Potential owner questions - initial decision points to make

[aarond0083]

I just went through the exact same process with the exception of I am not new to boats or Nautiques. We use our current boat exclusively in very clean fresh water lakes but my inlaws live on an island on the the Atlantic Intercoastal Waterway side. Every time my wife and I are out there we always said wish we could bring our boat there. I have wake skated out there countless times behind 17' and 19' skiffs and it's always long, straight glass in the channel bends during the mornings and evenings.

We decided to move to a Coastal Edition so we could go ride there a few times a year as well as nice rivers and waterways in eastern NC that are brackish is some sections (close friends of ours have house on Cape Fear). My immediate thought was 230 due to size but after I thought about I decided to stay with 210 for these reason main reasons:

- We've owned three 210s (two of which were newer hull) and love the boat, layout, size, etc.
- It is plenty big enough for 6-8 passengers of all ages and gear/food/coolers. If anyone wants to argue this that's fine, but I don't believe in bringing tons of crap on the boat that isn't necessary.
- I wakeskate and rarely wakeboard. The 210 wake is sick for both of course but way better for me vs the 230 as a wakeskater.
- Everyone in our crew surfs (even my wife's friends that didn't grow up behind a boat). Surf wake is awesome with factory ballast plus people and easy to teach anyone to ride. I know the 230 has a killer (and better) surf wake but it takes a lot more weight to get there.
- 343 engine is plenty for the 210. 230 requires 6.0 IMO.
- Fuel consumption is second to none vs any all gas boat out there.

Whatever you decide you're going with a Nautique so you already made the most important decision IMO.

[cedarcreek216]

adding a few more thoughts here i neglected on original list. when looking at used boats, does anyone have guidance on the following:

1. is there an average hours / year that is accepted as the norm that one should shoot for when looking used? i've seen some references online that suggest 30-40 is the average, would the experts here agree?
2. when looking at used boat pricing is the NADA guide the correct place to use as a reference to what a used boat might be worth? if not, can you point to somewhere else that is better?
3. is a boat history report = carfax? if so, do others see value in this information? if i'm potentially looking at a boat from out of state, information like this becomes more relevant to me i would imagine.

I don't think that really applies to wake boats. If you have someone who is truely into riding, they'll put twice that on it in one summer. The 230 is not normally purchased, due to price, by the hard core younger riders who are putting those kind of hours on it. I would espect higher hours on the 210 than a used 230, just my thought though no research behind it. The best place to look for pricing is here and boattrader. Regardless of what NADA says it's worth, it's really worth what people are paying for them.

[AllianceBJJ]

- 343 engine is plenty for the 210. 230 requires 6.0 IMO.

I definitely do NOT feel this way. Been in plenty of 230s with both engines. Mine has the 343. Buxton (number 1 dealer in the country) does not even order 230s with the bigger engine unless special/custom ordered by a customer.

[drick]

I don't think that really applies to wake boats. If you have someone who is truely into riding, they'll put twice that on it in one summer. The 230 is not normally purchased, due to price, by the hard core younger riders who are putting those kind of hours on it. I would espect higher hours on the 210 than a used 230, just my thought though no research behind it. The best place to look for pricing is here and boattrader. Regardless of what NADA says it's worth, it's really worth what people are paying for them.

excellent point on the target buyers for 210's vs. 230, that would seem to be illustrated by the 5+ 230's i've found so far that are all under those hour #'s

[drick]

ABJ,

just out curiosity why did you upgrade your boats? specifically the 2010 to 2011 jump?

Current Nautique: 2011 SANTE 230
Previous Nautiques: 2010 SANTE 210, 2006 SANTE 210

[drick]

aaron,

same question for you, why are you upgrading from 2009 to 2012?

2012 210 Coastal Edition - On Order
2009 210 - For Sale
2007 210
2004 210

[AllianceBJJ]

ABJ,

just out curiosity why did you upgrade your boats? specifically the 2010 to 2011 jump?

Current Nautique: 2011 SANTE 230
Previous Nautiques: 2010 SANTE 210, 2006 SANTE 210

Though we went from 2010 to 2011, I upgraded from a 210 to a 230. The extra room is what we were after. For how we use it, wakeboard and surf with 6-8 people every Saturday and Sunday, it became a no brainer to us. Buxton made us a great deal on both sides, trade (didn't lose a dime on what I paid 7 months before) and purchase (3rd boat from them, so my deal was very, very pretty).

[aarond0083]

Going to a coastal edition 210 so we can ride more places in my area. Family has houses on intercoastal waterway as well. That is 99% of why I am upgrading.

aaron,

same question for you, why are you upgrading from 2009 to 2012?

2012 210 Coastal Edition - On Order
2009 210 - For Sale
2007 210
2004 210

[aarond0083]

I definitely do NOT feel this way. Been in plenty of 230s with both engines. Mine has the 343. Buxton (number 1 dealer in the country) does not even order 230s with the bigger engine unless special/custom ordered by a customer.

Fair enough. I have never owned a 230 so that is good to know. This year the 230 has a 550 HP supercharged option, which is for people with more $ than sense IMHO.

[surroundsound64]

Fair enough. I have never owned a 230 so that is good to know. This year the 230 has a 550 HP supercharged option, which is for people with more $ than sense IMHO.

But man I bet it's gnarly!!!

[bamabonners]

Sail and Ski in Austin is ranked number one dealer overall in the country. When I was in the process of buying a month ago, the guys at Sail and Ski were awesome!! http://www.sailandski.com

FYI, I bought a Malibu Wakesetter VLX, but I really could have gone either way between the Nautique and Malibu. I really liked them both. I lurk here because I love the site.

[skye6969]

just out of curiosity, do you think the "extras" in the CC were worthwhile, or given a chance to do it again would you just buy the standard SAN without it, and run it as is in the salt water those few times?

I dont think all of the extras were worth it. One thing that sticks out is the table, we have never even pulled it out to see what it looks like (450.00 if i recall). The Stereo stuff is def worth it. The Coastal stuff is nice, but for the extra 13k I would not do it again. My next SAN will just be the Team edition. Not sure if the heater, and transom light were adds, but the heater is worthwhile, the transome lights have never been used as we have not used the boat at night yet. The boat def turns heads, and has Malibu owners talking when we are on the water.

[skye6969]

i really like that flooring, i'm with you. now i just need to win the lottery so i can afford that level of customization on an already blown out boat..

I wonder if the dealer cant replace my carpet with that???

[drick]

That's them. Tell 'em Kell sent ya. They are good folks and sell A LOT of boats.

spoke to phil this afternoon, great guy and provided a lot of information.

thanks for the suggestion!

[drick]

Though we went from 2010 to 2011, I upgraded from a 210 to a 230. The extra room is what we were after. For how we use it, wakeboard and surf with 6-8 people every Saturday and Sunday, it became a no brainer to us. Buxton made us a great deal on both sides, trade (didn't lose a dime on what I paid 7 months before) and purchase (3rd boat from them, so my deal was very, very pretty).

so on to my second dumb question of the string.

should i expect this to purchase to hold value as in your scenario longer term? that is not a deciding factor in my purchase, but rather just wanting to have my head right going in.