WTB 1999 - 2001 SAN210 or Super Sport (Phoenix Area)

[B-lake Wake]

Hi,
We are interested in purchasing a late 90's or early 2000's Super Air Nautique (SAN) or a Nautique Super Sport. Our budget is around 18K. We would need to look at and drive the boat before purchasing. We want the wrap around seating. Ballast, perfect pass, and a tower are a plus, but not a must (of course the boat wouldn't be as valuable without said items)

It would be great if it was in the Phoenix area, however, we are willing to drive out of state for the right boat. We are in the process of growing our boating YouTube channel and it would be great to become a part of the Nautique family so that we can help others teach their kids to love boating!

[Stevemo14]

I wish you good luck in your search. To get a decent boat for 18K might be a tough nut to crack right now.

[B-lake Wake]

That is true. Prices seem very inflated right now. But, I am willing to try .

[bturner]

And try you will for any vDrive in this market at that price point. Absolute junk was selling in that year / price range last year up here in Michigan. You'll also be hitting the market in the spring which is historically the high dollar end of the season. Do a lot of research on anything you do find in that price range. There very well could a reason for the price. You'll want to pay close attention to the interior, gauges and hours for those years.

Best of luck with your search.

[Stevemo14]

Just as an FYI, I paid a little less than 18k for mine in the spring of 2019, and had to put a TON of work into it. Hours were 660 or so. The link below will show you what I got before the Covid Prices. I also did more to it than maybe most would, but it will give you a general idea.

https://www.planetnautique.com/vb5/f...-in-the-making

[B-lake Wake]

Stevemo14 - Thanks for the info. That is a sweet boat. I really like the aviator tower. Awesome job on all of the work you put into it. Did you ever figure out the ballast with the reversible pumps and small touch screen?

We have been looking for a while but just haven't found "the boat" for us. We drove a Nautique Excel on Saturday, but it was in pretty rough shape. I also found a 1995 Nautique Super Sport in Texas, but all the of the interior needs to be redone. The price was almost right, but we couldn't bring ourselves to drive 16 hours to get that boat. If he came down in price a little more we probably would have done it. I was hoping we could pick one up before the spring rush. If not we will wait until next winter. We have a decent amount of past footage to keep our YouTube channel going, but we will eventually need a boat to keep posting about boating and families.

[B-lake Wake]

And try you will for any vDrive in this market at that price point. Absolute junk was selling in that year / price range last year up here in Michigan. You'll also be hitting the market in the spring which is historically the high dollar end of the season. Do a lot of research on anything you do find in that price range. There very well could a reason for the price. You'll want to pay close attention to the interior, gauges and hours for those years.

Best of luck with your search.

Thanks for the heads up! We will keep looking, might not be until next winter that we actually pick up a boat.

[bturner]

Stevemo's boat is an excellent example of what can be with a vintage boat. Lots of work into that one but it doesn't have to be done all at once. There are 4 pricey upgrades to look out for on older boats (assuming the engine and drive line are solid)......

• Interiors - Up here an interior on a vDrive is going to cost you $4K - $5K for a "value" interior and $6K to $8K for an interior from one of the top shops with best materials.
• Towers - Towers can make or break a boat. Get a cheap of wrong style for your boat and you'll take money off resale. Get the right one and it's money in the bank. Stevemo's is bank. A Roswell Aviator is $3200, a Pro $3600, add blocks and you're at $5K. That's with you doing the installation.
• Speed Control - Perfect Pass is the industry standard on a boat in the years you're looking at. Just like the towers doing it right is key. StarGazer would be the ticket but you'll have close to $1300 into by the time it's taxed and shipped. If you can do the instillation yourself. Add $200 - $300 if not.
• Ballast - While it may seem like a smaller option to add ballast systems sneak up on you in cost. A reversible pump system will cost you about $500 a zone from Wakemakers without bags. Add $400 to $600 for the bags. They can also be a bit intimidating to install. You'll be putting wholes in the bottom of your boat (which just seems wrong) as well as into the sides for the vents. If you haven't done a lot of work on boats to date you'll touch nearly every part of the boat running tubing and wiring the system.All in expect to have about $2K into the boat minimum by the time it's installed.

