Heyday Boat Problems? 9 Most-Common Issues

The Heyday boat is one of the only new budget wake boats on the market this year, and the number of used wake boats on the market is limited.

Here are the 9 most common problems with Heyday boats:

Seating Arrangements are Limited

One of the top complaints I’ve seen made about Heyday boats is in the seating area.  The seats on all of their models are arranged so that you can’t easily move around inside of the boat.  In fact, if you want to change seats, you may have some climbing to do.

The big problem with this is that boating is often a social event.  People like to be able to walk around and talk to each other without having to worry about what seat they’ve been assigned to.

This problem could be especially painful for people who buy some of the larger Heyday boat models. They may have over ten people on board, but they’ll only actually be able to talk to one or two of them.

On the positive side, the seats do look like they are quite comfortable.

People who are just onboard to relax or to surf probably won’t mind the fact that they can’t move around quite as much as they’re used to.

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The Windshields May be Lacking

I’ve seen other people complain that the windshields are either too small or not there at all.  I’m not sure that I see this being a huge problem in the warmer months, but it could become an issue on days when it isn’t quite as warm outside.

The reason for this is that you’re going to get blasted by the wind as you drive.  Sure, your passengers can hunker down in their seats to escape the wind, but as the driver, you’ll have to be cold.

Before you decide, remember that it doesn’t have to be that cold out for the wind to quickly drop your body temperature.  You may find that this boat isn’t very comfortable in the spring or fall.

For people living in someplace like Hawaii or the southern tip of Florida, this probably isn’t a huge issue.  These people will be warm anyway, and without the windshield, they’ll have less cleaning to do.

Storage is Limited

Looking at pictures of these boats, I can’t see any right places for storage.  In my opinion, this is a huge disadvantage.

Boat owners need places to store extra life jackets, towels, emergency gear, and even snacks. Take away this storage, and the boat becomes a cluttered mess.

On top of this, your boating gear is likely to blow right out of the boat.  My parents often left stuff lying around their first boat as a kid, and I still vividly remember the constant trips back with the net to retrieve lost items.

It wasn’t enjoyable having to scoop towels and hats from the water, and I’m sure we ended up losing plastic bags and other items that shouldn’t have been left in the bay.

The next boat my parents bought had plenty of storage options available, and we were all glad not to have to worry about losing things anymore.

The local environment was probably a bit happier as well.

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There Isn’t Much Versatility.

The seating arrangements of these boats have a significant impact on the versatility of this boat.  A typical bowrider boat can be used for water sports, but it can also go fishing or cruising.  This boat wouldn’t be perfect for anything other than watersports.

Are you searching for a boat that will only be used for wake surfing?

If so, this boat may be for you.  Otherwise, you’ll find this boat’s layout a non-starter as you’ll have to get a second boat to do any other activities.

On the plus side, you won’t have to take people cruising or fishing.  If you’re not into either of these things, then this could be an advantage.

You’ll be like the single mother or father who doesn’t want to join in on the kid’s carpools, so he/she buys a two-seater.

Just picture yourself saying, “I’m sorry, I’d love to take you out fishing, but my boat just isn’t built for that,” all the while secretly smiling to yourself.

Resale Value Could Be Low

Heyday boats don’t have the name recognition that many other boats have.  On top of this, these types of boats serve a very niche market.

These two factors combine to make a boat that could be more difficult to resell.  As a result, you’ll probably end up with a boat that has a reduced resale value.

The positive side to this is that you may be able to pick a used Heyday boat up at a bargain price.

This is especially true if you’re willing to wait a few years as these boats aren’t quite old enough to be flooding the used market just yet.

The Look of The Boat Isn’t for Everyone.

Another complaint I’ve seen is that people don’t like the way these boats look.

Personally, I don’t think this would be a huge problem for me, but I could see how this could affect others.  Most people will be buying this boat as a luxury item and will want it to look good.

On the other hand, some people like their things to look unusual.

If you happen to be one of these people, the Heyday boat’s unusual look might be more of a benefit than a detriment to you.

