New Purchase of 210

[surfmakr]

I am new to posting on this site. I have been a long time reader and gained lots of information from all of you. I sold my 99 Air Nautique and I am going to purchase a 210. I am interested in what your opinions would be on which is the best year for this boat (including a new one). I been reading all the posts and it almost sounds like the quality control for the new boats has gone down. I never had one issue with my 99'Air and I loved the GT40!!! I cannot imagine owning a different brand. Thanks in advance for any input.

[hundo]

RE: New Purchase of 210

We have a 05 210 and the quality is great. We had a few fit and trim issues but they were all resolved on the 20 hr service.

Good luck
Don

[DRAGON88]

RE: New Purchase of 210

I vote that 03 was the best year for the SAN, not because of quality. But beacause you could have: optional colored deck, New dash with faria gauges, New Deck style (non sloped transom) and the interior pretty much stayed the same from 03-05. My family owns an 05 SAN and we moved out of a '99 Sport Nautique (Ironicly enough... Same boat was your's tan black and white? :-p) And the quality steup up is HUGE from the 99. In 02 they re configured the deck, (non sloped transom) and re designed the interior, Used thicker vinyl then the 98-01 boats. The 02's however still had the digital read out gauges wich are pretty keen on "burning out" I think that they have a lifetime warrenty, but it's still a pain to have to replace them.

[surfmakr]

RE: New Purchase of 210

DRAGON88
My 99 Air was black,red & white with white and gray seats. It was better when I sold it than it was new. I talked with Nautique Jeff and he said the same-- Look for a clean low hour 03'. Do you know how I can verify the actual hours on the boat? I want to make sure that I end up with what I think I am buying!!!

[NautiqueJeff]

RE: New Purchase of 210

The '03 and newer boats have dependable hour meters built into the gauges. They have been fairly trouble free. Also, any CC dealer can pull the engine hours directly through the engine diagnostics port on the engine itself. That way you KNOW you're getting the whole story. This only works on the GM engines, and doesn't work on Fords which are in the older SANs.

[jhiestand]

RE: New Purchase of 210

Hey surfmakr. Unlike an automobile, I don't think hours on a boat is anywhere near as critical as how the boat was maintained. I'd much rather purchase a higher-hour, well-maintained boat than a cleaned up one that has been ridden hard by a school or spoiled kids. Not saying you should completely ignore the hours on the boat, but as long as it isn't killer-excessive I'd be much more interested in finding out how often fluids were changed, maintenance was performed, etc.

[Alan-S]

RE: New Purchase of 210

Hours mean nothing.....if the boat was cared for. Buy a boat with healthy hours on her, is in great shape, and has service records. I would take an engine from a school that has been run 5-7 days a week over some '03 boat that has 78 hrs. Here is a good example. I grew up in the Northern Neck in VA on the Chesapeake bay. There are tons of large yachts and work boats . There are workboats there that have original engines from the 1930's in them and run like a top, maybe 100,00hrs +. Could you imagine how expensive crabs, oysters, clams, etc would be if the watermen had to replace their inboards every 5k hours? Meanwhile, you have the weekend warriors( 6 weekend a year warriors) that have to replace their engines every 5-10 years. If you don't belive me look at a boat trader and count how many 1996 Albermarle w/ 2003 re-power 's you see. Nothing hurts an engine more than siting. One more thing to note, if you think that ski boat engines only last 1500 hrs, keep in mind that it only costs about 7K +/- to repower our boats.

[NautiqueJeff]

RE: New Purchase of 210

I wouldn't buy one from a school. Most beat the crap out of their boats.

[surfmakr]

RE: New Purchase of 210

Thanks Jeff,
I will be sure and have my dealer double check the hours for reference.
Hey jhiestand,
Good point, I am a maintenance freak and will defenatly pay more attention to the condition over all. Through some research I did yesterday, I found out that that it is possible for the dealer to see the entire history of the engine hours--like if it was over reved, over-heated...etc. Not completely sure that is true. I am in SO CAL and deal with California Correct Craft and will double check with them today.

I am very curious about this new 220 you are all talking about. I hope I can get some specifics. If anyone has heard any more in the last couple of days, I would be interested to hear about it. I do not mind buying a new boat but I know all the things I did to my Air Nautique and when I sold it I had a hard time letting go. It was definitely a better boat when I sold it than when I bought it new. I am really looking forward another one.

I will not buy from a school or promo boat. If anyone knows of a very clean 03’ or 05’ for sale please let me know. Thanks

[NautiqueJeff]

Re: RE: New Purchase of 210

Through some research I did yesterday, I found out that that it is possible for the dealer to see the entire history of the engine hours--like if it was over reved, over-heated...etc. Not completely sure that is true.

This is indeed true, as long as it is a GM engine.

We should start seeing a 220 or two in some dealerships within the next few weeks.

[surfmakr]

RE: New Purchase of 210

Hey Alan-S,
Good points-you are right about consistant use. I will keep that in mind. When my boats have sat for a while, I would always run the engine every couple of weeks.

[Deuce]

RE: New Purchase of 210

Surfmakr....there is a guy on here selling a '03 SANTE for 39 and change, which IMO is a smoking deal. Maybe worth a look if you are sold on the '03 SAN(love mine)..... Colors are good, boat looks VERY clean....

Anyway, just a thought....maybe you have already seen it.

[surfmakr]

RE: New Purchase of 210

Deuce,
I saw the post, It looks like a very clean boat. I want a ZR6 and that boat has a 330. I am still looking. Thanks

[Deuce]

RE: New Purchase of 210

It may be VERY, VERY tough to find a '03 with the ZR6..... Truthfully, I didn't even know it was available in '03....but just searched boattrader and found two '03 DD's with the 6.0

Anyway, hope you find one that fits the bill....and best of luck in your search.

[Bigjackamo]

I need to thow in my 2 cents about your "I wouldn't buy a school or promo boat". I may be with you on the school thing but the promo thing is completely wrong. The majority of Correct Craft promo drivers, (myself included) are maintenance freaks. We have to be, because if there are problems with our boats it comes out of our pockets. Plus the dealers want a sellable boat back so they are invested to make sure it is perfect, ie regular maintenance and all. I will bet you that the majority of promo boats are maintained better than boats that people buy. I will challenge you to pick out my promo boat that has been used all summer from a boat that has not been used and on the dealers lot or showroom. I have a buddy on the ski side and he is even better about it than me!

On the usage side, our promo boat was turned in last year with 40 hours, all driven by the same maintenance freek as mentioned above, ME. I asure you it was not driven hard or abused in any way.