First inboard question

[rainman]

Been looking around at boats recently, got rid of my IO about two years ago, and with my son getting into wakeboarding I want to get one for myself.

Question is I was origionally looking at a boat around 10k, but I am debating that it looks like you can get a much newer boat for 15-20k. In your opinions, will the 10k boat do a good job for a beginner, or is it best just to spend a little extra now and get the more expensive boats?

[teamseal]

It depends on the boat and the deal available. Some times you can find a diamond in the rough For $10K these are mostly direct drives. V-drives tend to bring a premium and you dont get a whole lot for $10K or even $15. Good clean Nautiques will also bring a premium over other manufacturers products. As far as a begining wake board boat I would think a nice older Sport would fit your needs and their seems to be a few nice ones come up between $15-25K from time to time.

[DanielC]

Since you had an I/O, you already know a boat is nothing more than a hole in the water you throw money into. Inboard boats are no exception to this.

I would suggest you look for a Direct Drive boat, you will get a boat in better shape, than a V-drive, due to the popularity of V-drive boats.

I would also suggest that there is a good possibility you could get a much better boat, by spending a little more money than maybe $10,000. But you could also get lucky. Do home work, and look around.

Having said that, your best deal would be to find a friend with a boat, and every time you or your son go out in that boat, fill the boats gas tank, fill the tow vehicle, and buy the family that owns the boat dinner, and you will probably still come out financially ahead, as compared to buying your own boat.

Here is another option. Look for a ski team, or club, around your area.

[rainman]

Thanks for the advice, I used to be very lucky and lived on the lake and had tons of friends there, with work got transfered and don't know anyone in area. Unfortunatly their dosen't seem to be any clubs or would look at that.

Seems my only option is to buy at this time, but I also don't want to buy something that will not be a good boat.

That is why I was origionally looking at the old 2001 hull, but by spending 15-20k you get a boat that is much newer and some with very low hours.

[88mars2001]

Location is also another factor. Where are you located?

Seems like boats out on the west coast are priced a little cheaper. There is a nice sport nautique on the site here that would be a great boat for a family and a beginner skiers/boarders.

[rainman]

I used to live in NC so lots of nice little lakes I have since moved to green bay WI. So season is short here so inventory on boats seems to be pretty low.

[swc5150]

Hey Rain, welcome aboard!

Since you're in GB now, head over to Mr.O's Watersports and talk to Glen Trutman (owner). He may be able to steer you towards a nice used boat.

I hate to differ with DC, but my last few boats have been better investments than the stock market! The last two I purchased one model year old and made out in the black when I sold them in the late summer. I think the biggest challenge is getting familiar with what these boats really should command in dollars. If you look online for example, you'll see '08-'09 196's from $24k all the way to $43k. Once you get the idea of the model you're looking for, people on this site are a great resource to help make sure you don't get taken.

I'd also suggest finding something new enough to be fuel injected, but that's just my opinion.

[DanielC]

Rainman,
You are in Wisconsin, and you cannot find a ski club?
This is a club near Greenbay, I think:
http://www.waterboardwarriors.org/

For other ski teams, check here:
http://www.showskiers.com/teamsbylocation.htm

If you join a ski team, it might enable you to get into a promo program and get a newer boat.

swc5150,
If you are making more money buying and selling boats, than in the stock market, maybe you are buying the wrong stock. Besides, at the price range mentioned in this post, you could pretty much rule out buying a prior years model, and selling it at the end of the year.

[swc5150]

Figure of speech on the market, but I sold my '06 and '07 for more than I paid. The '06 was a new carryover and the '07 was year old used boat. Buying them when the temp is -5, and selling them when its 70 has worked for me.

[rainman]

I have never been in a ski club but talked to them and they said they are ski related. At this time they don't deal with wakeboarding.

[DanielC]

Obviously, I am on a waterski team. We do not do much wakeboarding on our team, either, currently.

