New to Nautique

[Titan8750]

Hello,

I am new to the boat scene. Although I have 30 years of experience when it comes to personal watercraft. I will be looking at a super clean 2006 Super Air Nautique 210 with 350 hours and I am wondering what I should things I should be looking out for on these boats(what typically fail). The individual that I am buying from stated that everything is in working order except the ballast gauges(ballast works, just on the gauges). Thanks

[Stevemo14]

The 06 you are looking at is a one off year for the 210. It has the Titan tower which is a solid tower. It is the first year of the 210 having a left hand rotation prop, so you will need to remember that. As far as the gauges go, the ballast gauges do not run off the gateway box, so they could just be bad, or the senders are bad. Most people pull the hard tanks out of the back of the boat to add bags, so those gauges wouldn't work anyways.

A big thing for this boat would be the gateway box. I believe the 06 is the same as the 05, and the pitot tubes for the speedo's run directly into the gateway box. The seals where the pitot tubes connect to the box can fail, and floor the box rendering it useless. When / If this happens all your gauges will die, and you will be left doing the conversion kit if you want any gauges. https://www.nautiqueparts.com/produc...y-box-2003-05/ is the kit. If one dash gauge isn't working that doesn't mean a gateway failure, could just be the gauge. If there is more than 1 not working it could be the gateway.

Your ballast pumps should be the reversible type, so that's a good thing. Most people want to ditch the aerator pumps that come in the pre 2006 models.

I would make sure the steering cable is nice and free, not turning hard. That will cost you $200 plus labor ( or about 2-4 hours of your time ) to fix.

[Titan8750]

Thanks for the great info Steve. As far as the conversion kit, do the gauges that come with this kit look the same as the factory gauges? Not sure if this has already been upgraded. Thanks

The 06 you are looking at is a one off year for the 210. It has the Titan tower which is a solid tower. It is the first year of the 210 having a left hand rotation prop, so you will need to remember that. As far as the gauges go, the ballast gauges do not run off the gateway box, so they could just be bad, or the senders are bad. Most people pull the hard tanks out of the back of the boat to add bags, so those gauges wouldn't work anyways.

A big thing for this boat would be the gateway box. I believe the 06 is the same as the 05, and the pitot tubes for the speedo's run directly into the gateway box. The seals where the pitot tubes connect to the box can fail, and floor the box rendering it useless. When / If this happens all your gauges will die, and you will be left doing the conversion kit if you want any gauges. https://www.nautiqueparts.com/produc...y-box-2003-05/ is the kit. If one dash gauge isn't working that doesn't mean a gateway failure, could just be the gauge. If there is more than 1 not working it could be the gateway.

Your ballast pumps should be the reversible type, so that's a good thing. Most people want to ditch the aerator pumps that come in the pre 2006 models.

I would make sure the steering cable is nice and free, not turning hard. That will cost you $200 plus labor ( or about 2-4 hours of your time ) to fix.

[NautiqueJeff]

That's already been upgraded.

[Titan8750]

That's already been upgraded.

Well that's a bonus. Thanks Jeff.

[Stevemo14]

I still wish they made better looking gauges for that kit. Those just look SOOOOOO Bad.

[bturner]

I know, right. You'd think with the number of these and the years affected that lending the Nautique logo would be that big of thing. Once you have the movement all we're talking about here is screen printing and it's not like the conversion kit is cheap to start with.

[Titan8750]

What is the easiest way to tell if a 210 is a standard, limited, or team addition? Thanks

[Stevemo14]

The standard or signature editions would have a key for the ignition, and rocker switches for the lights and such. I don't think it had perfect pass or ballast standard either.

The Limited / team edition would have a keypad for the ignition and push buttons on that key pad for the lights and such. Perfect Pass would be standard, and ballast on the Team Editions, They would be options on the Limited.

The sides of the boat near the stern should also have "team" or "limited" badges unless they were removed.

[Titan8750]

The boat also seems to not have a factory tower, anyone know what this is? Thanks

[Neptune442]

That's a 2004 210. Factory tower for that year.

[Titan8750]

That's a 2004 210. Factory tower for that year.

I was afraid of that. Seller stated it was 2006.

[Neptune442]

https://www.smgboats.com/inv/2004-SU...-Boats-C32498/

[Titan8750]

https://www.smgboats.com/inv/2004-SU...-Boats-C32498/

That is it. The seller just bought it from SMG around 5 months ago, he is selling it, as he is looking to upgrade. Any downside to a 2004 over a 2006 model? Thanks

[Stevemo14]

The Main differences are the 2004 is a right hand rotation prop, and it has aerator style ballast pumps. The helm controls for the ballast shut off are sure to have failed, so you will need to address it. If you don't your tanks will fill while driving around. You can use the manual shutoffs at the thru hull, or install electronic ball valves that open when the fill pumps are turned on.

As you may have noticed the tower on the 2004 is a one off for the 210, and some say less desirable.