Can't search "Pro Air". How is this hull?

[Jeff d]

Apparently the search function won't accept 3 letter words. So, if I put in "Pro Air" or even just "air" I get 0 results. If I put "Pro air Nautique" I get results but it apparently omits the short words and just returns results for Nautique.

Anyway, I've found a few Pro Air Nautiques for sale and did some googling without finding a ton of info on them. A lot of people say to skip this hull but it doesn't seem like the ones saying that have much/any first hand experience with it.

I'm looking for a budget family/wakeboard boat. Being that I probably can't afford a V-Drive I'd want a DD that can make a decent wake without having ballast in the passenger area (i.e. only in storage compartments). It sounds like the Pro Air makes a pretty good wake with little to no ballast but generally doesn't respond to copious amounts of ballast as well as the regular, older Air Nautique hull.

Like I said I'd love a V drive for the layout but being that I'm looking at 10+ year old boats and I do all my own maintenance/repairs the DD has it's appeal too due to easier access.

So, it could be a winner for my application. Does anyone have any feedback on this hull?

[Chexi]

There are some folks who will chime in with first hand experience. Xlair I believe has one. From what I have heard, they have a pretty good wakeboarding wake, but not a very good ski wake. I'm not sure about adding ballast.

If the reviews come in mixed or worse, you might want to consider a 98 or 99 Air (non-pro). With proper weighting (that means weight in the nose too) you can get a very good wakeboard wake. It might not have quite as long of a sweet spot as the 97 and ealier Sports or the Super Airs/Super Sports, but it is close, and you get the added storage space of the rear locker in the 98s and 99s. My personal preference is for the 99 since it has the more modern bow area that allows for an easy integrated sac install, but you might actually be able to add more ballast to the 98 with the less expensive triangle sac, it's just a more difficult install. The 99 also gives you more and more easily accessible storage under the bow seats if your bow sac is not full. You will not, however, be able to get the monster big wake that you can get with the Super Air / Super Sports without having ballast in the main cabin, and maybe not even then. However, you can get a pretty big wake on the Sports/Airs. I have a friend who hits every wake like a bat out of **** and he has admitted that my 99 Air's wake is borderline scary big.

If you are not married to the idea of getting a Nautique, you can sometimes find Malibu v-drives in the late 90's under $20k (at least here in Texas you can). A very different wake, and I prefer my Air wake, but I board behind my friends '02 Malibu often and like the Malibu wake quite a bit. Onthe flip side, my friend with the Malibu has commented how good my wake is several times. My Air's wake is a bit on the wide side (wider than his '02 VLX) with its current configuration, so I have to ride closer behind my boat than his, which I consider a negative, since you cannot go as far wide in the flats and your setup time for tricks is less.

[xlair]

I have a Pro Air. The hull is fine.

The boat does have a little more bowrise and doesn't handle quite as well as the regular Air. The wake is pretty good, better than a reg DD Air but definitely not Super Air quality. The boat sounds like a good fit for you as I do pretty much the same things w/mine and it works well.

[Jeff d]

If you are not married to the idea of getting a Nautique, you can sometimes find Malibu v-drives in the late 90's under $20k (at least here in Texas you can).

My real budget is about $14k although it looks I'll probably end up spending more because I can't bring myself to spend that much money on a boat with defects. I really don't want to have debt for a luxury item.

I have seen a few V-Drive Malibus but if they're in good shape they're barely under $20k. The ones that are priced at $18k or so all have needed a lot of attention. I can't spend $18k on a boat that needs $1,500 in interior work (DIY install). I suppose I could get a Malibu with a messed up interior, tape it up and fix it next year.

There are several '98-99 Air/Pro Airs that are in my price range that need nothing and that's why they're at the top of my list right now. I do definitely prefer the '99 bow layout. Why did they do it like one big surface in '98? I'm sure it's fine for kids but what adult wants to crawl around on the upholstery to get to the seat?

