First Boat?

jeromeswake · Newbie Joined: 11 Jul 2004 Posts: 12 City: Cabot

Any insight on a good first boat! I have been searching the internet for a couple of weeks and have found a couple (1989 Mastercraft, Supras) but don't know what I should be looking for. Also any web-sites that you may know of that sell them. Thanks

chaz28o · Posted: Jul 11, 2004 5:17 pm Post subject:

What's your price range?

Assuming Wakeboarding is your sport - any other exectations?

I had a 88 Mastercraft PS190 (my first "quailty" brand new boat)

the 89 is pretty much the same boat - and I would reconmend it (but you will need fat sacs)

jeromeswake · Newbie Joined: 11 Jul 2004 Posts: 12 City: Cabot

Depends on year! I would like to stay around 9K on a boat that old, but would pay more for a newer boat.

jeromeswake · Newbie Joined: 11 Jul 2004 Posts: 12 City: Cabot

I would like an open-bow boat also!

1time17 · Posted: Jul 11, 2004 7:32 pm Post subject:

well i paid 5k then put 2k in it

BurkeViper · Posted: Jul 11, 2004 9:46 pm Post subject:

jeromeswake, there are some pretty nice boats (I hear a lot of people like the old Natiques). Give us some examples of boats you've found, condition they're in, possibly pictures...more info is better! Very Happy

Sportster4Tec · Posted: Jul 12, 2004 2:45 pm Post subject:

For the 80's and for that price range Ski Nautique 2001's are a great choice. I think the user BIGMAC is selling his with a tower, fatsacs for about that price. They have a great wake, but they dont have an open bow.

jeromeswake · Newbie Joined: 11 Jul 2004 Posts: 12 City: Cabot

I think that the Ski Nautique is the way to go also. I just wish that it had an open bow. Thanks.

Partyb · Posted: Jul 12, 2004 3:27 pm Post subject:

The best boat for the money (under 20K) is the MC prostar 205D; circa 1996ish. Same hull as the current x2. For less money, the 2001 is awesome, not open bow though.

amcowles · Newbie Joined: 09 Jul 2004 Posts: 7 City: Birmingham

What about the Bayliner 175? Has anyone ridden behind it? It's a very econmical deal for a new boat and trailer for about 12K.

pcm2a · Soul Rider Joined: 14 Jun 2004 Posts: 318 City: LaVergne

Well good greif! I didnt realize you could get a new boat so cheap! I should have gone that route. I would also like to know what kind of wake you get with that.

Id also like to see a picture of that bayliner 175 with the tower. $12.5k is a price you cannot beat.

T&T · Outlaw Joined: 07 May 2003 Posts: 192 City: Denver

It's something like a 3 liter engine. It can be a pretty speedy boat, but the hole shot isn't so good unless you change the prop down to a 17 or 15 pitch. We just put a tower on a 2003 end of last summer. Looked pretty sweet. Not a bad all-around boat for the money.

jeromeswake · Newbie Joined: 11 Jul 2004 Posts: 12 City: Cabot

I have heard nothing but bad things from everyone other the Bayliner on those boats. They say the boat is way to light and the engine is way to small. Everyone tells me that the boat won't be able to maintain with you pulling on it everywhere! That is just what I have heard. I looked at them they are pretty nice, but too many - instead of +!

Zito · Criminal Joined: 12 Jul 2004 Posts: 58

You're all lucky to have boats with bars...I have to deal with my whaler thats rope is completely horizontal...but hey, better than nothing.

T&T · Outlaw Joined: 07 May 2003 Posts: 192 City: Denver

amcowles · Newbie Joined: 09 Jul 2004 Posts: 7 City: Birmingham

http://www.bayliner.com/index.asp?display=brochure&modelid=34875&tab=1&

That's the link to the bayliner's site on that boat. I wonder if the 185 would be better for riding behind. Anyone heard any differences between the 175 and the 185?

molypod · Criminal Joined: 05 Jun 2004 Posts: 85 City: Chilliwack

the 185 is a bigger and heavier boat and you also have an option of getting a bigger engine

Wakebrad · Ladies Man Joined: 11 Dec 2003 Posts: 12257 City: Dallas

I looked around like crazy and couldn't find an inboard/vdrive that was open bow for less than $14k that was in good condition. There are a lot of different types of closed bow inboards in the 80s and early 90s for 9k or less though. The Nautqiue 2001s seem to have the best wake when weighted for the era/price.

wakebodr · Newbie Joined: 14 Jul 2004 Posts: 1

if your looking for a first boat (which you are) and are really serious about wakeboarding then i would definetly recommend a Mastercraft X-30. It is a phenominal boat and makes an awesome wake when the ballest tanks are full. It is also a great boat to just ride around on the water on.

jeromeswake · Newbie Joined: 11 Jul 2004 Posts: 12 City: Cabot

I have just found a boat. It is a little more than I want to spend but sounds pretty nice. It is a T5 Centurion. DD, 350 (315hp), 21' it seems to be pretty nice.
http://www.centurionboats.com/NOFLASH/boats/thunder.html
Pretty pricey though. Any thoughts on what you guys think it is worth!
Tower, CD, Cover, Bimini, some other options are also on it!

