Buying another boat... questions

[Brett Baker]

Hey guys, finally adding another boat to the garage. My 1993 SAN is getting a little lonely. Here's the deal, I really didn't want to buy a newer boat because they were all way out of the price range I was willing to spend. However, I found a couple that have dropped into my range with very high hours. My 2 best friends are mechanics for ford... they've told my to pull the trigger on either one of these boats...

The first. 1999 SAN, owned by a ski school, meticulously maintained engine, beat interior. GT40. Closed water cooling. Never in salt, although it will be soon if I buy it. Guy installed a tower.... not my favorite addition to a boat... 3300 hours.

The second. 1998 SAN, owned by a ski camp. Serviced annually. Again, interior is beat. GT40, closed water cooling. Again not in salt. No tower. Better color..... 5000 hours.

Both of these are under 5k.

My thinking behind this. For the price, I can run it til the engine falls apart, replace the engine, replace the interior, and have a boat that will go another 3-4k. I ski A LOT, and live right on the salt. My 93 has never seen the salt, I bought a ski avenger with an outboard to deal with the salt water, but the boat just isn't cutting it for what I do. In the year i've had the avenger I've put 300 hours on it.

Advice? Am I nuts?

[TRIP]

You have a '93 SAN? Super Air Nautique? Thought that wasn't introduced till '98 or '99, and that hull (Super Sport) not until '95.
And you say you ski a lot, then I wouldn't get a SAN anyway.
About the hours: I'd have the engines checked and if they turn out fine yeah maybe go for it. Less than 5K for a SAN, plus new interior (3K?) plus new(er) engine is still below market value.

[Brett Baker]

Sorry, I'm using the wrong acronym... I've got a 1993 196

The boats I'm looking at are also 196's.

So I guess that would be a SNCB (Ski Nautique Closed Bow?)

[Lewy2001]

Brett you have a Ski Nautique and the 98 and 99 will also be Ski Nautiques(even though they are 19'6" long).

The marketing name of 196 began in 2003 when the whole model range was re marketed and badged as numbers relating to their length without platform.

[Brett Baker]

I've learned 3 things from this thread.

#1 - I should never post without first having coffee.
#2 - I should never post without first having coffee.
#3 - I've got a ski nautique. No numbers. I'm looking at a ski nautique, but newer with a lot more hours.

Now that those are established. Does anyone have any input on the hour thing? Am I insane for even considering a gt40 with that many hours?

[DanielC]

My 1997 Ski Nautique has 2428.9 hours on it. and runs good. But 3300, or 5000 hours is beyond what I have. I really do not know what to tell you. Do you have access to somebody that can do a good job rebuilding an engine?

[Brett Baker]

Yeah, the engine rebuild really wouldn't be that bad to have done

[Rick]

PCM told me that the average time before rebuild is 2400 hours. If you are going to us it in salt go ahead until the engine fails. In salt the risers will probably go first flooding the engine. You state that both have closed cooling. That may mean a simple rebuild then new risers every 3-4 years. I am never worried about high hours if you get the hull you want.

[Fluid63]

I agree with Rick high hours should not be a barrier to a great boat/hull.

[Brett Baker]

That makes me feel a whole lot better. My mechanic friends are saying 3-4k for a rebuild. Sound about right?