1999 SNOB, 400HR, 5.8 H.O. What's it really worth?

[TallTex]

At my age and condition it’s time to face the fact that I won’t be skiing a slalom course so going to sell a clean 1999 Ski Nautique Open Bow that spent its life on a lift since new. (Has never owned a trailer, but is sitting on a mediocre black dual-axle trailer, surge disk-brakes, break-away tongue that was made/fit another v-drive boat, however, it serves its purpose. The Trailer can go with SN or not, if you have “no need” for one or already have a SN trailer) SNOB has the 5.8 H.O. “carbed” engine (290HP). Has right under 400 hours. I am second owner, original owner was an MD that took good care of her “baby.” Boat has never been used hard, more like “hardly used.” Has right under 400 hours, Boat had 380 when I got it, always had regular service by dealer or marina. Never been in salt water. Always covered and vinyl is almost excellent (not pristine) condition but for one or two small nicks (I was told caused by negligent guests), floor carpet is decent but is from 1999. Overall SN-graphics are good but show some dock rub in spots. One or two minor spider gel-coat cracks/scratches on gunnel. Teak platform in fine shape, four blade prop. Bimni Top, older Alpine CD player/stereo (no iphone, Bluetooth) Will need a new cover. It seems these TSC hulls are more favored in some parts of the country and less in others. This area is all about having the biggest wake and surfing it. I need a realistic (not "pie in sky") opinion of value in the current market( in a favored SN market) and I will help get it there. Thanks for your input. Boat is Black&Tan. Stock web photos attached as subject boat is under plastic at a remote location. Will post actual photos with a "for-sale" ad.

[rodltg2]

well this is the boat I have been looking for but no luck finding one locally. more than likely will buy closed bow. the mediocre trailer from another boat kills the value to most including myself. I looked into another nautique that also did not have one and I could not find a used one. A new one was about $4200. If your boat was here locally I would pay no more than $8000. If it had a nice trailer, Perfect Pass and GT40 I would say $13000.

[swc5150]

That's a nice looking boat for sure! I pretty much concur with rodltg2's assessment. Here in the midwest, one could pop a new Eagle or Boatmate under it for roughly $3k-ish. As far as motor, for me personally, no GT40 in a '99 would be a deal breaker, however there are people out there who have no problem with carbs at all. With that, I'm not sure how hard of a hit the value takes, but it does limit the universe of buyers I believe. If you're not in a hurry, I see no reason why you couldn't at least ask between $11 & 12k, and see if you get any interest or offers? Here's a decent comparison from your state...

http://www.ski-it-again.com/php/skii...t&postid=22154

I'd ignore the one in OH for $21.9k, as that's a completely unrealistic price for that boat.

[TallTex]

Thanks y'all. SWC5150 I think you may be spot on with $11K-$12K, $13max I think from research but not here. I think I saw that $22K ad too, he needs to get off the crack. This 99 was about $31/32K new from the dealer as I recall from original invoice. The H.O. is same engine as the "GT-40", just carbed hence less HP. "GT-40" refers to type of Ford heads used, GT and I believe GTP are the casting marks to show type of Ford heads. One of the "old school" race car guys around here states the 4160 Holley can be tweaked to run well and beyond any OEM specs that are "off the shelf/out of the box" and he (he charges about $185-$190 to custom re-build one and flow bench test it for a specific application and altitude) says the same about the SNOB's PCM "H.O." engine, that it has more potential gains with little effort. With so low hours I am not a "do to be doing" kind of guy. As far as trailers go, nothing wrong with one it's sitting on, its dual axle, disk brakes and made for a larger, heavier boat. I can get one custom made here at Magnum or others, just why bother? Some folks leave their's on the lift and never need a trailer around here. I assume there are "ski heavens" in the southern states that are the same. Austin's Nautique dealer has a new/used trailer for about $3K, it was titled but never sold, hence "used." There are multiple trailer makers in Texas, aluminum is big around the coast, a tandem axle to fit this boat is around $2K. My issue is Central Texas is no longer the land of SN rather "big-wave" Nautiques and other such v-drive hot-rods. Lake Austin looks like an ocean on some days. It is moot at this point as the boat I had an eyeball on sold while I was blinking. Won't go without with 80 degree days here. Thanks again for your input.