2002s2k · Newbie Joined: 14 Jul 2004 Posts: 4 City: Red Bank

I just also purchased the Bayliner 175, it is not super fast out of the hole, but definitely does the trick. The wake is decent size if you load it up with people or a sac and if you trim up on the drive it definitely increases the wake size. With three people the wake is kinda small, but with 6 it is perfect. No problems at all cutting hard back and forth.

I bought it without the tower (would have had to wait til September to get the tower) because it is a $1700 option, so I bought the Monster Tower and just put it on, $1025, so I saved a few hundred bucks.

For 13k with the extended warranty and the tower, you really cant beat it.

amcowles · Newbie Joined: 09 Jul 2004 Posts: 7 City: Birmingham

Well that's interesting. OK. It does seem like a very economical purchase. I'm glad you're enjoying it. BTW - what's "a sac"?

pcm2a · Soul Rider Joined: 14 Jun 2004 Posts: 318 City: LaVergne

sack of potatoes

2002s2k · Newbie Joined: 14 Jul 2004 Posts: 4 City: Red Bank

fat sac = water weight inside the boat, giving you a similar wake as having a lot of people in the boat

DBudman · Posted: Jul 15, 2004 5:12 am Post subject:

I agree with Partb,

Mastercraft 1995/96ish open bow prostar 205. I was looking last year at that boat. I have 3 kids so the open is a must. Found a '95 for 14k with under 200 hours. boattrader.com you can find them and compare. I ended up getting a brand new MC. a Maristar 210. Same as the X10 but no bladder or tower. V-drive and I just love it. open floor plan....big L-shape. open bow. I found some 210 MC maristars 1998ish (forgot when they came with current styling) but that was around 25Kish. I paid 39k for my '03 in August...which I thought was a good price since they were trying to get rid of it....49k was sticker.

Good Luck Bro

DBudman · Posted: Jul 15, 2004 5:23 am Post subject:

Just read wakebodr.

Yea the X-30 is awesome. basically the X-10 but 2 feet bigger. The bayliners?....last year I almost went with Searay....basically like the Bayliner. Then I decided on used ski-boat. Then said screw it and up't my budget and went new MC. But what I didn't like about the Searay (same as Bayliner) is it being I/O. Water level can be an issue where I am and the inboard ski boats draw less than I/O's. Also safety factors. Just didn't like the prop on the I/O's hanging off back. Yea you could always just turn off the engine. One other thing...if you decide to ski behind the Bayliner/Searay....you'll be pulling the boat all over the place on your cuts.

Brad.

DBudman · Posted: Jul 15, 2004 5:32 am Post subject:

..........then on the other hand. Promise...my last post.....but then again on the other hand....if your just wakeboarding. I might be inclined for the new Bayliner. I know I prefer the security of brand new things. Warranties...etc. Color choice...option choice.........etc.

Keep in mind resale though. In a couple years you may only lose a couple g's with that mid 90's MC whereas that new Bayliner you'll lose more $'s.

pcm2a · Soul Rider Joined: 14 Jun 2004 Posts: 318 City: LaVergne

My searay pulls some when you go far outside the wake but it doesnt change the speed of the boat.

What do you mean by water level? I cant go into 1 foot of water with the sea ray, but I see these inboard boats going into places where I have personally busted a propeller. The go through unharmed.

DBudman · Posted: Jul 16, 2004 4:47 am Post subject:

I like the searay's don't get me wrong....but at 200lbs I need something that will stay on track a little more.

My lake that I am on has a 2' depth in some areas. The MC is just a shallower boat...draws less than a I/O would....especially from start.

I had my eyes on the Searay 200 select. A really sweet looking boat.

pcm2a · Soul Rider Joined: 14 Jun 2004 Posts: 318 City: LaVergne

My propeller woudl scrape the bottom in 2 feet of water in the sea way. The Hull sits over a foot into the water and the prop is lower than the boat even when fully raised up to the trailer position. When its down it is probably 2.5 feet below the surface of the water.

Sucks. Makes it difficult to beach it to do some exploring in the woods or to hang out for a while. I have to put the trim to the trailor position and get out of the boat in about 4 feet and pull the boat in to make sure i dont bust it all up.

DBudman · Posted: Jul 16, 2004 6:21 am Post subject:

What size is your Searay? Good wake I'm sure?

pcm2a · Soul Rider Joined: 14 Jun 2004 Posts: 318 City: LaVergne

Its not huge, with no extra weight its ok I guess. Trim it up and put some people in the back and it gets more then double that size.

Water was bad the day I took that, made one side of the wake look terrible.

DBudman · Posted: Jul 16, 2004 10:13 am Post subject:

Cool. I did see a picture....but I clicked on your name and got the video clip. That's cool how you were able to include a video on your profile. Your more advanced than me my friend. I have yet to try. Been searching boards. My 10 year old started this year and it looks to be a blast. I was going to purchase a new ski this year but thinking maybe a board. Any recommondations?

Brad

DBudman · Posted: Jul 16, 2004 10:14 am Post subject:

What I meant to say was...I did not see a picture. but got your video. Then I went back to the thread and there the picture was.

pcm2a · Soul Rider Joined: 14 Jun 2004 Posts: 318 City: LaVergne

If you have never owned a boat then I would recomend getting something cheap, that you dont mind breaking, bashing, wrecking, tearing, etc. Thats what Im doing with this boat. I hope in a year or two to dump it for a nice new boat. If I bumped the dock and took a chunk out of a new boat I would be so sad, but a old boat? Just slap the epoxy on there.