'81 ski nautique

Enygma · Soul Rider Joined: 26 Jul 2009 Posts: 356

This boat just came up for sale in my area for $3000. Seems like a bargain to me and my buddies so we might pick it up. I'm land locked and boats here are DAMN expensive. A 93 glastron i/o with high hours and no tower sells for $10,000 around here.

So now we have the chance to jump into a more proper wake boat and I have a few questions. What problems should we be looking for? I already went and did a quick once over. The boat has 351 hours(LOW!!!!!!!), Interior is all there and barely a scratch. It's old looking and somewhat faded but still in great shape. Hull looks to have some minor scratches, not much that can't be fixed and considering the age of the boat we were expecting nothing less. The platform is in bad shape too. Not rotten but definitely needs some TLC.

How would I go about checking the stringers?It's obvious the boat has been just sitting for at least a year as well. Would there be damage to bearings? Would I be able to just repack them or are new bearings in order? I can tell the boat has been sitting because the trailer tires are screwed. 1 is flat and the sides are cracked. Both need replacement before I can even move the boat.

And of course the most important part. How's the wake on these boats? We likely wont be surfing. I do have 3 ballast bags. ! 500 lb and 2 350 lb so those will go in there. The 500 at the back and one of the 350's up front I figure would be good.

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

Little rough around the edges, but not bad. That swim deck looks like it just needs to be sanded / cleaned up and oiled. Seems like it isn't normally covered judging by the snow inside. Walk around inside the boat and feel for soft spots. To check the stringers, what a lot of people do is torque down on the engine mount lag screws into the stringers. I would definitely want to to a lake test of some sort and check out the stringers. Otherwise it would be a good start. Be prepared for costs to add up quickly to take care of any issues it has or develops. The wake on these is really good.

fish6942 · Addict Joined: 22 Feb 2006 Posts: 603

Regarding the engine, are you sure it's 351 hours and not 351 cubic inches?

Ridesteady · Newbie Joined: 08 Apr 2011 Posts: 20 City: Austin

The Texas A&M Wake Team has a 2001 Nautique that is similar to this one. It puts out a decent wake when properly loaded down...

STANG KILLA SS · Posted: Apr 12, 2011 6:35 am Post subject:

check the stringers and floor board. and the oil. if its super thick there hiding shot rings or valve seals.

being uncovered in that enviroment is bad. that melting snow has got to be rotting all the wood.

there awesome wake boats though. my first was a 83 SN2001.

Nor*Cal · Ladies Man Joined: 12 Jan 2003 Posts: 9479 City: Sac

FlyZone CR · Posted: Apr 12, 2011 9:29 am Post subject:

Indeed this is NOT a 2001. The wake on this one will be narrower and especially steeper.