Nautique Factory ---

[Miljack]

Your boat looks great! Are you gonna put the supercharged engine in it??

[ccs]

The super charged - no. Personally I think it's a complete waste of money --

But I will be upgrading to the 409 - that I think is worth the $$

[SkiTower]

All the better. I'd enjoy WD in a different (maybe better) way w/o the "group".

Which is one reason we don't go to WDW with anybody else. Best time I had was a long weekend with just me and the wife.

I've been waiting for the kids to get old enough to tour the factory. Should be next visit to Orlando.

[Miljack]

I don't know re: supercharged vs. the 409, what's the upcharge for the 409 vs. the supercharged version? I know resale is better with the 409, but, do you really get the power delivery/torque curve needed for getting a weighted boat on plane?
What size engine is the 450 hp version? Anybody know how/why the 450 hp engine makes more power than the 409 if it's the same displacement? If it's making the power @ higher rpm because of a rev limit change, then it's probably not worth the extra $$$.

IMHO, your mileage WILL vary!

[swc5150]

The 409 is about $6k in upcharge, compared to $24k for the supercharged engine. THAT'S hard money to justify!

[ccs]

The 409'is definitely the preferred choice and the most reliable-- and definitely has more than enough
Juice to plane a fully loaded 230 quickly...

[tdc_worm]

The 409'is definitely the preferred choice and the most reliable-- and definitely has more than enough
Juice to plane a fully loaded 230 quickly...

what evidence do you have to back up the reliability comment? I have had two ZR6s, and they have had no fewer issues than my buddy's Excals....all have been maint free and all have between 500 and 900 hours on them.

also, my ZR6s w stock props on a 220 and a 230 were definitely not "more than enough juice to plane a fully loaded" boat quickly. all the Excals and ZR6s I have been in have had more than enough juice to plane fully loaded boats when propped appropriately. put 16 ppl in a 230 w/ 51 gals of gas and couple of coolers and see how it behaves with the stock prop regardless of the engine. plumb in the fly high system for an additional 1600+ lbs of ballast and then get back to me.

heavy duty trucks are equipped with lower gears to move heavier loads of the line easier by getting the engine into peak of its torque range quicker. same goes with boats. load it down and you need to change the prop (in essence re-gearing the boat) to get the engine in to the meat of its torque quicker. bottom line is that a naturally aspirated small black is going to give you small block torque.

[Quinner]

I was escorted by Bruce "the godfather" himself (think Bruce is his name?)

Guessing you were escorted by Dave Hendricks, great guy.


Wow, that Masters Blue is a Great color, going to be a bad azz boat!!

[Miljack]

Quinner, you're right! Couldn't remember his name...just Godfattah...

[AirTool]

Quinner, you're right! Couldn't remember his name...just Godfattah...

Cool. We got a Super Tour from Super Ron.

Also met Ralph Meloon and saw some cool pictures of some fish he caught.

[ccs]

tdc-worm --- if your loading your boat up with 16 people, gear, coolers and an additional 1600 lbs of
Ballast above factory -- then you're abusing your ride and no it probably won't perform as anticipated-- of course that's just "my opinion"

We were escorted around the Nautique facility by Joe Pickel - my dealers factory rep

Their process is very impressive, and continually improving the process- and it's why we all buy Nautique's instead of the "other" ski/wakeboard boats.

My family has owned Nautique's since I was age 8 - touring the factory and seeing some of the processes and quality control that goes in - only further cements my decision to buy another
Nautique (2012 SANTE)

[tdc_worm]

tdc-worm --- if your loading your boat up with 16 people, gear, coolers and an additional 1600 lbs of
Ballast above factory -- then you're abusing your ride and no it probably won't perform as anticipated-- of course that's just "my opinion"

haha. i guess i left myself open there. i dont run my boat like that. i prefer 4-6 ppl on my boat total, including the rider. one of the pitfalls of a 23 foot boat that has capacity plate that says 16 is that many kooks will feel compelled to load it to the gills every time. to each his own, you paid for your boat, use it as you please.

the point was to illustrate that my anecdotal experience tells me that the seat-of-the-pants difference between the Excal and the ZRwhatever in similar boats with the same prop is negligble at best and may not be worth the upgrade (although i do prefer the closed cooling of the ZRwhatever). just trying to help people make informed decisions that may save them some cash...I certainly didnt get the resell value back out of my first ZR6. but dont take my word for it, Buxton marine, the highest volume dealer in the US, does not try to upsell their 230 customers to the the ZRwhatever....they recommend the Excal.

now if we are talking a big block 7.3L or 8.1L, or a forced induction small block then its a whole different ball game...

[ccs]

Tdc - no worries pal -- where we boat there is slightly more altitude and for that reason our dealers in the area recommend going a little above the 343 exc

I agree 100% though with your advice on prop switching - as you point out - dialing that in may be just
As valuable if not more than the engine.

Didn't figure anyone on this forum would load their boat up with 16 ppl, gear, etc etc but you are right
You can spot "wallys" and "newbies" as they have their whole neighborhood on their rig at one time. :-)