New to Nautique and looking in NC

[Ncsumd]

Hi. Have been looking for a "new" boat on and off for a while. Was looking only for MC 205's etc, because friends and family have them. But lately have been reading this forum and broadening my search. Need sort a crossover with open bow. Wife slaloms, kids starting to board. Budget 15-20k. I would appreciate any leads on well cared for boats or any info & things to watch out for while looking.

Thoughts on this on, for example:
http://greensboro.craigslist.org/bod/4959173622.html

http://raleigh.craigslist.org/boa/4937877376.html

Thanks!

[Miljack]

I too looked for a MC 205 and didn't really find one that met my requirements at the time (this was ~10 yrs ago), I purchased a Pro Air which is a DD "TWC" hull which did provide a better wakeboard wake, but sacrificed the slalom wake a little bit.
The first boat you listed is a Sport Nautique which has the same hull as the Air Nautique, just mostly came without a tower. I would recommend purchasing a boat with a tower already installed, preferably the FCT tower CC supplied from 2000-2005. Your budget should allow you to pick up a nice '98-01 version of a Sport/Air Nautique. These slalom well and have a "walk thru" windshield as opposed to the "step over" of the 2nd boat listed in your post.
1st choice on the engine Ford 5.8 fuel injected
2nd Chevy "Apex."

'98 and new Sport/Airs have a "trunk" for extra storage, you'll need it on these DD boats!
'00 and up have digital gauges, so if they've been replaced you'll have to ask how many hours are actually on the boat. If the boat you're looking at still has the digital gauges, you'll soon need to replace them so figure in another $300-400 if you install them yourself. '00 and up have the keypad for the starter function and other switch functions.
I would say don't worry about the ballast systems from the '98-'02 versions, you''ll end up having to replace most of it,and it's probably easier to just add ballast sacks.

search on here, tons of info on this era of boats.

[a0128]

Skip that open bow Ski Nautique. Crawling over the dash to get to the bow will get old real quick. An Air Nautique or a Sport Nautique will serve you best. Definitely try and find one with a tower preferably the 2nd generation FCT1. If not you can get a nearly identical replica from New Dimensions.

The Ford engines do not store hours in their ECM so if the gauges have been replaced you may not get accurate hours The GM engine does store the hours, but is rarer than the Ford. New there was a significant upcharge for the GM engine and you only gained 10hp.

1999 was the first year with "step in" bow seating (not sure how else to describe it). Prior to 1999 the bow area was configured "playpen" style. If you look at the brochures you will understand what I am talking about.

Personally I would look for a 1999 as you will get analog gauges and the "correct"open bow configuration and a little more storage up front under the seats over a pre-1999. The Sport/Air is a great boat and handles and performs well. I agree with the previous poster regarding the ballast system. If the boat doesn't have a factory system it is easy to add an aftermarket one.

With any 15+ year old boat you will have some eventual maintenance. I've been fortunate as the only major item I had to replace was my steering cable. Other than that it's the usual things like impeller, oil and filter, ballast (aerator) pumps, etc.

[Ncsumd]

Thanks for the replies. I will keep researching and looking.