Any input on this 1993 sport nautique? Deal too good to be true? 1600 hrs!?

[hebs]

I have been wanting a "poor man's" wakeboarding boat for quite a while now, and have grown fond of the nautiques. My budget is about 12000 so I have been looking for a 90's sport nautique. I found a 1993 sport naituqe locally, and it looks really good, but it has 1608 hours which kinda scares me.This is a 1993, is it the same hull as the air nautique? I have read different things, some say it is 94-97, some say its 93-97. Can you guys tell from the pics?



Anyone familiar witht he 13th floor towers? Are they any good?

It has a new motor, but he said it has the stock trans and hasnt been rebuilt. The extra power and tq of a modified motor kinda concerns me on a stock trans, especially with 1600 hours. However... the asking price is $9000...

Any other input or things I should check, if I go look at it, would be greatly appreciated.

Here is the content of the listing:

"
1993 Sport Nautique
13th Floor Wakeboard Tower
Pioneer Stereo
Apline speakers
Memphis subwoofers
New stroked 351 engine now 392 with new GT40P heads
4 Blade OJ Prop
New 13th floor bimini top
New Sunbrella boat cover
boat has 1602 total hours with 30 on new engine
runs and drive great
"

[Laptom]

Check if it is really a 93 by the hull number. This is a bonus because from 93 Nautique does not use any wood stringers anymore.
1600 hrs is not bad. Expecially with a rebuilt engine. I have seen Nautique's with +4000hrs running like a champion.
13th towers a solid. I do not know if they are in business anymore, but they had a good product.
It is not an Air Nautique, but the wake is really nice and solid.
Good price from the pictures. Trailer included?

[archcityblues]

i wouldnt let those hours scare you away from what seems like a good deal. 1600, maintained hours is much better than 600 non. when purchasing used boats i worry more when the hours are low compaired to the model year. ive riden that hull a few times and it does a decent job.

[Chexi]

Those trailer tires are not trailer tires.

[hebs]

Those trailer tires are not trailer tires.

What kind of tires will I have to replace them with? What negative affects will it have if I use those tires temporarily? Does that look like the factory trailer? He said the trailer has a new axle, but needs the fenders welded on.

[Skidave]

I know you can tell a 93 and 94 Ski Nautique apart easily in the transom. In your rear picture, if you see the black cover at the top of the transom, this was 94 on (for the Ski). The previous design was slightly different and the ski rope would tend to get caught in the earlier design when circling back for a skier. Do a google image search on a 92, 93 and you will see what I am talking about. Also, the Dash looks just like my Uncle's 94.

Also, your one photo of the boat and trailer show a missing fender. That needs to be addressed. Also, I agree, those are not trailer tires. If you go far, they will blow.

[vortech347]

Trailer tires are cheap. Just find the largest that will fit since it's single axle. You have a nearly 3,000lb boat with a near 1,000lb trailer so that's 4k right there.

See if you can fit a 215/75-14 trailer tire or go for the Kumho 857 since they are rated for 2k lbs per tire in a 14 in size.

If you are just towing a few miles each way and it's not terribly hot where you live then you could get away with those for a little while. But I wouldn't tow any distance in any heat with those. And get fenders that cover the tires asap if you buy that boat.

Otherwise, you will get rocks thrown all over the side of the boat.

Looks like a decent setup. Boat looks clean and will throw a good wakeboard wake.

[hebs]

Trailer tires are cheap. Just find the largest that will fit since it's single axle. You have a nearly 3,000lb boat with a near 1,000lb trailer so that's 4k right there.

See if you can fit a 215/75-14 trailer tire or go for the Kumho 857 since they are rated for 2k lbs per tire in a 14 in size.

If you are just towing a few miles each way and it's not terribly hot where you live then you could get away with those for a little while. But I wouldn't tow any distance in any heat with those. And get fenders that cover the tires asap if you buy that boat.

Otherwise, you will get rocks thrown all over the side of the boat.

Looks like a decent setup. Boat looks clean and will throw a good wakeboard wake.

Yea he said he has the fenders, they just need to be welded on. I have a buddy that could do it for me. I will go look at it today and take some more pics. Is there anything I should look for when I go look at it?

[DLafont]

+1 on the tires for the trailer. When you buy them, get a spare too. The boat looks super clean, take it for a test drive to get a feel for it. Bring a buddy to prevent you from falling in too much love. Also, like others have stated high well maintained hours are less of a worry than unmaintained low hours. If the engine is new, then the old hours don't really matter much. Hull condition (niccks, dings, fading) don't seem to be a factor on this boat. Welcome to the family, at a seemingly good price!!

