SX22 Envy

[FreeLance]

I have a perfect S22 that has had every Toyota brain fart bug worked out over the last 15 years I have owned it.  It runs like a top, all wiring and panels redone, basically a brand new boat with a year 2000 born on date! 

But for some reason I have always had SX22 envy for the integrated ballast and the more refined look on the interior, especially the 2002 models.

Am I over thinking the benefits of the SX22?

For the S22 owners out there what mods have you done to bring it closer to the SX22 level?

Or should I continue to search for a 2002 SX22 and make the plunge and sell my S22?

This boat for example looks pretty cool.

[blindside]

If you find one, buy it. You will always be able to sell either one after you try it out and see if it's what you wanted

[cyclone]

tI felt the same way and eventually bought one. The integrated ballast is cool because tanks are below the waterline and that helps handling vs bags everywhere. That being said, they are problematic, tanks usually leak and the controls and pumps always need work. SO, they never fill and drain reliably. I have rebuilt mine and currently have the pump/valve assembly pulled out of boat as I don't really need ballast anymore.

The best thing about them is the higher ratio of the Vdrive trans, 1.46 vs. 1.23, it gets out of the hole quicker. You can fix a lot of this on an S22 with the right prop. V drive trans's are available, I have a spare I might let go.

It really depends if you run with a lot of weight whether it's worth upgrading to an SX, and even then, if you run 3K of weight the boat is underpowered for that. There are only a few 2002 SX's around, most are 2001 and there were only 40 of those.

[FreeLance]

With the S22 I remember Capt. Rick saying they used foam in the area that the SX22 has tanks.  Over the years I am pretty sure my foam has been saturated with Water.  I had the fork lift operator give me a weight and my boat came in at 4200 pounds with a full tank of gas.  The dry weight is something like 3200 pounds so 300 pounds of gas, and let's say 200 pounds of gear, that leaves 500 pounds of permanent water weigh ballast!  :-)

No pumps and parts to break.  So when it is all said and done I guess I should appreciate the boat I have and how well it is dialed in.

[lakerats247]

I've been in love with my Epic SX for over 18 years, but haven't really been impressed with the internal ballast system, as it still required a fat sack to get the wake "just right."

That being said, I don't know that I will ever sell it. I love the 2001 "Shockwave" color scheme, the all-original graphics, and the way it stands out in a crowd.

[Capt Rick]

In the past if SX is leaking from the ballast system it leaks into the bilge and you end up with excess water.

[cyclone]

Yes, when they leak into bilge you just keep fill and bilge running when you are boarding, and cycle the bilge pump. no big whup really.

If you really wanted to seal up leaky tanks (check everything else first of course) you could cut in a couple of watertight round hatch covers and reach in with the old fiberglass resin and a brush and fill all of the nooks and crannies.

I'm not doin it, just sayin. Also, it's VERY important to winterize your ballast system.