1999 Sport Nautique

[akossanyi]

Who can tell me something about the 99 Sport Nautique I am considering one, currently I have a 86 2001 am the second owner and have had it since 89. I love the boat but the time has come. I now have a family and both kids are very into water sports. My 8 year old daughter loves to barefoot on the boom and my 10 year old son loves to wakeboard. I still get out the slalom ski when the water is asking for it and everyone else is still asleep. What is good about the boat and what could be better. I found one with about 800hrs on it looks clean. Asking price is 18K w/o trailer. NADA says 11,600. Owners manual indicates a ballast tank was that an option or standard? Thanks guys!

[Craigk]

I just bought a 1998 Air Nautique, which is essentially the same boat but with factory tower and ballast tanks. The 99 came with a more traditional open bow, while the 98 I have came with the playpen style.

The 'Sport' Nautique did not come with the ballast tanks or a tower, although many people have added them to this boat. We mostly wakeboard but occasionally slalom behind it. It's great for wakeboarding, and very good for slalom, couldn't tell you anything about barefooting though.

My boat has 1,000 hours on it, Gt40 motor. I bought it 4 weeks ago for $18k with trailer, just to give you an idea of prices on these. No tears in vinyl, upgraded with speakers and sub, and the original tower (FCT gen 1) was replaced with a slightly newer FCT gen 2.

[Chexi]

18k is a decent (not great) price, but only if it has the OEM tower and if the interior is in good shape. If it does not have the tower and/or if the interior is in bad shape, I think it is over priced.

I have a 99 Air (same boat, but came with tower, ballast system, heater, shower and different graphics). I believe the boat will be a little wider in the main cabin area, but nothing you can really use for seating room. You will only be able to get 1 adult in the observer's seat, so figure that in, but you will of course get seating in the bow (to the extent you use it). 99 was the first year of the newer bow style (i.e., not just a play pen, but has a removable center cushion). The predominant benefit of this is that it is a more storage friendly configuration, as each of the bow seats is removable and has storage below. I use that area for an integrated bow ballast sac, so the storage benefits to me are lessened.

With ballast in the rear and ski locker and some in the nose you can get a very good wakeboard wake on this boat. It is not likely that you can get a Super Air or Super Sport huge wake, as it would take a lot of extra ballast inside the seating area of the cabin to approach that size wake, and the hull shape is a little different. It might still be possible, but not convenient (it is allegedly possible on th 97 and earlier sports that are the exact same hull as the SS and SANs, but it takes a lot of in-cabin ballast to do it, and those models have no rear storage area, so all your rear ballast is exposed). However, the wake I get with the hidden ballast on my 99 is big enough to do just about any wake trick on (certainly more than I will ever be able to do) and very poppy. Getting a good surf wake has eluded my few attempts so far, but I am still trying to dial that in. It is allegedly possible, but requires some in cabin weight.

I do not foot, but I believe that the GT-40 motor on this boat can go fast enough to foot, although depending on your prop, it could require wide open throttle. I'm not sure about multiple footers, perhaps someone who knows can chime in. The python engine should definitely have enough oomph to pull multiple footers. The non-GT-40 Ford probably does not have enough oomph to foot behind (I'm guessing here).

I do not slalom either, but I have heard that at proper slalom speeds the slalom wake (or lake thereof) is pretty good. It's not 196 good, but still good. I pulled my friend's wife the other day who slaloms at 27, and at that low speed the wake still seemed pretty big to me (about the same as on his Malibu v-drive actually). I can test the wake at 35 this weekend and report back.

Oh yeah, and NADA values are way low on these boats. I'd be buying these boats all day at the NADA price.

[akossanyi]

I almost bought a 98 Air Nautique I may regret that for the rest of my skiing days. No tower on this boat and the trailer is a single axle (which I like) malibu trailer (which I hate). What colors did you pick for your Air Naqutique? NADA sounded low but this boat is at a dealer and in a former life I work for a dealer. Dealers live by the books on trade ins. And so do the banks. So it might be close to what he has in it. I am a little concerned about the engine fly wheel has some rust on it (like my 86) and some pitting I would think a dealer would clean it up a little. http://onlyinboards.com/Details.aspx?ID=820322

Thanks again

[Chexi]

The interior looks to be in pretty good shape on that boat. I'm guessing that it has either been replaced once or that the interior at least has been very well taken care of.

Mine can be seen in my profile album. It's a lighter blue and black, which is my favorite color combo available on this boat, but the one you are looking at is a nice conservative color scheme (IMHO).

I bought mine for less than $18k, but I put in a complete new interior (it needed it), added fresh air exhaust, upgraded the sound system, added a pair of Optima batteries, added an auto relay and battery switch, and have a 100 amp alternator to install. I also am just finishing up a ballast puppy 4 bag (3-pump) push button ballast system. NADA value on mine is not much higher than what you found, but I would not sell it for less than $20k, and then only if I really needed the money. I love my 99 Air. Since I only wakeboard, wakeskate and surf, I would probably be better off with a SAN or SS, but I considered that earlier this year and ultimately opted to stay with what I have. The only thing that might push me over to the v-drives is if I can't dial in the surf wake.

[xlair]

honestly, that boat looks OK but it is prob worth $15K w/a trailer in todays market. $20K w/a trailer is way too much, esp if you plan on adding on wakeboard accessories. You can find 2000+ Airs for $20K w/tower/ballast/PP, etc..

[Chexi]

honestly, that boat looks OK but it is prob worth $15K w/a trailer in todays market. $20K w/a trailer is way too much, esp if you plan on adding on wakeboard accessories. You can find 2000+ Airs for $20K w/tower/ballast/PP, etc..

Like usual, I agree with Xlair.

You may want to check out boattrader.com and http://boat.jaxed.com/cgi-bin/boat.c...a&itm=nautique

[DJR0220]

Great boat but I agree with the above. Probably a bit overpriced. I did a lot of searching over the summer. Found a nice 2000 Pro Air. Similar price but included a tower and some other bells and whistles. Most importantly, it also had about half the hours of this one on it. It took a while to find, but it was worth it. Make sure you get one you love.

And the NADA guide price is way low. Its always fun talking with the bank/insurance company about how you "overpaid" for the boat.

[mcbridek]

PM sent with 99 Sport info