[s_kelley2000]

As others have said, the trailer needs the tires and fenders addressed but the boat looks clean. Also that trailer looks like it might be difficult to load with no forward bunks and just a keel roller but tough to know until you try it. It is definitely at least a 93 because the 89-92 was a different deck and hull. That hull will throw an excellent wakeboard wake with some weight. It is basically the same wetted surface as the 95-06 Super Sport/Super Air just in a direct drive package. The interior is not original but it looks like it was done nicely from the pics and it has a factory look minus the correct craft name being stitched in. And obviously the large graphics on the hull are not original since those are for about an 07-08 Super Air.

[vortech347]

Any decent trailer shop in the area could put bunks up front near the bow stop for not too much money.

For the fenders and tires just make sure you can clear a 27-28" tall tire so you can fit a bigger 14 or 15" tire.

[hebs]

I went and checked out the exterior of the boat today. I wanted to get in it but wasnt sure if the owner was cool with it (he just told me to go check it out in the parking lot of his furniture store. I didnt talk to the guy in person yet). I will try to run back by this afternoon and check out the interior a little more, and get some pics of the engine bay, etc...

The hull ID is: CTC34073k293. Is this the same hull design as the super air?

Here is an album with a ton of pics: https://plus.google.com/photos/103956328804038432798/albums/6040079335448858705?banner=pwa


Issues I noticed:
--The trailer is in pretty terrible shape:
----paint is faded and chipped and has rust all over
----missing the fender on the right side
----missing the side step on the right side
----missing side step wood on rear left side
----fornt left side step wood/carpet isnt screwed down
----lights and wiring look pretty terrible
----not trailer tires, would have to be replaced
----wheels and tires look too wide or something, it looks like it is cambering or bent
----the trailer or bunk appear to be bent or somethin, the front of the boat doesnt rest on the bow stops
----unsure about hub assembly
----bunk carpet is pretty terrible and even showing metal and wood under it
----bunk wood looked pretty rotted
----wench is in bad shape and is rusty


--The boat itself is questionable
----gel coat is oxidized, yet has nice SAN vinyls over it. You can see old AIR vinyl marks through oxydation and pressure washer marks
----large scratch down the left side, in the red gel coat
----light scum/tinge on bottom of hull
----the side interior upholstery looks decent, just a little dirty.
----bottom upholstery looks chem bleeched or sun faded
----spider cracks at tip of bow and along the permiter of the top of of the hull, above the rub-rail
----the pass co-pilot seat felt a little lose when lifting up, and damper didnt work
----handle in rear above "rukus" has paint chipping, and possibly looks like rust dripping down the fiberglass from where it mounts into the hull
----speedo sensors and all little plastic covers under the teak look white or faded/dry rotted?
----teak looks really dry
----rub rail looks pretty oxidized/dry
----the right board rack looks oem, but the left board rack is universal and mounted higher, on the cross tubing
----concerned about the bemeni. doesnt look like it would open wthout running into the tower
----front right dash mounting hole is ripped out, so the dash is obviously loose
----captains seat bottom upholstry unstapled from bottom of seat, and rusty stable holes showing
----one of the bottom tracking fens has a slight ding in it



Overall thoughts:
Trailer looks pretty bad and I dont even know if I would feel comfortable pulling the boat 4 miles home, much less an hour and a half to the lake

The gel might actually clean up ok with a wet sand but the spider cracks bother me, though thry are all on the top of the hull, out of the water

Upholstery and carpet really arent too terrible, other than the seat bottoms


What do you guys think? I am relatively mechanically inclined and could tackle some of the stuff myself, and wouldn't mind doing so if the price was right.

[hebs]

ALBUM LINK FIXED: https://plus.google.com/photos/10395...79335448858705

[BoardSkier]

Not sure where you are - Texas, I think. I have a nice Supra Comp advertised here. Not a Nautique, but it is somewhat in your budget and does not have all the issues the boat advertised here has. You will have close to $1500 just making repairs! My Supra truly is turn key. If you are interested, I can send pics of anything you want.

[hebs]

I kinda hard-balled the guy and told him that the absolute most I would pay is NADA minus the cost of a trailer. He said he would take $7000. What do you guys think?