[jdwhite11]

I had an 01 Pro Air and I personally really liked the hull. With stock ballast it put out a good wakeboard wake and my boat handled the additional ballast very well. There was some negative press out there about the hull but I did not find any of it to be true in my 8 years I that I had my boat.

[Chexi]

My real budget is about $14k although it looks I'll probably end up spending more because I can't bring myself to spend that much money on a boat with defects. I really don't want to have debt for a luxury item.

I have seen a few V-Drive Malibus but if they're in good shape they're barely under $20k. The ones that are priced at $18k or so all have needed a lot of attention. I can't spend $18k on a boat that needs $1,500 in interior work (DIY install). I suppose I could get a Malibu with a messed up interior, tape it up and fix it next year.

There are several '98-99 Air/Pro Airs that are in my price range that need nothing and that's why they're at the top of my list right now. I do definitely prefer the '99 bow layout. Why did they do it like one big surface in '98? I'm sure it's fine for kids but what adult wants to crawl around on the upholstery to get to the seat?

The playpen bow layout was the general layout for most nautiques prior to 99. Most people with the newer style leave their center cushion in and use it as a playpen anyway. There is not really enough area in the center for multiple pairs of legs and feet, and the rise is not really high enough for an adult of average height or more anyway. The storage layout is the real difference.

I'm surprised that you are finding Pro Airs and Airs in good shape with good interiors at $14k. With a good interior, I typically see these at or above $19k. Note, a new interior done yourself with Nautiqueskins on this boat will run you about $3,000 when you add in the staples and pneumatic staple gun (I'm assuming you already have a compressor). I bought my 99 Air 3 summers ago for $14k, but it needed the better part of a new interior. I did it myself (mostly), and it was a PITA.

[Jeff d]

I'm surprised that you are finding Pro Airs and Airs in good shape with good interiors at $14k. With a good interior, I typically see these at or above $19k.

I'm not really. I've found one at that price and the interior isn't perfect but livable for another season or two or three. Ones that are near perfect are around $19k like you said.

Some that are "perfect" are ridiculously priced for some reason. As if anyone would buy a '98 Air Nautique for the same price that you could get an '01 or newer in equal condition.

[Chexi]

I'm not really. I've found one at that price and the interior isn't perfect but livable for another season or two or three. Ones that are near perfect are around $19k like you said.

Some that are "perfect" are ridiculously priced for some reason. As if anyone would buy a '98 Air Nautique for the same price that you could get an '01 or newer in equal condition.

Personally, I would pay more for a 99 than a newer one with the digital gauges and keyless ignition pad, but that's just me. I also think that the later Airs are either 6 inches or maybe even a foot shorter. I'm not sure how good that shorter hull is for boarding. It could be better, worse, or somehow remarkably similar. I think Quinner has one and could report back on that.

[Jeff d]

Personally, I would pay more for a 99 than a newer one with the digital gauges and keyless ignition pad, but that's just me.

Oh, was not aware of this. Makes a difference for me too. I had some Sea Doos with fancy electronic lanyards that were hard coded to the ECM. Lost a key once and had to mail the computer off to have a new key programmed since there wasn't a local dealer. Also, one of the "readers" for the key failed and it took me forever to troubleshoot. So, I'd rather it be as simple as possible in the ignition area.

[bkhallpass]

Personally, I would pay more for a 99 than a newer one with the digital gauges and keyless ignition pad, but that's just me. I also think that the later Airs are either 6 inches or maybe even a foot shorter. I'm not sure how good that shorter hull is for boarding. It could be better, worse, or somehow remarkably similar. I think Quinner has one and could report back on that.

Well, not really. The Sport/Air Nautique was replaced by the 216. The 216 is about 6 inches longer than the
previous Sport/Air.

The Ski Nautique open Bow was replaced by the 206, which is the boat quinner owns. It is about 6 inches shorter than a 99 or 99 Sport/Air, but it is about a foot longer than the SNOB which it replaced.

I wouldn't run away from a boat with the digital guages. Even if they are failed, they can be replaced
for 3 or 4 hundred bucks. No big deal if you find a great boat in the price range you seek.

