Buying a 2001 Air Nautique - What should I look for?

[MattieK27]

Good idea... I think it's in good shape, but I'll ask him.

I'm north of Chicago 20 miles, in Deerfield.

I live in Naperville. Who are you having check the boat over?

[Quinner]

16k? 17k? I am not sure, and since the Pro Air isn't that common its hard to tell. I would probably offer 16 or 17 and see where that gets you. Another factor to consider, is the trailer in good shape?

Where are you at in Illinois? If you need someone to contribute for gas, I might need a pull or two this season while I try to find a boat to buy.

Mattie, neighbor had his boat for sale last summer, guy shows up to check it out/sea trial, shows up with the family, sunscreen, towels, ski gear - he spent most of the morning towing around this guy and his family, they head back to the dock, kids played on the beach for another hour or two. LMAO, he never heard from the guy again, not even an offer!! Take a lesson from that guy, just test drive all summer!!

16-17 may be a good starting point, I would probably be below that myself. I always play poor on my first extreme lowball offer, make it your personal finances fault not the boats so as not to insult the seller too much. Of course all that could be out the window after the inspection.

[nautique_stealth]

docksidemarine.net

Trailer hasn't been used much at all because he had a lift.

[nautique_stealth]

Mattie, neighbor had his boat for sale last summer, guy shows up to check it out/sea trial, shows up with the family, sunscreen, towels, ski gear - he spent most of the morning towing around this guy and his family, they head back to the dock, kids played on the beach for another hour or two. LMAO, he never heard from the guy again, not even an offer!! Take a lesson from that guy, just test drive all summer!!

16-17 may be a good starting point, I would probably be below that myself. I always play poor on my first extreme lowball offer, make it your personal finances fault not the boats so as not to insult the seller too much. Of course all that could be out the window after the inspection.

I've been looking around online non stop for a month. 16k can hardly get you a 98 with old tower. Wouldn't 16k be a killer deal?

[MattieK27]

docksidemarine.net

Trailer hasn't been used much at all because he had a lift.

Dockside is good, hopefully Jeff is the one that looks the boat over. He actually used to own a Pro Air, so he is the guy to talk to.

[nautique_stealth]

Yup, that's who I've been talking to.
The owner of the boat knows Jeff also, so I hope he'll be honest with me...

[MattieK27]

Yup, that's who I've been talking to.
The owner of the boat knows Jeff also, so I hope he'll be honest with me...

He seems like a pretty straight shooter to me, I don't think he would BS you.

That aside, the boat looks to be in decent shape in the pictures, and you looked it over in person, correct? It is a Nautique and it does have the GT40, so if it does ok with a compression test I think you're going to have a great boat to enjoy this summer.

[WakeSlayer]

A friend of mine owned a Pro Air for 3 or 4 years. I stored it at my house winters. I took him slalom over lunch many times. He traded it last year for a 98 Sport. As a dedicated slalom rider, he is much happier with the Sport. I am not knocking it, but my feeling about the Pro Air is that it is neither the best for boarding nor skiiing. The only had the hull available for a couple years. That should tell you something right there. I think that is Correct Crafts best effort at a true crossover boat, but nonetheless, see my previous comment. I wouldn't worry that much about the hours. But there are definitely some hours on it. A rebuild is not likely coming soon, and if it does, it is pretty simple, especially out of a direct drive. I think if you are patient and look around for a while you will find the right boat for you. I do NOT think that forcing this boat to be a good deal monetarily makes it a good boat for you. If it has been for sale for a year or more, it is still going to be around for a while yet. Lastly, I never base getting a boat on where it is located. That should be nearly the last factor you consider.
Find the right boat, at the right price, and be willing to road trip it a bit.
There are tons of people out there that need to get out from under payments, have moved on from recreational boating, or are simply upgrading. Check boattrader, onlyinboards, CCF, here, craigslist, you will find what you want.

[nautique_stealth]

A friend of mine owned a Pro Air for 3 or 4 years. I stored it at my house winters. I took him slalom over lunch many times. He traded it last year for a 98 Sport. As a dedicated slalom rider, he is much happier with the Sport. I am not knocking it, but my feeling about the Pro Air is that it is neither the best for boarding nor skiiing. The only had the hull available for a couple years. That should tell you something right there. I think that is Correct Crafts best effort at a true crossover boat, but nonetheless, see my previous comment. I wouldn't worry that much about the hours. But there are definitely some hours on it. A rebuild is not likely coming soon, and if it does, it is pretty simple, especially out of a direct drive. I think if you are patient and look around for a while you will find the right boat for you. I do NOT think that forcing this boat to be a good deal monetarily makes it a good boat for you. If it has been for sale for a year or more, it is still going to be around for a while yet. Lastly, I never base getting a boat on where it is located. That should be nearly the last factor you consider.
Find the right boat, at the right price, and be willing to road trip it a bit.
There are tons of people out there that need to get out from under payments, have moved on from recreational boating, or are simply upgrading. Check boattrader, onlyinboards, CCF, here, craigslist, you will find what you want.