The last place to be careful with is the trailer which is often overlooked. You're talking a 20 year old trailer here and if it hasn't been maintained (which most are not) you can quickly run up a $400 - $600 tab putting it straight again.

The intent here is not to discourage or intimidate but rather set realistic expectations. With just the tower, ballast and speed control you talking $6K if you wanted to add that later and that's assuming everything else is in great shape. With boats (like classic cars) it's almost always better to spend more up front and buy one someone had either maintained at a high level or already restored than to do it yourself.

[Stevemo14]

Continuing on what bturner stated above, as you can see I have done ALL of this to my boat. There is a 5th upgrade he left out, The Stereo. You can put as much or as little into that as you want, but on a 15-20 year old boat you are probably going to have to address it too. I did all wet sounds in mine, which are on the upper end of the price scale.

Like mentioned above, you can do as little or as much as you want to these older boats. I just happened to do pretty much everything. I can do all the work myself, and enjoy doing it, so labor is free for me. If you count the dirty looks li get from my fiancé when I tell her I'm going to work on the boat, the labor turns not so free, if you know what I mean.

[B-lake Wake]

bturner - That is all excellent information!

I have installed a couple of towers on boats and installed multiple ballast systems. I haven't done PP yet, but I am pretty sure I could figure it out. For sure all of those things don't need to happen right away. We already have ballast bags and a Tsunami pump which would hold us over for a while.

Would you suggest not looking for a boat at this point in time?

2 years ago we had the opportunity to purchase a 1999 Malibu Susetter VLX for 14K (No Ballast, PP, & a sketchy tower), but it wasn't the right time for us. It would have been a great boat.

Out of curiosity is there a specific reason not to keep the Flight Control tower? I do like the strength and look of the Aviator tower, however, what would be the reason for switching the Flight Control tower out for the Aviator?

[B-lake Wake]

"If you count the dirty looks li get from my fiancé when I tell her I'm going to work on the boat, the labor turns not so free, if you know what I mean."

HaHa . I know what you mean. I'm married and we have three kids!

[Stevemo14]

I wouldn't stop looking for a boat at this point in time, you may just have to adjust or budget or your expectations. There are plenty of boats out there, just most are priced a little high right now. Doesn't mean you can try and negotiate and get a good deal. I ask people for good deals all the time, and i get told "NO" more times than yes. I just figure the worst thing that can happen is they say no.

Obviously you are on a Nautique forum, so we are partial to them. I have friends with Malibu's, and they are fine boats, I just like Nautiques better.

The reason i swapped my tower is I really didn't like the FCT, and it swayed with the tower speakers I put on it. The rear plates cracked 2x on me, so i just wanted something different. I sold the FCT and put that money towards the Aviator Pro and Bimini.

You should contact Treybizttu . He has a 1999 super sport that needs finished, but is going for a good price. https://www.planetnautique.com/vb5/f...per-air-python. Make him an offer, you might just get a yes. Better make it over 18K though, I already asked him to sell to to me for that and he said NOPE!!

[B-lake Wake]

Stevemo14 - Thanks for the input. I have been messaging Trey. He seems like a stand-up guy. We shall see where that goes.

[Stevemo14]

I would snatch that thing up if I were you. Its worth every Bit of 25K. Python motor, Aviator Tower, Good Trailer, All the Ballast Stuff, Good Cover Already Modified for the Aviator. If you don't want to fill the front tower holes just cut them bigger and put cup holders in.

I have always wanted a Python, just can't afford another boat right now.

[jtryon]

i'd be all over that python SAN if i were you. work out a price that's good for both of you, and know that thing will hold it's value for many years with that rare motor option.