New Nautique vs Mastercraft

[jdarwin]

Nautique vs MasterCraft

I find this topic relevant considering that I just sold my 2007 SN 196 ( 14th Nautique I've owned) and just ordered a MC 197. I sold my 196 because we need a current year boat on site to host tournaments. As a Sr Driver, I have the opportunity to drive all the "Big 3" each year. The SN 200 is a very nice boat to drive and ski behind. The fact that it burns approx. 1/3 more fuel due to the high RPM's at speed gave me pause. Then, when I inquired with MC and Nautique (wouldn't consider a Malibu) considering their Tournament Teams, the Nautique was $8-9k higher. That was the primary factor in ordering the MC. I still love Nautiques and will probably own another one day but for now, it's simply a matter of economics. The MC TT 197 is an easy boat to sell (another consideration) and looks very nice w/ the mini-tower making it more adaptable to other disciplines. If the pricing were comparable, I'm still not certain I would have gone w/ Nautique. For the money, the 197TT is a good value.

[teamseal]

Dark side of the force!

Hi Joe,
Sorry to hear you decided on the MC. As the ski 200 (2011) goes into the next year their will be some refinements to the boat that you will miss out on.

Their are many of us currently that have gone ahead and re-proped our 200's for other than tournament use. currently I am running a re-cupped (heavy) 422 ACME and have the RPMS at 36 mph with a big skier on down to about 3880 well under the 4000 that the boat was running when I got it. The boat now goes 49mph with just me in it. I do put the 654 back on for tournaments.

Stephen has learned how to jump with the 654 and we have even pulled a couple of records with the boat in jump.
I do think as we learn more about the boat and give feed back to CC the 200 model will be even better than it already is!
Again Joe sorry to hear you went to the dark side of the force :-)

Jody

[jdarwin]

Thanks!

Jody - thanks for the condolences!! I hear Monica is going to ULM this fall. My daughter is a junior on the ski team - they get plenty of "MasterCraft" time. She is more than welcome to come home w/ Emily on weekends and ski our site (1 1/2 hour drive). We have a 2006 196 w/ ZO at our site - she'll feel right at home - LOL!!

[2gofaster]

Every tournament I've been to this year, I've heard the LOC's complaining about the amount of fuel that the 200's uses. That is big to these people.

JD, what engine did you order in the 197?

[jdarwin]

Engine

MCX 350hp - no need for the big motor at my place.

[gride300]

i agree that indmar is sub par compard to pcm. it's not just an opinion. they were below average a few years in quality and reliability. i would not purchase a boat w/o pcm

[MARK-S]

196

Bring back the 196

[BrennanK]

Bring back the 196

That is why I'm glad I got mine while they are still around.

[swc5150]

JD,
Did you join the MC promo team or just order one out?

Jody,
Do you have a ZR6 in your 200? 49mph is rocking! I saw my first CB 200 in person last week, and fell in love with the look. Next week we get to demo the 2011 200 at the CCF reunion, so I'm anxious to see the tweaks.

[jdarwin]

JD,
Did you join the MC promo team or just order one out?

I joined their Tournament Team due to the benefits associated with using it to pull tournaments at my site.

As for the reliability of Indmar vs PCM statement, I've had both engines at my site over the years in various boats and found both to be very reliable and yet have issues from time to time (remember PCM's injector issue in 1994?). Again, it came down to a business decision. I needed a tractor to pull members and tournaments. The $8k price differential made my decision an easier one.

[swc5150]

We've owned numerous Indmar engines, and never had any issues. What I didn't like about them was the placement of the oil filter. You practically have to break your arm to get to it, let alone twist it off.

[seanxtreme3000]

i am from SA but now live in USA, i can get USA boats to SA cheaper through A shipping company i am partnered in. let me know if you still looking for used USA boats.

[jdarwin]

That's something I WILL miss!

We've owned numerous Indmar engines, and never had any issues. What I didn't like about them was the placement of the oil filter. You practically have to break your arm to get to it, let alone twist it off.

The remote oil filter is pure genious! I'll miss that for sure!

[east tx skier]

Don't run out of gas, Joe. Those fuel pumps are particular.

[gride300]

i ran out of gas on my 05 indmar one time and had to get a new fuel pump the next day.