2012 200 with low hours vs 200

[tmb]

That boat is awesome! Gotta know how much it cost??

[Kenboat]

Paid 84K plus tax for boat, new trailer, and Bimini top. it does include the standard full warranty because it never was titled.

[bturner]

Yes it is the Silver Spray boat. Thanks for the heads up on the trailer issues, we did not go into details but I would agree with you on all of your items. The boat does have a factory cover including the platform. Jeff and Patti really impressed me, I also was working with the Irish Boat shop in Traverse city and they just seemed to care less if they sold me a boat.

Hate to harp on the trailer but I did the same thing. I was so jacked up on the boat I let the details on the trailer slip by me. Don't get me wrong I really like the build quality of the Phoenix trailer and it has proven to tow, launch and load very well. But after all the boats/trailers I've owned I should have been more on top of getting the details right. The crash bars are not my cup of tea and is something I can't change without some significant fabrication and welding. I could easily change out the wheels and have considered doing so but then I'm stuck with the old wheels which I'll never use again. Still I'll probably do a swap when the tires age out.

Silver Spray has been a great dealer for me before, during and even after the sale. Love dealing with a family owned business that actually likes doing what they're in business for. We're actually lucky in Michigan as that other boat dealer down 23 is great as well. Hard to go wrong with either. Biggest reason I went Nautique this time was the boat model. I was looking to down size and Sport 200 fit everything I was looking for. I honestly don't know what I would do now that everything has turned into a 5000lb surf ship with an array of computer that certainly won't age well. Guess we'll find out in a couple years.

[jmo]

Congrats - the Mapple Icon edition is IMHO the best looking ski boat ever produced. Surprised they made an icon edition without the 6 liter engine…. Glad you get the full 5 year warranty, I had assumed that would not be the case when I saw it on SilverSprays website.

[SilentSeven]

What a cool boat. Some pictures are for sure in order!

[Kenboat]

Silver spray actual decided to order the 343 vs the 409. I wish it had a 409 but we are tubing and cruising boaters and some skiing. I was happy with it out of the hole performance and topped out at 43 mph.
I did speak with two other dealers and Silver Spray was by far the most professional, they are wonderful to deal with.

[Kenboat]

Should have noticed how the crash bars worked on the trailer, seems Silver Spray orders most of the trailers with crash bars vs winch. Tried to see photos of this set up but could find? Do you delete the winch with crash bars and have to power the boat onto the trailer?
I normal launch the boat myself and would not want to give up the winch. The two trailer padded boat guides seem like a good idea do they they help loading the boat back onto the trailer?

[scottb7]

Anyone got a picture of the "crash bars" so I can see what you are talking about?

On my 2008 210 trailer I had a couple of bars in the front instead of the bow roller, I liked it a lot better as I did not get marks on the boat at all. I floated the 210 on and it worked perfect to float to a couple inches from the "bars".

[mlange]

I've got #6 Kenboat I always thought every Mapple Edition came w/ a 6L so catches me off guard as well. If you have any questions let me know and I can help out.

Mike

[bturner]

Should have noticed how the crash bars worked on the trailer, seems Silver Spray orders most of the trailers with crash bars vs winch. Tried to see photos of this set up but could find? Do you delete the winch with crash bars and have to power the boat onto the trailer?
I normal launch the boat myself and would not want to give up the winch. The two trailer padded boat guides seem like a good idea do they they help loading the boat back onto the trailer?

They're a PITA IMO with the cover as if the bow is in contact with the "pad" you can't get the cover on. A bow roller just sits lower, you still have winch. This is the conventional configuration for a trailer. The crash bars, to me at least, are a throw back to the 70s for ski boats. This is what they look like on a Correct Craft.....

http://www.grantmaclaren.com/72skier...ter/index.html

If you like them it's all good, just thought I would bring that up in case you don't. Also my "pads" are not padded, they're HDPe pieces. The trailer as stated before has worked out great, I would just have preferred the roller.