As a show team, when we do shows, we want to do something that is "Spectacular". We would rapidly put somebody on a wakeboard, in our shows, provided they do something beside just ride behind the boat, and do a single wake 180. We have had wakeboarders in our show, when that could do inverts, and I even did a "filler" act, with a smaller girl, doing a modified handle doubles pass, and at the end of the pass, when the boat turned around, I did the 180, so we could both face the audience going the other way. Some wakeboarders in the crowd were impressed that i was wakeboarding with a girl, and did the 180.
One of the past editors of Wakeboard Magazine (Matt Hickman) started out on our team.

On a show team you will find people who wakeboard. You will find people who jump, (over a ramp) and people who barefoot. Along with the usual showski stuff (pyramids, harness doubles, swivel, chorus or ballet lines).

Here is a dirty little secret. Most of the different skills work across all the acts. If you learn to balance a girl who weighs 70% of you, on your shoulders, on a dock start, It will probably help you go through a Slalom course. The same basic skills that a guy does on a trick ski, can be applied to a girl on a swivel ski. Speaking of trick skis, if you get good on a single trick ski, it will be very easy to transfer those skills to a wakeboard.

Most of the people on a show team will bend over backwards to help you learn these skills. They will be glad to spend time with you and your son teaching him. You will become a better boat driver by observing, and being around the drivers on the team. There is a pretty good chance you will find someone or many boat owners who are looking to have somebody to take out in their boat so they can ski, when not at practice.

I would suggest you go and talk to the ski team again. They have more to offer you than I think you realize.

And here is just minor advantage on being on a ski team. You will probably hear about a lot more for sale boats than you would otherwise.

[rainman]

So after much thought and the ability of resale I think I am looking at an older 2001. I am just not ready to drop like 20k on a boat. I was curious if anyone could give any advice on two of these boats in my area on what you think about either of them good buy not a good buy. Obviously I am going to try and set up time to look at these but kind of a newbie and curious things to look for.

http://www.onlyinboards.com/Details.aspx?ID=820846 1989 2001

http://www.onlyinboards.com/Details.aspx?ID=820799 1986 2001

Thanks for all the help

[swc5150]

The guy with the '89 reduced the interior space considerably with that rear ballast system. You could probably rule out a nice cruise around the lake with family and friends. The '86 would be better for a family I'd think. I was just by Maple Grove last night, so too bad I didn't see this sooner. I'd be happy to check that boat out with you, if you'd like another set of eyes along. I can ask the owner of the former Nautique dealership up there if he has any scoop on it as well. There was a sweet '89 for sale in Little Chute not long ago for $9k, but I believe I heard it sold.

The '89 is too long of a trip from Eau Claire for me!

[Chexi]

The 2001 is supposed to have a very nice wakeboarding wake (albeit narrow), but the knock is always the limited space. Generally the only reason people sell these is due to outgrowing them or giving up on boating altogether.

The 1989 has the better transmission. However, I think the 2nd gen FCT tower on the 1986 is a better fit aesthetically (perhaps not practically). There is a lot of customization on the 1989. The 2001 model has very little extra room, and this has been filled up with something on the 1989 (see the back seat area and around the motor box). It looks like they converted this to storage space (perhaps for ballast) on the 1989. It actually looks pretty well done.

The ability to have push button ballast is really nice if you are wakeboarding alot. I added this to my boat last year and love it. Depending on what style they used on the 1986 (impeller vs aerator pump) and how many bags and pumps, this upgrade could be worth anywhere from $500 to $1200.

Both look pretty clean and well taken care of. I would have a tough time choosing.

[wake_fun]

Been looking around at boats recently, got rid of my IO about two years ago, and with my son getting into wakeboarding I want to get one for myself.

Question is I was origionally looking at a boat around 10k, but I am debating that it looks like you can get a much newer boat for 15-20k. In your opinions, will the 10k boat do a good job for a beginner, or is it best just to spend a little extra now and get the more expensive boats?

I'd spend the extra now and get a v-drive. I bet in a very short time you will have wished you got one instead of a DD and then you will have bought two boats $$. Whatever you do try to find one that has been taken care of.