98-99 air

[Deez]

I'm tossing around the idea of trading in my 2002 SAN and getting a 98-99 AIR. My current ride was my dream boat but in the last year or two I find that we really like to ski too. The ski wake behind the SAN is nothing special but I have never skied behind an AIR, is it any good? Is it worth the trade to get a good ski wake and board wake? Maybe I'm crazy just wanted to see what some of you with experience with both rides have to say. One other question: How much ballast does an AIR come with?


Thanks, Deez

[mhaaland]

my 98' Air came with 440 pounds stock in the rear.

[NCH2oSki]

THe ski wake behind my 99 sport (same boat less air package) is good at 30, and very good at 32+mph. I have no clue about the boarding wake. It is a little on the weight sensative side, so we try to keep a lot of stuff out of the trunk, and 1/2 tank of fuel if we are skiing the course. The 99' has a walk thru like your used to, and the last year of mechanical guages.

[Deez]

Sounds like the ski wake is pretty good. How about the boarding wake? I know I would have to through some extra sacs in their to get close to the SAN, what are people doing to get a nice boarding wake? I just went and bought a nice ski today so I'm really leaning towards selling the SAN and getting an AIR.

[Chexi]

The stock ballast in the '98-'99 Air will not get you close to your SAN (stock). If you run your SAN loaded with all the extra ballast (750 sacs on top of the factory), you will never get that big of a wake from the '98-'99 Air. That said, you can get a very good boarding wake (knee high at least) on the 98-99 Air with extra ballast in the rear (either on top of the tanks with added structural support... or by doing what I am doing and ripping the tanks out and putting in a pair of v-drive sacs end to end), by putting in a large ski locker sac, and by putting in an integrated bow sac ('99) or triangle sac under the bow playpen ('98). You really need bow weight in the Airs to get a great wake. The boat is weight sensitive, so you also are going to want either a fat brick or 2 or some lead that you can move around. (but I'm yet to be in a boat that you really didn't need the same for fine tuning). To surf, you are going to need to add some ballast in the cabin area, either on the rear seat or alongside the motorbox. You will miss the seating arrangement that you have on your SAN. All that said, I was considering selling my '99 Air a while back and getting a SAN or SS, but ultimately I decided to keep my Air, partly for the versatility, partly because I can have a small wake when I want, and partly because I have put so much work (upgrades mostly) into my Air that I could not bear to part with it. It is a great boat.

By the way, where are you located? Your best bet would be to find someone with a sac'd out Air that you can ride behind to test.

[pfm]

email some pics of your boat, i have a 98 air with 440 hrs

moody_peyton@yahoo.com

[CradGen2]

If you like the 02 SAN, might consider getting an old Ski Nautique ('90 newer) and have 2 boats. JMO.

[Deez]

Not enough funds for two boats, that would be ideal to have a specific boat for skiing and one for boarding, one can only dream. I'm torn as what to do. I guess I need to get behind an AIR and try it out. Anyone in Utah have an AIR they would be willing to let me check out (session or two) , I would really appreciate it.

[WakeSlayer]

My opinion is that you are going to give up too much on your SAN. If you want to ski, get a ski boat, but you will not be able to keep your boarding wake. The Sport / Airs do have good slalom wakes. The Pro Air doesn't have that great of a wake either way. Crad is right, you would be better off getting an old SN to ski and foot on and keep the SAN, You can get early 90's Ski's for low dough if you look hard enough. I would love to have a boat from that era just for footing.