2002 - 2005 Super Air Nautique (Lake Tahoe, CA)

[JDC02SANTE]

KDenning, good luck with your search. I wish I had found this place before I bought my '02 in 2021. Not that I wouldn't have bought it, but I would've known a lot more going into it and maybe asked a bunch more questions. I had just missed out on too many boats that spring/summer and finally got mine just before the 4th of July and figured I'd just need to fix up some things each year to make it better.

I have the GT40 w/ @1000 hours. Had help adding a 2nd battery, disconnect switch, new steering cable and complete audio overhaul and I cleaned up the swim platform and brackets (couple posts in here showing the work) and I'm all in for just around $30K, so there's hope you get it. Also, I'm sure I paid a premium buying in 2021.

And if they won't take you for a test ride, I'd be suspicious.

Anyway, go after exactly what you want and you'll find it! My kids (22,19 & 15) love it and we're barely using it to its potential so far.

[KDenning]

The search continues! We're off to a dry start to winter compared to last year so snowboard/back country fever hasn't dampened our longing for a boat.

It's been informative to watch prices come down on boats that were originally listed for $40,000 during summer that are still on the market now listed for $28,000 - $35,000. I've had a few sellers come back to me and accept my offer that they said was "insulting" during summer.

It's also been disheartening to talk to several sellers that have boats with the GT40 and new Faria gauges that stop responding to messages when I ask about documentation for the actual hours on the boat. I'm now aware that even the hours recorded o

For that reason (and aesthetics) I'm narrowing my search to boats with the Excalibur 330 engine in the sub-600 hour range. I'll update my original post to reflect that new criteria.

[KDenning]

Thanks for the well-wishes, JDC02SANTE! That's a gorgeous boat. You're right, these forums are invaluable. I'm a long time member (decade +) of a couple other forums so I hate to be asking all the same basic questions that have already been covered but I'm finding quite a bit of information that's helped rule in (and rule out) a lot of boats.

We've found a boat that we continue to get more serious about:

2003 SAN (Limited)

2 owners, 585 hours, and well cared for.

The owner agreed to take the boat in for a pre-purchase inspection at the shop that I chose in his area. I talked to the service department and was pleased with what their pre-purchase inspection includes for $318. Their pre purchase inspection is the same as their pre-trade-in inspection. The agreement is I'll pay for the inspection if nothing catastrophic is found. If something catastrophic is found we will determine the next steps based on the findings.

The owner has been very, very transparent with me and answered every request. Funny how many sellers stop responding to questions/requests when they figure out that I know what I'm looking for, lol.

If the inspection goes as planned we'll go up for a test drive and bring the boat home if everything is in order. Fingers crossed! There have been three boats that I've gotten this far along with just to have the seller stop responding/refuse to let me take the boat out/decline a pre purchase inspection under the above conditions. I know $30,000 is nothing to most people on here with $200,000 + boats but it's a fair chunk of change for us so it's worth being careful and getting exactly what we want.

[JDC02SANTE]

Hey KDenning, there is an '04 210 team edition for sale on Facebook marketplace and I saw it in the OG 210 Owners Group on Facebook. Black hull with blue stripe.

Listed in Rogers, AR, which I know is a bit far away from where you're at. Listed for $33,300.

https://www.facebook.com/marketplace...ibextid=dXMIcH

[Scooter G]

Nice rig!
Good fuel economy is always my 1st priority when shopping for a boat, lol
And I said, "Compared to what?"

[MN Ryan]

Lol, I'm pretty confident that my boat's fuel economy is worse than my truck pulling the boat.

[JDC02SANTE]

I try not to pay attention to either one, boat or the truck. But I can't pull the boat with a bike, nor a surfer. So fill er up again and let's go.

[MN Ryan]

Exactly.

[KDenning]

Our top contender so far is at the marina for it's pre-purchase inspection today. Fingers crossed!

[Scooter G]

Good job, anxious to hear...

[KDenning]

The boat came back from the pre-purchase inspection with a great report on 12/28/2023!

Nothing of concern was noted with the exception of the rear left brake light on the trailer not working. That's the least of my worries since I've got trailer wiring experience.

Here's the details if anyone wants to weigh in on this deal!

2003 Super Air Nautique (Limited) with 582.5 hours and matching tandem axel trailer. Compression on all cylinders was between 135 and 145.

The boat had $2,450 worth of parts/labor 06/25/2023 including oil/filter/impeller/v drive fluids + installation/plumbing of two 750lb FatSacs in the rear lockers. During that service the boat received another good report from the mechanic.

This is essentially a two owner boat. The current owner bought the boat in April of 2023 and found that it was not a good fit for his family. The interior is in excellent condition and the exterior was freshly detailed with no notable imperfections that would require attention. We haven't seen the boat in person yet but the owner has sent me detailed videos of everything that I've requested.

The only issue that has been reported to me is that the pilot tubes have been disconnected so the boat's speed is read on the perfect pass which is no issue based on the countless threads on that topic here.

The agreement is we'll pay the seller $26,000 if everything looks/feels the way that it's been represented to me via pictures and videos.

Fingers crossed!

Thanks again for all the help and insight so far, everyone!

[MN Ryan]

Sounds like a nice boat at a fair price. Good luck.

[JDC02SANTE]

Awesome news! Hope everything goes as planned and you're in the water before you know it.

[KDenning]

Any advice for my on-water test next Monday (01/29)?

The current owner has limited experience with wake boats (hence the sale of the boat) and I haven't driven a SAN since I was thirteen years old, lol! My boating experience for the last two decades has been salt water outboard boats.

Again, it's a 2003 SAN (Limited) sitting at 582.5 hours. The boat has been through two pre-purchase inspections now, has new fluids, and a new steering cable.

In a perfect world the owner would be able to walk me through the boat and it's systems but that's not the case. I'm comfortable going off of feel/sound/visual inspection but if there's anything the forum would suggest I look for specifically please let me know!

Thanks in advance! If the test drive goes well I'll be getting her winterized in Redding before the 4.5 hour drive back to the Lake Tahoe basin. All five tires are brand new.

[KDenning]

Home sweet home! I would have driven just about anywhere for the right boat. Lucky for me the right boat for us was only 4 hours away!

Usually this time of the year we can't wait for more snow/more winter. Now we're pretty eager for summer!