.

Again, welcome aboard mate!



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[Big Block Power]

I just watched a vid on the Nautique G25 2018 it is really cool to see what they have done to that boat. I'm sure it's priced close to the R5 but I'm busy saying it's sweet. I'm a Bu guy myself.

https://youtu.be/r3479vuEEzA
https://youtu.be/wdsZn1Yu_5M

[mbobo24]

Wow, that is one impressive boat!