Hello and a few questions - Super Air Nautique

[2001SAN]

Hi all,

I'm new to the forum having just put a deposit on a 2001 Super Air Nautique (250ish hrs - freshwater only). I live in Ireland and will be going to collect the boat from England this weekend. I am meeting the seller for a water test and then exchanging the remaining money (all being well). The sale is via ebay and the seller has 100% positive feedback in the hundreds. I have bought cars and stuff from ebay before and have had only good experiences so I'm not expecting any dramas.

This is not my first boat but I was wondering if there is anything in particular about this boat (or V-drives in general) that I should be looking out for? Naturally I'll be checking that all functions are working (ballast etc) and that the engine runs well and gear box is smooth. My last boat (which I haven't sold yet!) is a 18ft Maxum bowrider (I/O) so naturally I cannot wait to get my hands on this thing! I have craved more pulling power for the last 2 years and finally here we are...

Plese extend some SAN specialist knowledge!

Thanks in advance,

D.

[Chexi]

Check for gelcoat blisters.

If there are analog gauges and the boat has a GT-40 motor in it, the hours are most likely understated. That model came with digital gauges, that almost always failed. There is no way to check engine hours from the engine computer on the GT-40.

Check steering linkage to see if the steering is smooth.

Check prop condition and shaft alignment.

Check tranny oil, v-drive oil (they are separate) and engine oil for any milkiness.

Test drive it obviously. Make sure the lanyard is on or it won't turn over. Drive it until the engine is warm, then drive it some more. Turn it off. Try to start it again. (i.e., test its ability to start and run cold and warm).

Make sure the red v-drive oil pressure light on the dash is on when you are under 1200 rpms and goes off when you are over 1200 rpms.

Check all gauges to make sure they work of course.

Test ballast system to make sure it works. If it is the factory system, it is not the most intuitive system in the world, so make sure the seller explains how to operate it.

Make sure engine tops off at no more than 160 degrees.

Check operation of perfect pass speed control if the boat has it.

This engine on this boat should run super smooth. Better than any i/o bowrider you have ever been in. The engine (if a GT-40) should sound throaty, powerful, and smooth. When this boat was built, it was the best thing out there (and to many still is). It should still run and feel like it is.

I problably missed some things, but that should help.

[CUE99T]

As a new owner we were lucky the dealer was a well known trusted guy, and we kinda left this all to him. The one thing is that our boat is a GT-40 engined boat and it#s not got the need to pump any fuel in, so just make sure you get the kill switch in and don't pump fuel in like a maxum would probably need, this boat doesn't need it. It is also a bit different reversing so just becareful it#s not got a leg so is completely different to berth on a mooring compared to a leg inboard style boat.

Cheers
Paul