1991 Ski Nautique?

[jrandol]

Hello all! I am looking for advice here. I am looking at a 1991 Ski Nautique and know very little about this boat. I previously owned an 86 Mastercraft (just sold) and was looking to get something a little newer with slightly more room. My questions include:

1. Does this boat have more interior room than my 86 MC?
2. SN still used fir stringers in this year of boats but supposedly it is encapsulated, should I be concerned?
3. How is the slalom charcteristics of this boat? (Tracking, slalom wake, spray, etc...)
4. What is a fair going price for a mid hour clean boat of this year?

Thanks so much for your help everyone!

[jrandol]

RE: 1991 Ski Nautique?

One more question, is it hard getting used to backing a SN? I got pretty good at pulling up to the dock on my MC but am worried about the right hand rotation. Why does SN used Right hand engines anyway?

[Jesse1]

RE: 1991 Ski Nautique?

I had a '91 Ski Nautique. It was a great boat, had the 240 hp 351 with the 1.23:1 trans. Supposedly Correct Craft uses the RH rotation to counteract the weight of the driver: the rotation of the prop lifts the right side of the boat. Since there's usually a passenger on the left, I don't know if RH rotation matters. You'll get used to backing it real quick.

The '91 is a good slalom boat with low wakes and good tracking. Not as good as the newer Ski Nautiques but still very acceptable. Spray shouldn't bother you unless you're using a real short line.

It would pay to have a qualified CC mechanic to inspect the boat. If it's been garaged and is low hours you shouldn't have much to worry about. Check Boat Trader to compare prices.

[bkhallpass]

Jrandol,

I am mastermason's (from your MC board) brother, and the nautique
guy in the family. PM me if you want to talk. I'll get back to you
after the weekend.

My quick take on your questions.

1. I believe the 91 has more room than your 86, but not a lot.
The euro tail on the 91 makes the interior smaller than some of the
newer boats. However, the 91 has a deeper freeboard than your boat, which makes it feel much bigger, and is certainly safer if you're going to
take your newborn out. The 91 will also handle rough water much
better than your boat.

2. If the boat was well taken care of, I wouldn't be concerned. If you
go to correctcraftfan.com, you'll see hundreds of vintage nautiques, still
in operation. Most of the guys replacing floors or stringers have boats
that are from the 1970s, and the technology in 91 was much better
than in the 70s. If you want all fiberglass, 93 was the first year for
nautique. If you want the GT 40 motor, than I believe you'll need
94 or newer.

3. Slalom characteristics are excellent. Tracking world class, wake
excellent, though not quite as good as the 97-2000 models, or the
01-05 models. Spray will only be an issue at very short line lengths.
Wakeboarders also prefer this boat over the 97 and later models, because
if weighted, it can provide a decent wb wake.

4. I'd say 10-15K depending upon condition, hours, what kind of trailer,
stereo, towers, etc. I've seen poor condition boats as low as 8500, and
I've seen big stereo mosters listed at 115-16. My friend's 90 was in excellent shape, 800 hrs and he sold it for 11K last year. I've also seen 95s and 96s go for 13-15K in great shape, and they have fiberglass stringers and the GT 40.

Postscript: Why does eveyone worry about right hand rotation. I'll
bet you can park your left hand rotation boat on either side. If you
can learn to drive a boat which pulls right when backing up, then
you can learn to drive a boat which pulls left.

Good luck.

BKH

[Daryl]

I wouldn't worry about backing - i've got a 1990 SN and drive a 97 MC PS190 regularly. no problems, just takes some getting used to. (occasionally i'll put a boat in reverse and go the wrong way but hey no big deal) i regularly pull both boats to the dock on the drivers side without problems

my 90 SN tracks noticably better than the 97 MC, slalom wakes are similar and spray is slightly better than on the 94 MC PS190 i ski sometimes.

i really like the 90-96 nautique style - and my boat is often mistaken for a newer boat - people almost always say "That's a '90' - wow!"

[jrandol]

Thanks for all the input guys! Few more questions:

I am looking at a 94 as well, I understand they had composite stringers at this point which is good in my book. Can anyone tell me the HP rating of the PCM ProBoss 5.8 liter?? Is that fuel injected or carb'd?

[Jesse1]

I had a '94 with the carb'd ProBoss. I was told it was 300 hp. It was the fastest Nautique I've ever owned. They also offered a fuel injected engine- I believe it was a throttle body. Dealer didn't recommend it at the time. Horsepower the same or a little higher.

[skinautique]

The Pro Boss is 300 hp TBI (throttle body injection - aka. glorified carburator)
The first year for the Multi Port (GT-40) is 1995. In 1996, the fuel control cell came out.

[DavidF]

The TBI engine in my SN (95 engine) is called "ProSki". I finally got it running correctly this weekend (first time for me) and it is powerful. I cannot seem to get a difinative answer for the HP rating of the engine. Yes, I would agree, the TBI is a glorified BIG carburetor without the tuning, fouling, and cold start issues normally associated with carburetors.

[Laptom]

I thought the Carb version is 260 or 285hp. TBI is 300hp and the GT-40 is 310hp.

[83sn2001]

ProBoss is carbed. ProSki is TBI. The hp of the ProBoss is 285. I have a friend with a 94 sport with the proboss and it will haul.

[jrandol]

What do you guys think. I got an email from the seller of this boat for a second chance bid. I could get this boat for $6500 without trailer. Do you think this is a good buy? It's a bit of a gamble and needs at least a swim platform and trailer. Anyone close to here that could take a look at it? Recommendations anyone?

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eB...RK%3AMEWA%3AIT

[bkhallpass]

jrandol,

A couple of things concern me: 1) The seller listed the boat
as an 89 and it is actually a 90 or 91 (It looks like a 90) 2)
The seller listed the boat as 265 HP - unlikely 240 HP was
standard in 1990. What else is unknown and or wrong?

As for price, I've seen many 1990s with swim platforms and
trailers for 9-11K. At 6500, add in the price of a platform, trailer,
and your cost in going to Maryland to get the boat, and you are
already on the cusp of the proper price range. Then, if there
are any hidden damages, costs, etc. It could go up.

I think you are on the right track trying to find someone in Maryland
to check it out for you. If you can't get feedback from someone you
trust, then I would really think hard about this.

My 2 cents.

BKH

[SGY]

BKH is right on the money. I'd be a little wary. What happened to the swim platform? That is weird. Were they removable in that year?

Bottom line: There are lots of well kept, babied early 90's Ski Nautiques. You'll find one. I'd shy away. Bad vibes.

[jrandol]

Yep, I decided to let this one slide. I have emaild back and forth with the dealer a few times and he has been really wierd about it and refuses to send me additional photos, etc... Something doesn't add up here. Thanks for the advice guys!