first inboard 92 nautique excel, advice?

92nautiquexcel · Newbie Joined: 26 Jan 2010 Posts: 6 City: Abilene

hey everyone,
i just bought my first inboard, its a 1992 nautique excel (v-drive), and this is also my first post! i was reading through this site and i noticed some other members also have nautique exels. How does this boat perform compared to some of the other older inboards that are known for their wakes? (sport nautique, 2001, sunsetter, ssn and whatever i am missing) . i also read that people put quite a lot of weight in this boat, and i am wondering where they put it? there isn't a ton of storage on this boat(with life jackets and batteries and everything else in the engine compartment, and i dont really want to use up a whole lot of passenger space because there isn't a whole lot of that either. one more thing i know this is a long post but is there anything i should know about this boat as far as maintenance, winterizing, or pretty much anything else out of the ordinary? thanks in advance for all the help everybody!

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

Nice, I looked hard for a Nautique Excel when I bought my Sport Nautique 6 years ago (sold it 3 years ago). From everything I've read the Excel is a great wakeboard boat. Is this the open bow (playpen) model or closed? If it's got a playpen I'd put some weight up there and then load up the rear compartments.

I put 1400 pounds in my Sport Nautique, but I think it was a little bigger than the Excel. I'd start with 600 in the back and 400 in the playpen or under the nose if you can fit it.

92nautiquexcel · Newbie Joined: 26 Jan 2010 Posts: 6 City: Abilene

its a play pen, according to my correct craft manual the excel is a couple hundred pounds heavier than the sport. i have actualy read the oposit as far as the weight distro goes, people say that the wake will wash out with to much weight in the back i guess because its a vdrive and is already pretty heavy in the stern. either way i cant wait until spring to experiment and find out Very Happy

thanks for the advice!

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

92nautiquexcel, yeah, you have to play with it. Every boat and rider preference is different. The problem with small bows is that it's hard to put much weight up front. The wake is pretty narrow so you generally have to ride farther back - 70 or 75 ft line. At that distance the wake can curl over depending on your speed.

The general rule is 60/40 toward the back but you could start 50/50 if you wanted to. Just watch how low the bow will sink.