I have no personnal experience, but I will say that the X-80 looks awesome. I can't afford a $100+ wakeboard boat, but If I could, that would be the one I got. The only thing I don't like, and this goes for most wakeboard boats, is the tiny barly noticable bimini. I have a 26.6ft Crownline that I have added a tower to, and I use two 8ft bimini's. The Arizona heat kills. Tell him good luck with whatever he ends up with. From what I have seen of both (purely on the internet), they are both pretty cool.