1999 Epic 22

[Wakeboy01]

I was wondering how these boats are for wakeboarding. I've heard the wake can be a bit soft.

I don't want to buy a boat and spend $10k+ if I'm not going to be satisfied with it and if you're going to buy the steak you mine as well pay a little more for the bigger portion I feel.

[phenom_1819]

Wake is definitely not soft...!  The dude on wakeworld needs to add some weight... but I'm sure you saw my comment there already. 

[masonlk]

Find someone in your area with an Epic, offer to kick in some gas money, and ask for a couple of pulls so you can judge for yourself. I would recommend you do this with ANY boat you consider buying. A good used boat is going to run you $20-30k. Make sure you are buying the one YOU want.

[Wakeboy01]

Well I'm currently in Des Moines IA and haven't run past too many people that even wakeboard here..... not to mention there is only 8 lakes in the state probably. But if anyone on here is in the Des Moines area willing to pull me let me know!!! 

The boat I buy will be the first boat I've owned and I'm not looking to drop $20k-$30k just yet and I'm not looking to spend $15k and put $10k in repairs to it. I agree with you though I should ride behind it, but then again I'm not going pro wakeboarding and I'm not that amazing at it yet either so I don't need top of the line.

I've heard good things about Epics mechanically and was just wondering how riding behind one boarding was since this one was in my budget. I've ridden behind a 99 mastercraft prostar 196 (I believe) and if we put 4 people in the boat with 1000 lbs of sand the wake was big but it was somewhat "soft" where you would plow through it more than anything as you can see in the pic.

I appreciate your feedback guys and anymore you have is appreciated.

[cyclone]

I owned a 2000 Epic 22 and the wake is big and meaty with a long ramp. I ran around 2k and 5 people. The boat will need to be repropped to run that kind of weight. I like the rampy wake myself, there's more room to land and it doesn't throw you straight up like a Nautique. I've tried, I just can't get used to the wake behind those boats.

The Epic stock wake is great for beginners because it has a perfect shape and holds up at 17-19 mph. It responds well to added weight.

The Epics have some common features that make them stand out among other comp/wake boats. They are big boats with a TON of room and storage. They have a superior Lexus engine that has plenty of power, is very smooth and reliable, and is extremely fuel efficient. 2-4 GPH at towing speeds. They are also put together very well using industry standard parts excepting the engine and certain driveline parts.

The boats typically don't take much to keep running, and problems besides nuisance stuff are rare. 

[phenom_1819]

In that pic you posted behind the MC, you will be much happier by increasing the line length...  The wake looks better about 20-30 feet further back, and I think that may be why the wake was underwhelming.  And I don't think there are many wakes out there that feel "soft" with 1000 lbs...  And the Epic 22 is certainly not one of them.  Now there are two people on wakeworld claiming it was "soft" -- And both of them said they rode with "no ballast".   

I've ridden on many different wakes, and consider myself an advanced wakeboarder.  The wake on the Epic 22 is one of my favorites.  Don't let the wakeworlder's fool you -- you don't NEED 3000 lbs and a wall-of-a-wake to have a good time.  For all but the top 1%, it is complete overkill.  Most talk a big game and hide behind a screen name. 

My crew could throw everything we could behind the Epic, it is a nice intermediate wake with ballast -- larger and rampier than any other direct-drive boat I've ridden behind.  Dump the ballast, and you have a very easy-to-cross beginner wake that makes everybody feel like a hero.  It is not a wake-specific hull and does not have 1200 lbs of plumbed-in ballast, so it will never be an Xstar...  But it will provide years of good wakeboarding and great times.

And the boat is reliable as hell -- you couldn't spend $10k in repairs in 10 years...

I hope that helps.

[lilfoo2225]

well said!