R8 experience

[time2markit]

Hello friends,
I sold my r7 2019 ,430hp and wondering if there are r8 owners ?
I will be happy hear real experience and not from sales man how the new model vs the r7,

speed? Fuel consumption? Upholstery?
Thanks in advance
Ben

[BobRae99]

Hi Ben, I don’t know if anyone here has taken delivery yet. Can you share why you sold your 2019 R7 ?

[tgrace98]

I’ve walked around on an r8 but haven’t driven one. Interior seems bigger than the current R7. It’s 6in longer so maybe why. Besides that I didn’t see any immediate need to go sell my r7 for one. If I wanted to get into a surf model I would. But standard stern drive to stern drive it didn’t wow me enough to go for one

[Big Block Power]

I’ve walked around on an r8 but haven’t driven one. Interior seems bigger than the current R7. It’s 6in longer so maybe why. Besides that I didn’t see any immediate need to go sell my r7 for one. If I wanted to get into a surf model I would. But standard stern drive to stern drive it didn’t wow me enough to go for one

Tank didn't you get pictures of it too?

[tgrace98]

I’ve walked around on an r8 but haven’t driven one. Interior seems bigger than the current R7. It’s 6in longer so maybe why. Besides that I didn’t see any immediate need to go sell my r7 for one. If I wanted to get into a surf model I would. But standard stern drive to stern drive it didn’t wow me enough to go for one

Tank didn't you get pictures of it too?

Yeah the ones I walked through are the ones you see in all the pictures and videos online. I just happened to be at table rock the week they were filming

[Zhawker30]

What was your thoughts on the upholstery for the new R6/R8? I’m in the process of purchasing R8 surf. I can’t decide on an interior color. I’m not sold on the new style/design of the interior. Did you guys think the upholstery looks better in person then in the pictures?

[AsLan7]

What was your thoughts on the upholstery for the new R6/R8? I’m in the process of purchasing R8 surf. I can’t decide on an interior color. I’m not sold on the new style/design of the interior. Did you guys think the upholstery looks better in person then in the pictures?

I just purchased a 2020 R5 surf and I am registering with the Coast Guard and need to put the name on the boat. Struggling on what to do because the only options is to put between the two transom speakers and will need to remove the R5 badging and possibly the Surf badging which I would prefer to keep. As I understand, the boat name text will need to be 3 inches in height. Has anyone taken off the badging to fit the boat name?

.

Hey Z. Missed you the first time around. Glad you found us.
Did you sell the R5 already or are you trading it in for an R6/R8?

...and welcome aboard mate!

.

[higginspa1371]

We were waiting for the R6 reveal and were very disappointed with the new upholstery. If it still had the quilted look, we would probably be proud new owners. That being said, traded in the R5 and purchased a R7 so at least we got a bigger boat. Maybe they will go back to old style at some point.

[Zhawker30]

What was your thoughts on the upholstery for the new R6/R8? I’m in the process of purchasing R8 surf. I can’t decide on an interior color. I’m not sold on the new style/design of the interior. Did you guys think the upholstery looks better in person then in the pictures?

I just purchased a 2020 R5 surf and I am registering with the Coast Guard and need to put the name on the boat. Struggling on what to do because the only options is to put between the two transom speakers and will need to remove the R5 badging and possibly the Surf badging which I would prefer to keep. As I understand, the boat name text will need to be 3 inches in height. Has anyone taken off the badging to fit the boat name?

.

Hey Z. Missed you the first time around. Glad you found us.
Did you sell the R5 already or are you trading it in for an R6/R8?

...and welcome aboard mate!

.

Yeah I am in the process of selling my R5 Surf. We absolutely loved the boat but looking to go up in size to the R8. The only hesitation I have is the upholstery colors/style on the R8.

[AsLan7]

What was your thoughts on the upholstery for the new R6/R8? I’m in the process of purchasing R8 surf. I can’t decide on an interior color. I’m not sold on the new style/design of the interior. Did you guys think the upholstery looks better in person then in the pictures?

I just purchased a 2020 R5 surf and I am registering with the Coast Guard and need to put the name on the boat. Struggling on what to do because the only options is to put between the two transom speakers and will need to remove the R5 badging and possibly the Surf badging which I would prefer to keep. As I understand, the boat name text will need to be 3 inches in height. Has anyone taken off the badging to fit the boat name?

.

Hey Z. Missed you the first time around. Glad you found us.
Did you sell the R5 already or are you trading it in for an R6/R8?

...and welcome aboard mate!

.

Yeah I am in the process of selling my R5 Surf. We absolutely loved the boat but looking to go up in size to the R8. The only hesitation I have is the upholstery colors/style on the R8.

.
That was a fast upgrade!
.

[Big Block Power]

R you going surf again?

[Zhawker30]

R you going surf again?

Yeah going with R8 Surf.

[Norris_Boating]

First, I really like the R8 and debated updating, so don't take this wrong.
But it looks to me like seating in the R8 is slightly less than the R7. The seating behind the captains chair doesn't curve and thus would be less comfortable. The seat on the port side adjacent to the captains chair is smaller, nobody can sit behind when people are sitting in front, it also doesn't come as far out from the gunwale on the R8 vs R7, so two people in this seat would be a bit more cramped.

This is probably one reason it feels bigger. I think there is more floor space, less seating in the cockpit.
My other concern is that I think I saw in a YouTube video that the tower is 5" taller. It is hard enough to get a wake board rope on top of the tower now and it comes close to hitting the roof on my slip when lifted, 5" would certainly make both of these things more of an issue.

[BobRae99]

I think you make some good points. I also notice the angular transom walk through creates an angled cushion on the rear bench which shortens the width of that bench.

There is some good/bad with respect to the new tower height though. People, in general are getting taller and on many surf boats with tower speakers, head clearance is a problem with many "head hits" on the tower speakers. They added some height to avoid that. On my R3, there is an opening in the Bimini top to allow me to reach through and help slip the rope over the tow point. I'm assuming surfers will use the surf ball attachments? Still a problem for the wakeboarder if they use the tower top mounting point.