Newbie Advise on Used SN

[LoriSkier]

Hi everyone, pretty new to this forum and I was hoping I could get some advice. I'm looking to buy a used SK years 97-99. However, I think that 2000-2001 would be OK too? I had a 97 SNOB (kicking myself for ever selling it!) so I know a bit what I'm looking at. I have a 2001 SNOB that I may drive up and see this weekend. The guy says that there is 80 hours but he wants to get it checked out to make sure. Something about the gauges being bad and having been replaced. Now I know that these years SN had problems with the gauges so this seems plausible. He is the original owner and thinks that is what the hours are. He is asking $21,500 but says there is some wiggle room. So my question is what do you think is a fair price and how does this del look? Here is the ad from Craigslist:

http://redding.craigslist.org/boa/3154636963.html

Thanks, any input would be great. I also looked at a 99 closed bow with a tower which has 172 hours but I don;t really like the tower and prefer the red 2001 as far as looks.

http://sacramento.craigslist.org/boa/3189146048.html

[LoriSkier]

I'm looking to buy a used SK years 97-99.

Make that SN!

[swc5150]

The SNOB is priced too high. I guess with that said, it's worth what someone is willing to pay, but there have been mint 01's come through for much less. I'd wouldn't spend any more than somewhere in the upper teens on it ($18kish?).

[LoriSkier]

I thought it was a bit high too. Plus I'm on the fence about the SNOB, I loved mine but the OB is not all that useable. I think I'd rather have the extra space.

How about this one, 2000 SN for $19000 (I think I would offer around $17-18K). Undetermined hours but its at a dealer who says they are going to have a dealer hook it up to a computer to check? He wouldn't give me the hours off the gauge because he said it was unreliable.

http://www.boattrader.com/listing/20...ique-101815849

[NautiqueJeff]

The GT-40 cannot have its hours read from the computer. Only the GM engines can do that, not the Fords. Since this one has the GT-40, you're out of luck there.

[east tx skier]

What Jeff said.

But the whole thing about the gauges having been replaced and the current hours on the new gauge being inaccurate as a result of whatever was done before that is a normal situation. Best you can hope for is service records with hours recorded during the first several years of ownership before the original gauges failed. I own a 98 and the previous two owners had unbelievably meticulous records. I even have the letters from the second owner to the first owner concerning the sale between them.

My boat had what I considered to be very low hours for its age 190 at 9 years old) when I purchased it. But the records supported the low, pretty regular use (it didn't sit for extended periods).

[LoriSkier]

Thanks Jeff, I thought I had read that somewhere. This dealer has mostly fishing boats so he probably didn't know. I guess I'll just go take a look. Hopefully he will have records...

east tx skier, I want your boat!

The search continues. It's hard to know whether to grab something or keep waiting. These year SN don't come up for sale that often, I really want a red one but I'm not sure I'll find one that has everything I want.

[Rick]

If the boat has Perfect Pass and the chip is original you can get the hours off of it. If it has been changed all bets are off. It might be interesting to compare them. If PP says 560 and the gauges say 80 you will know that there are more hours on the boat.

[swc5150]

Lori,
If I were you, I'd be looking into this one. The 5.0 isn't the most sought after motor, but the overall package looks beautiful.

http://www.ski-it-again.com/php/skii...t&postid=20445

[east tx skier]

Thanks Jeff, I thought I had read that somewhere. This dealer has mostly fishing boats so he probably didn't know. I guess I'll just go take a look. Hopefully he will have records...

east tx skier, I want your boat!

The search continues. It's hard to know whether to grab something or keep waiting. These year SN don't come up for sale that often, I really want a red one but I'm not sure I'll find one that has everything I want.

Thanks. It's not for sale.

I know what you mean about their not coming up very often (at least not within an hour drive). I almost jumped on a 97 in 2006 about an hour away, but just didn't have the wherewithal to jump on it at that point. I spent the next year thinking about missing out on that boat. In 2007, when another boat came up for sale in the same town about an hour and a half from me, I hit the ground running and owned it in less than a week's time. It has been absolutely great and I will own this boat for a long time.

[LoriSkier]

swc5150, that is nice but a tad more than we wanted to spend, we're trying to stay under $20K. You don't think that is too many hours at 550? There is a nice looking 2000 red one in Redding (3 hours away) for $18,500 but has 500 hours so I wasn't sure. It has the GT-40 and is just the color I'm looking for.

http://redding.craigslist.org/boa/3182745416.html

I really appreciate all the help guys!

[swc5150]

With a little wheel and dealing, you never know where that guy might land? 550 hours on a well maintained PCM motor is nothing. These things don't start breathing heavy until 2,000 tics. I don't blame on the GT-40 - awesome engine!

[LoriSkier]

So here are my choices right now, I'd love your input:

2003 SN with 505 hours that is listed for $22,500, a little wiggle room
2001 SNOB w/tower with 80 hours (unverified due to gauge issue) listed for $21,500, wiggle room (gt-40)
2000 SN with 500 hours listed for $18,500 (gt-40)
1999 SN w/tower with 175 hours listed for $15,500

I mostly ski but I've started wakeboarding a little. Most everyone who boats with me wakeboards. Our plan is to keep it for about 5 years or so and then sell it to buy a small cuddy or cruiser. I'm 50 so I don't ski as hard as I used to and only do free skiing.

Is the 2003 really worth that much more than the 1999 with low hours? I've seen it and it is a very clean boat and the guys has had it for sale for about 1 1/2 months so he may even go lower. My husband doesn't want to spend more than $18,500 but I think we could go as high as $20K for the right boat.

Thanks!

[LoriSkier]

Here are the links to the boats:

2003 - http://www.ski-it-again.com/php/skii...t&postid=20445
2001 - http://redding.craigslist.org/boa/3154636963.html
2000 - http://redding.craigslist.org/boa/3182745416.html
1999 - http://sacramento.craigslist.org/boa/3189146048.html

[swc5150]

Tough choice for you, but great to have the options presented. Thinking $$, I'd probably go after the 2000 first, and try to knock some scratch off. It sounds like it's equipped with Stargazer, which would be a plus for me. I know he's adding value for that stereo, but in the real world, it doesn't really add much. Throw a
$10k stereo in a Pontiac Fiero and see what kind of value that'll add to the car - none. (an extreme example of course)

Next I'm going with that '03, as it's priced so close to the '01, which I think is overpriced to begin with. The towers on the '01 and '99 don't really add value to a SN, as the majority of your SN buyers aren't interested in or looking for towers.

Not taking $$ into account, I'm going with the '03. I'd prefer it had a GT-40, but that 5.0 will be just fine for your needs. That motor is no slouch!