Thanks for all the info. I honestly don't think the Pro would be a bad boat for me. My parents bought an 02 Air in 2003, but I moved away in 05 and only get in the water 4-5 times a summer now. I like to wakeboard mostly, slalomn a little (wife learning to ski), and tube when friends are too chicken to try something new. I honestly probably couldn't even tell a difference between the Pro and the Pro Air. And this boat has everything I was looking for without having to buy it new (PP, jump seat, bimini, heater, newer FCT). I still haven't made up my mind, and i'm still looking around, but I think this boat would fit me well. Although not the fondest of the color!

As for looking around, all those sites you listed and more I've looked at for hours! 98-01 Air/Pro Air's is what I've been looking for. This boat is the best deal I've been able to find. The fact that it was local was just icing on the cake as it saves $1000 shipping fee...

[MattieK27]

Mattie, neighbor had his boat for sale last summer, guy shows up to check it out/sea trial, shows up with the family, sunscreen, towels, ski gear - he spent most of the morning towing around this guy and his family, they head back to the dock, kids played on the beach for another hour or two. LMAO, he never heard from the guy again, not even an offer!! Take a lesson from that guy, just test drive all summer!!

Wow I cannot believe someone would do that! I just need to find some people that are willing to give pulls for cash, but don't ride at a high level. I just started wakeboarding last year, and I am sure my inexperience would un-nerve seasoned pros.

[nautique_stealth]

Wow I cannot believe someone would do that! I just need to find some people that are willing to give pulls for cash, but don't ride at a high level. I just started wakeboarding last year, and I am sure my inexperience would un-nerve seasoned pros.

Maybe we could both save some cash and take turns 'test driving' this summer?!

[Quinner]

I just need to find some people that are willing to give pulls for cash, but don't ride at a high level. I just started wakeboarding last year, and I am sure my inexperience would un-nerve seasoned pros.

You need to take a ride north and ski with us this year, we are only about an hour from Naperville, lake is private so we typically have pretty good conditions. Anybody with a gas can in one hand, a cooler in the other and is a good driver is always welcome on my boat, LOL!

[MattieK27]

You need to take a ride north and ski with us this year, we are only about an hour from Naperville, lake is private so we typically have pretty good conditions. Anybody with a gas can in one hand, a cooler in the other and is a good driver is always welcome on my boat, LOL!

I'll definately take you up on that. Private lake? Epic!

[nautique_stealth]

Dealer looked over the Pro Air...

Leak Down Compression
1. 15% 90PSI
2. 35% 90PSI
3. 50% 90PSI
4. 10% 130PSI
5. 25% 125PSI
6. 25% 100PSI
7. 25% 125PSI
8. 20% 125PSI

Dealer said Cyl 2&3 are worst ones. Dealer said that performance wouldn't be top, but should be a prob unless engine was under high stress. He said you'd probably want to have something done within a few hundred hours as performance will continue to slowly go down. To rebuild the heads said it would be $1500-$2000 and should bring compression up and leak down to 5-10% range.

What do you guys think?

[MattieK27]

Dealer looked over the Pro Air...

Leak Down Compression
1. 15% 90PSI
2. 35% 90PSI
3. 50% 90PSI
4. 10% 130PSI
5. 25% 125PSI
6. 25% 100PSI
7. 25% 125PSI
8. 20% 125PSI

Dealer said Cyl 2&3 are worst ones. Dealer said that performance wouldn't be top, but should be a prob unless engine was under high stress. He said you'd probably want to have something done within a few hundred hours as performance will continue to slowly go down. To rebuild the heads said it would be $1500-$2000 and should bring compression up and leak down to 5-10% range.

What do you guys think?

Any other comments on the boat? Here is the thing, I regularly see comments about how bulletproof the GT40 engine is from owners; people with more than 1500 hours on their engine. I wouldn't say the results of the leakdown point to the typical GT40; I could be wrong.

If the rest of the boat is in great shape, maybe this isn't a deal breaker. If not though, it could turn into a money pit real quick...

(From what I have read online, 10%-20% is considered acceptable; less than 10% is good)