I would say, just stick with your budget, be diligent, and be patient. Lots of good boats come up in the 14K range. I've even seen one 2000 San that sold for 14K. Needed a complete interior and a lot of clean up, but
a heck of a deal.

BKH

[steve-o]

Personally, I would pay more for a 99 than a newer one with the digital gauges and keyless ignition pad, but that's just me.

Agreed. I read numerous posts with problems regarding digital gauges and the early fuel injection on the GT40. Look in the maintenance section right now. Lots of posts with the new season here and gremlins showing up.

[Chexi]

Well, not really. The Sport/Air Nautique was replaced by the 216. The 216 is about 6 inches longer than the
previous Sport/Air.

The Ski Nautique open Bow was replaced by the 206, which is the boat quinner owns. It is about 6 inches shorter than a 99 or 99 Sport/Air, but it is about a foot longer than the SNOB which it replaced.

Thanks for clearing that up. I was not sure about that one.

I would say, just stick with your budget, be diligent, and be patient. Lots of good boats come up in the 14K range. I've even seen one 2000 San that sold for 14K. Needed a complete interior and a lot of clean up, but
a heck of a deal.

BKH

Ay Carumba! There was a 98 or 99 Air that would not start that sold for about $5k a year and a half ago or so that only needed a fuse to be replaced. That still floors me to this day *jealous*.

[Miljack]

I have owned a Pro Air for going on my sixth season, and for wakeboarding, this hull makes a very nice wake with stock ballast, gets even better with more weight. It's not as steep as the Vdrive SS/SAN, but a nice shape with a solid lip.
I originally purchased mine with the intention that I could also slalom with this boat, and you can slalom okay behind this hull, just not as good a wake as the sport/reg.Air hull. The faster one free skis, the flatter the wake becomes, 30mph is still a pretty good size wake.
For the first time inboard owner, a DD is a pretty good starter boat, much easier access for maintenance (except for the steering cable on hard tank ballast boats!)

[KD7000Guy]

I will throw my 2 cents in here too.... I was a previous owner of a 2000 pro air. I owned it for about 3 seasons and did like it. At the time I was mostly a skier and had the intention of wake boarding more. Like some of the others have said, it does have a nice wake for wake boarding. I found the slalom wake to be slightly larger and a little harder than the sport. However, at speeds above 32mph, 15 off was ok, 22 off there is a significant hump, 28 off was decent as was 32 off. My wife ski's at about 29mph/30mph and the wake is noticeably bigger.

I never had to replace my electronic key switch so really dont have anything bad to say about that. I was not a fan of the digital gauges and replaced them. Also, at high speeds, 38-45 the boat would start to bounce (even on glass water), I guess I have heard that is common with this hull?


With all of that said, I traded my 2000 pro air for a 98 sport this winter...I found i wanted to ski more and was hard for me to progress anymore with the pro air. My pro air was in grade A shape and was traded straight up for a very similar quality sport with 340hrs (pro had 475). I am very happy with the sport we have now and love skiing behind it. When we want to screw around on wake boards, we just fill a couple of fat sacs. I don't mind the playpen at all either, we always left our center cushion in the bow of the pro air.

Ill try to attach a couple pics of the new boat....

[Chexi]

I have owned a Pro Air for going on my sixth season, and for wakeboarding, this hull makes a very nice wake with stock ballast, gets even better with more weight. It's not as steep as the Vdrive SS/SAN, but a nice shape with a solid lip.
I originally purchased mine with the intention that I could also slalom with this boat, and you can slalom okay behind this hull, just not as good a wake as the sport/reg.Air hull. The faster one free skis, the flatter the wake becomes, 30mph is still a pretty good size wake.
For the first time inboard owner, a DD is a pretty good starter boat, much easier access for maintenance (except for the steering cable on hard tank ballast boats!)

Yet one more reason to rip those pesky hard tanks out and replace with V-drive sacs, which fit very well in that rear compartment on the 98-99s. I hope to have my project done this weekend and will post pics.