Axis Wakeboard Boat Forum

Hey guys, this is my first post. I'm from Rhode Island (some of you probably live on lakes bigger than RI). I've been around boats and jet skis my whole life, but this is my first wake boat. After wakeboarding behind a jet ski for 2 years, it's time to upgrade. I have a T22 on order to be delivered in mid June. I can not wait, and I'm excited to join the Axis community! Fresh water is very limited in RI, but we have an awesome bay.

The T22 will spend 90% of its life in salt water. I ordered it with the salt water package that includes closed cooling system, zincs, and a galvanized trailer. As for storage, instead of using a boat launch 20 minutes away, I'm going to keep it at a marina 2 minutes from my house. As of now I plan on painting the bottom of the boat and leaving it in the water all the time. After every time I use it, I plan on flushing it with fresh water and meticulously cleaning/rinsing it. Then I will pull it out of the water once every 2 weeks and wash it very thoroughly.

What is your honest opinion of my plan? I know that I should get a lift for it, but I really don't want to drop another $6K + on a lift, plus I don't even know if they are allowed at the marina (I've never seen one). And I realize that the salt water usage and bottom paint will hurt the resale, but I plan on keeping the boat for a long time.

Congratulations! I too am a new wakeboard boat owner upgrading from a jet boat. I Took delivery of a new T22 just a week ago or so and couldn't be happier. We were fortunate enough to catch it at the factory during the final stage of the build and were really impressed with Malibu! I seriously considered getting the closed cooling system, but after reading some threads and getting some great feedback from this forum, I decided against and spent my money on a cargo Bimini and an upgraded stereo. But for your situation it is definitely needed. Did you get the hydraulic steering too?
As far as leaving the boat in salt water all the time...that's going to be tough on it. For one, I think that the hull will blister if not properly painted or protected. I happen to have spent the last 25 years working on an offshore fishing boat in the Bering Sea of Alaska. I repair and maintain machines that are run constantly in salt water and let me tell you that salt water finds it's way into everything. It is also a nice conductor of electricity hence the necessity for the zincs... And it's not like fresh water...what it does find it's way into...it evaporates and leaves the salt behind. I personally would avoid leaving it in salt water at all costs if it were mine.

Thanks for the reply!

Yes, I got the hydraulic steering too.

I know the salt water will be really tough on in, and that's why getting a lift is not totally out of the question, but I don't want to spend a lot of money on a lift. I also have no experience with a lift and don't know that much about them. I'm really against trailering it every time I use it. So like I said, as of now I'm planning on leaving it in the water and having the bottom painted by a professional to prevent blistering.

Has anyone seen or have pics of an Axis, Malibu, or any wake boat with bottom paint on it?

Could anyone quickly educate me on lifts:
What is the price range?
Should you always buy a new one? Or can you find deals on used ones in good shape?
Any other basic info?

A decent lift of the size we need would start around 4k or so without a canopy. Add a big canopy or electric winch and you can be up 7-10k depending on brand and choice of fabric etc. I spent about 7500 on mine with a 5000lb capacity lift and 26 ft canopy to keep the whole boat with platform covered. May upgrade to electric later. Definitely don't get less than 5000lbs though

Oh and used ones are probably fine, just check out the cables to make sure they are good. Cables can be replaced if bad but I don't know about cost. I also don't know how the steel cable holds up in salt water