Newbie deciding on my 1st Nautique

[jkimman]

I have been lurking around on this site for a few monthes as part of my search for a "new to me" Nautique. I think I have it narrowed down to either a 2001 Team Edition 210 or a 2002 Super Sport. Both have around 700 hours and the Super Sport has a factory tower and ballast tanks. Is there any difference in these two boats? I don't need a ton of space because I just bought a weekend lake house on High Rock Lake and the whole family doesn't need to be in the boat at once. I grew up skiing and knee boarding in Virginia, I have 4 kids that want to learn to wake board and wake surf. I want to learn to wake surf (knees can't handle much skiing anymore). Any thoughts? Also, dumb basic questions on wake surfing; I guess the speed you pull at is around 10mph? Apparently you use a rope bout 20' ? It does not look that hard to learn ?

[NautiqueJeff]

Sounds like you have a couple of good choices there! That era of Super Sport / Super Air Nautique is wonderful. I believe they dropped the floor a bit in 2002, so that one may feel larger inside, but not by much. Which engine is in the 2002? You could get the GM or the Ford that year.

The SS and SAN have exactly the same hull, and since the SS has the tower and tanks, it sounds like it is set up just like a SAN.

I had a 2003, and loved it!

[jkimman]

Both boats have the PCM Gt40 in them. I want that motor, I had a 94 ski brendella with the Ford PCM and it was a great motor. I am also a Ford Guy!

[NautiqueJeff]

Yep, hard to beat a GT-40!

[HS]

Do they both have perfect pass (speed control)?

[SkiTower]

I know this is out of left field, but may want to verify both will go under the bridges on highrock. My understanding you will need to lower the tower to go under them. Both should fit, but I'm just suggesting making sure. Some of the earlier towers don,t really go down that much. And not only height but simply the effort to lower the tower. Good pick on High Rock, Norman is WAY too crowded now.

[jkimman]

They both have Perfect Pass. SkiTower, you are correct about the 2 railroad bridges on High Rock, it will be close. I will definately have to lower the tower, but there is plenty of riding room where my weekend place is. Norman is not only crowded but I can't afford a weekend place there, the prices are nuts!

How about some answers on my wake surf questions?

[hondaprlud]

Wakesurfing isn't that hard to learn, but it took me a while to get to the point where I could drop the rope. There were a lot of adjustments to the ballast (forward and back), and speed for the first dozen trips out or so. I think we're riding at 10.5 MPH.

[Quinner]

700 hours on each boat? Both those model years there are known issues with the gauges, it is unlikely the hour meter in either boat is original and when the gauges are replaced hours go back to zero (GT-40 does not store them). Perfect Pass should also have logged engine hours, would be a good idea to check what PP is saying (assuming PP was original equipment).

Generally the condition of the boat usually shows similar to hours but not always.

[xrichard]

The gunnels are not as wide in 2002 (I don't know about lowering the floor)...but thinner gunnels give you more interior space.

I'd lean toward the one with the cleanest engine compartment and best condition interior. If people take care of their interior, they generally are taking care of the boat.

[jkimman]

I ended up buying a boat that I had not looked at before. 2002 super air nautique team edition. It has been listed on this site for sale and it was only an hour and a half from me. This thing is beautiful. I pick it up next week and will post pics.
Thanks for the help on the search