96 Ski Nautique Open Bow

[Phili]

I just took delivery of a 1996 Ski Nautique Open Bow. I paid $14,100 for it with the trailer. The body is perfect except for a small chip about the size of a thum tack. The interior is good except for a little cracking from the sun. It came with a tower with wake board racks and the G-40 engine. No perfect pass but a debth finder and a sterio with two amps (I don't know much about sterios).

Down side. I have yet to see her run. I bought the boat in Nebraska and live in Pittsburgh, PA. Been too cold to fire her up. She had been winterized. I bought her from a dealer Nebraska watersports. The took in in trade. They said they had checked her out and see ran great. The said the put her on the computer and it checked out fine. The steering seems hard to turn compared to my 84 Ski Nautique. But I expect a few bugs. I will not sell my old boat til I am sure the new one is fine.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eB...category=26451

Questions:

1. What do you think of the deal?

2. I am not sure what to think of the open bow. No place to put your feet. What are other experences with the SNOB?

3. Would like to put a heater and shower in the boat but don't know where they will fit. Not much storage now. Where do you place the heater? How is the showe set up?

4. I would like to put lights and speakers on the tower. I am afraid to drill holes in the tower. How does that work out?

5. Any one have info or manuals on the 96 SNOB?

6. Where would I put a second battery?



Thanks,

Phil

[Phili]

Here is a pic.

[actiondcpd]

IMO, you got a good deal on that boat. I've ridden behind that same year ski nautique and the wake was great with some weight. It will be perfect if you like to ski/board. I think the openbow is still better than a closed bow. If nothing else you can relax up there with your feet up or throw a sack up there. Most people with traditional open bows have a filler cusion anyway. Heater and shower will fit. They tend to get installed in unused space. I think you can get manuals online... for some reason I cant' remember the nautique site that i've seen a ton of manuals on. Maybe somebody else can help. This site has some too. Not sure about where to put the battery but there are a few posts on here about drilling and mounting tower speakers. Contrats on the new ride. Summer isn't that far off.

[M3Fan]

The steering will feel harder if it's cold out. The grease in the cable is a tad more viscous in winter!

[Mikeski]

After you get a chance to run it in warm weather if it still steers hard just replace the cable, had to do it in my 95.

Nice boat, great deal, you should be happy.

Depending on your boat load and tow vehicle about 1200lbs of lead and water sacs will produce a very nice wake. Don't load it this heavily until you are very familiar with driving, handling will suffer and you might be over the capacity plate.

[82tique]

Yo-
Correctcraftfan.com =manual

[Phili]

Took it out for the first time yesterday. Ran great. Started up easy. Shifted smooth. Love that e-bay!