[chris196]

I have a 98 SN closed bow in Austin with the GT-40. I really don't know how much the OB would be worth. I think the 12K number is pretty good.
Is an OB worth more than a CB? It might be, but I would never want an OB in that boat, especially if used on Lake Austin. I run my CB on Austin all the time and would hate an OB constantly taking waves over the bow.
So, I can see the OB having a slightly larger market, but for those looking for a slalom boat I think they might prefer the CB.
I love my 98 with the closed bow and removing the rear seat. It's the perfect boat for 3 people to go slalom skiing.
Ok, I really didn't contribute much, just rambled. Good Luck.

[chris196]

While it's true the HO engine has GT-40 heads, even the SN literature refers to the 310hp fuel injected as the GT-40 and the 290hb carbed as the HO.
It's shown in the sales brochure here:
http://www.correctcraftfan.com/refer...ex.asp?page=26

Most people imply fuel injection when they say the GT-40 engine.
I have no doubt you can get more out of the carbed if you tuned it right. But, I really love the easy starting and idling of my fuel injection.

[TallTex]

"It's the perfect boat for 3 people to go slalom skiing." Hi Chirs196. I am sure you are right. However, finding many folks that still ski (or barefoot) on or around Austin is not common, as you know....it is all about having a "hot-rod, big-wake, V-drive" surf boat. As a result, a late 90s SN's value is not all that good around here as it would be where folks still ski, want to ski, ski to compete.

[swc5150]

Exactly, I'm just programmed to think 310MPI when saying GT-40, but they are actually the heads.

[TRBenj]

Exactly, I'm just programmed to think 310MPI when saying GT-40, but they are actually the heads.

Its both... but "GT40" = MPEFI. PCM speak for the HO 351w (they all got GT40 heads, be it carb, TBI or MPEFI) is "ProBoss".

[Texan1554]

"It's the perfect boat for 3 people to go slalom skiing." Hi Chirs196. I am sure you are right. However, finding many folks that still ski (or barefoot) on or around Austin is not common, as you know....it is all about having a "hot-rod, big-wake, V-drive" surf boat. As a result, a late 90s SN's value is not all that good around here as it would be where folks still ski, want to ski, ski to compete.

There's still a few river rats hanging around Austin, but sadly yes the old SN's get pushed off the water fairly early these days. I think you're best market will be New Braunfels and San Marcos but the same folks shop the Austin market. Hit the lake pre-work hours middle of the week. You'll see the real lake crowd still exists. Plenty of one-skiers, a few trick skis, mixed in with the boarders. Get down to styner and a few barefooters are usually out jumping.

[chris196]

"It's the perfect boat for 3 people to go slalom skiing." Hi Chirs196. I am sure you are right. However, finding many folks that still ski (or barefoot) on or around Austin is not common, as you know....it is all about having a "hot-rod, big-wake, V-drive" surf boat. As a result, a late 90s SN's value is not all that good around here as it would be where folks still ski, want to ski, ski to compete.

You are certainly right about the current situation on Lake Austin, bigger is better mentality in full swing. And there's a growing percentage of them who are rude drivers or just plain don't know what they're doing. But that's true in just about everything.
This is why I question if the OB is worth more or less than the CB. As I said, I would not want a small open bow boat out there.

I pretty much only use my boat mid week before work.
Sometimes hit a Sunday morning early, but I rarely ski then. My wife will ski, but we usually have other people and it's more social.
Off the lake by 10am, then hit Maudie's for some breakfast tacos.