1st time boat buyer

Mcane6 · Criminal Joined: 31 Aug 2009 Posts: 78 City: Whitesburg

Well im gettin ready to buy my first boat and need some pointers....Im prob going to be lookin at the $20k range and is going to be mainly for wakeboarding. My question is what all should i look for to make sure im gettin a good deal/boat? And as far as hours whats considered high?

JeffreyCH · Posted: Apr 29, 2010 7:25 am Post subject:

I'm looking about the same price range. You should be able to get a very nice older wakeboat for 20k. I've been looking at '00-'04 x-stars and wakesetters. You can find them with everything, tower, ballast, perfect pass ect.

For the most part I find that these type of boats are very well taken care of by the previous owners. Look for any signs of neglect/abuse, soft floors, how it was stored, dirty oil ect. check the motor mount bolts to make sure none of them spin easy as that is a sign of rotted stringers. Ask who has been servicing it, and maybe talk to them also.

STANG KILLA SS · Posted: Apr 29, 2010 7:57 am Post subject:

i bought my 03 moomba mobius LSV for 20k out the door last year.
couldnt be happier.
trailer
perfect pass
1900 ballast
upgraded stereo
140 hours
sick wake both surf and wakeboarding.

LOVE IT!

Grit dog · Newbie Joined: 18 Nov 2009 Posts: 18

Things to consider. Mostly boarding, you'll want to look at Vdrives unless you value wicked fast hole shot and better handling (at the expense of rough water ride). Then look for a DD boat.
V drive will be better for surfing and typically more interior room, more board specific options like, built in ballast.
In the $20k range, I'd consider boats up to about 500hrs, depending on their condition/maint. Inboard setups have a good 1500-2000hr lifespan if maintained properly. Just sold an Indmar powered boat with over 500hrs and bought another Indmar setup with 50 hrs. Can't tell the difference in running quality at all.
FWIW, 100hrs a year on the boat is alot of time at the lake. Avg 8-10 hr day of boarding, cruising, hangin out, skiing, etc puts only 4-5hrs on the hr meter. So 50hrs per yr (about what I average) is close to 20 days on the water.
Regarding brand of boat, that's personal preference. Most all the mfrs have the same or very similar drivetrains either from Indmar or PCM, few Mercs out there too.
In general, you'll pay more for the "high end" mfrs, CC, Malibu, MC to get a same hrs boat as a Centurion, Supra,etc and a little less yet for a Sanger, Moomba, Calabria, etc.
Main diff will be a few creature comforts, maybe better quality tower, racks, upholstery, etc.
Unless you're brand loyal, go fo the lowest hrs and best outward condition/maint for the price. None of the bigger names are a piece of stuff (same drivetrain). Just factor in what accessories are included, heater, swivel racks, badass stereo, ballast, etc, and know what you want as adding accessories is more expensive after the fact for sure.
Read up on the different mfrs forums. ALL of them have some little quirks or issues, some bigger than others.
I have a MC and from all the interweb drivel I read, the 01-03's have some upholstery issues (big $). About 01-06 have fuel pump issues, $500 part at the dealer, $100 part at Napa, etc.

Mcane6 · Criminal Joined: 31 Aug 2009 Posts: 78 City: Whitesburg

Thanks guys for the info keep it coming

seeajgo · Newbie Joined: 15 Apr 2010 Posts: 21 City: Copperas Cove

Mcane6 · Criminal Joined: 31 Aug 2009 Posts: 78 City: Whitesburg

what kind of loan rate should i be looking for...yrs,interest rate, ect.???

Broccoli B · Posted: May 07, 2010 12:50 pm Post subject:

Should be similar to car loans, 5 or 6 years at 4 or 5 percent.

Mcane6 · Criminal Joined: 31 Aug 2009 Posts: 78 City: Whitesburg

Ok so i know the obvious wakestters x-stars etc that are designed wakeboard boats but what other hull models can i look for that can make a good wakeboard boat? I know tha the maristar is the same as the x-series and the sunsetter is same as the wakesetter but what about like the nautiques, centurions, moombas?

Mcane6 · Criminal Joined: 31 Aug 2009 Posts: 78 City: Whitesburg

ok i found a 99 supra launch for $19900 but when i looked it up on NADA it was only $17300.....Whats yalls opinion? The boat has 435hrs tower racks bimini top decent audio system rear ballast and wakeplate....only thing i saw was a few spots in the seats that need to be fixed.

Chattwake · Posted: May 12, 2010 9:27 am Post subject:

There's an '02 xstar on craigslist in knoxville for 24k...

Okie Boarder · Ladies Man Joined: 03 Mar 2008 Posts: 10056 City: Edmond

That seems a little high for the 99 Launch.

petrey10 · Criminal Joined: 09 Jun 2009 Posts: 70

I would never go over NADA but thats just me... unless it was amazingly low hrs and looks brand new or something

Mcane6 · Criminal Joined: 31 Aug 2009 Posts: 78 City: Whitesburg

yea i saw the xstar its just lil out of my price range

aight well just got off the phone about it and they only will loan $15300 on it so that tells me the boat is only worth that.....so looks like its back to searching.

Chattwake · Posted: May 13, 2010 6:36 am Post subject:

The xstar would be a steal if you could get them down to like 21k

Butcher · Newbie Joined: 11 May 2010 Posts: 27 City: St. Louis

You could always get a boat with a proven hull like the 96-00 prostar 205 or the 95-00 super sport nautique. Those boats are in your price range but will need ballast, tower, ect to turn them into an x star or a san. You could also look at a 2000 or so Sanger v210 which is an awsome boat and in your price range. I'm in the market and in the same boat as you right now...no pun intended.....or was it...