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There are Rumors of Passenger Ejections During Rides

I don’t have any personal experience seeing anyone ejected from Heyday boats.  Of course, this is probably because I don’t think I’ve ever even seen a Heyday boat out on the water (which could be another problem with these boats).

However, I have read that people have had their passengers ejected from the boat during use.

If this is true, this is a hazardous situation. Before buying a Heyday boat, you may want to see if you can take one for a test drive.

This would give you an authentic feel for how the boat handles, and it would show you whether or not your passengers would be at risk of having to take a swim every time you take them out on the water.

I really can’t see any positives to this problem, but these stories may have been inflated.

Again, I’ve never actually seen it happen, and I’ve only read stories about it so that these boats may handle just fine.

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The Surf Wake Might Be Too Small for Some Surfers

A lot of people seem to be disappointed with the surf wake that Heyday boats create behind them.  This is unfortunate since this is one of the primary reasons a person would get a Heyday boat.

The larger the surf wake, the more fun you and your passengers will have surfing behind your boat.

On the other hand, when it comes to boats with a large surf wake, you may end up having to spend a lot more money.

In the end, it might come down to how much more money you’re willing to spend for a larger surf wake.

If you can live with a smaller one, a Heyday boat’s reduced cost might be the more economical option.

Older Models Have Center Consoles

It seems that the newer Heyday boats have side consoles.

This is where you’d normally find the console, and most people prefer it that way.

However, the first Heyday models all seemed to have center consoles.  This is something that might work if the boat were a fishing boat, but it isn’t.

The center console placement was awkward, and it was something that turned a lot of would-be buyers off.

Unfortunately, this means that if you’re looking to buy a used model with a console on the right-hand side, you may have to wait a while.

The models being sold today probably won’t hit the used market for a few more years, and the ones that are hitting the used market now will likely have a center console instead.

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The Pros and Cons of Heyday Boats

Pros:

Heyday boats are great for a comfortable and fun experience!

This is a great boat with comfortable seats and premium stereo systems to have fun in, whether with family or friends!

These boats have great value and are priced well for all their amenities. You usually aren’t breaking the bank on these great boats – however, you are getting more than just a basic boat for the price.

Furthermore, the style of the boat is incredibly unique and sporty!

Unlike most other boats, it is great for going fast, riding waves, and having fun with friends.

Cons:

• Limited Seating
• Limited Storage
• Resale Value is Low
• Not a Great Look to some
• Can’t Generate Large Wake

What Do the Reviews Say?

Boats.com sums up the value pricing of Heyday boats perfectly with this quote:

“If you try hard enough, you can spend over $200K on a towboat. But the truth is that the appeal of watersports including wake surfing and wakeboarding is far broader than the group of people who can afford a $100,000 boat.”

Source: Boats.com

Heyday boats are appealing to people who want to wake surf and wakeboard but don’t want to spend a ton of money doing so.  You’ll notice that this brand sells multiple models for less than $50.000.00.

“The boat is short on frills, but that is the mission of this boat: create big wake surfing fun at an affordable price.”

Source: Boattest.com

As we said earlier, the boat is built with a mission in mind, which makes it excellent for anyone who wants a boat that is truly meant for water sports.

What’s the Resale Value on Heyday Boats?

Heyday boats are still pretty new, so that you won’t find too many used ones on the market today for comparison.

This being said, I did find a few older models for sale on Boattrader.com:

The only one of these boats that appeared to have actually been used was the 2016 model.

At $28,995.00, it is selling for about $11,000.00 less than a new model. 

This is almost 30% less than what it was currently selling for.

Final Thoughts

This post was focused mostly on the common problems of Heyday boats and therefore was mostly negative.

We did this so that you could see the downsides of buying a Heyday boat over some of the other boats that you might be considering.

However, this doesn’t mean that we think Heyday boats are bad boats.  In fact, a Heyday boat might be the perfect boat for you.

Just be sure to go over the potential downsides to owning a Heyday boat and decide for yourself whether or not these downsides apply to you and your particular needs.

References:

Boats.com

Boattest.com

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