[Kenboat]

Thanks for the photo of the pad trailer setup, would be a problem put the cover on and towing!

Mike good to know you have #6 , yes wish they would have ordered with the 409, I may decide to purchase a compete 409 engine and swap it out for 343.
Could even think of a 450Hp Z6 drop in and keep the original 343. In the past I have had a few motors built for my boats, will use it next year and think hard over any modification.

[MikeC]

The Andy Mapple edition is by far the nicest ski boat I've ever seen. I love the design and the details. It will certainly be a classic and highly sought after boat soon. Hopefully you can keep it pristine and pass it down to your grandkids for them to have a true classic. In my opinion the boat deserves a custom trailer, one that has the distinctive design elements and uniqueness of the boat itself. Personally I'd spend the money on a trailer to match the boat instead of change the engine.
I had a Phoenix trailer for my old ski boat (also from silver spray) with the crash pads. It was a great trailer, it loaded easily, pulled great but the crash bars were a problem. I liked that they made loading easy, but like bturner said, it's a PITA to put a cover on. I ended up putting a wedge where the crash pads installed to the trailer from so I could remove the wedge and allow the crash bars to move so I had space to cover the bow. Also with the crash bars on I couldn't use the swing away tongue, which I used constantly to make more room in the garage. The crash bars were mounted on the swing away portion of the trailer tongue. For me it was a love-hate relationship. I'd stick to the bow roller if you're going to be trailering a lot. On a side note, I searched on Phoenix Trailer' s website and couldn't find a single picture of a trailer with crash pads, and if you search on Google you get pretty much everything but a picture of a boat trailer.

[XBIGPUN66]

We had that style trailer with our 2004 210. When you get it winched on the trailer, then you loosen the winch and you can slip the bow part of the cover on between the hdpe panels and the bow.

Sent from my SM-G973U using Tapatalk

[Kenboat]

We came home to Ohio yesterday on 75/23 south Sunday evening. At least 6 rigs on the side of the road with blown or flat tires on trailers mostly boats and toy haulers.
Planned on a single axle trailer for the new boat but thinking a combined weight of boat gear fuel and trailer of 3700-4000 lbs. Single axle is rated for 5000 lbs. I understand a 2 axel is harder to move around in the garage but would provide a higher safety factor on the highway. Do most go with single or 2 axle for the 200"s weight boats?

[bturner]

IMO it all comes down to usage. I pull 3 hours north to put the boat away for the winter and retrieve it in the spring on a single axle trailer. The other 3 or 4 times I pull is less than 45 minutes in any direction. No issues but I'm fanatical about setting the trailer correctly and I keep my trailers in excellent condition. You'd be surprised how many people don't. From my experience this is a smaller boat that really doesn't need a tandem axle trailer for local to moderate towing. If I were towing 10 or 12 hours at a crack on the highway a couple times a year then sure I would probably prefer the tandem trailer if for no other reason a properly set up tandem will track better and handle crosswinds better as well while towing.

Where most people get into trouble is with maintenance and setup. For a lot of people the trailer is a necessary item that they have at best indifference to. Many spend their life sitting in the middle of a field in the sun during the summer and in the mud storing the boat in the off season. For many when they are put back in service little if anything has been checked or done for that first pull. To this end, I have yet to buy a used boat over 10 years of age with working brakes or tires that haven't aged out.

From my personal experience with a 200 sized boat the single axle is a near perfect match. It tows easily, is easy to move around and loads very well. While I certainly can see advantages of tandems ( and I have owned several) there are instances and situations where they can be less desirable. When maneuvering in tight areas they stress the heck out of the tires and axles, you have twice the maintenance and they are difficult to move around the garage in tight places.

As to loading..... With normal gear you'll be fine. decide to try and make it pull double duty as a utility trailer on that camping trip with all your gear in it and your opportunity for failure climbs with the additional load you put in it. Do I put additional gear in my boat for vacation trips? Sure but not like some of these rigs I see loaded with everything from tents to bikes.

With any trailer I've owed the key for reducing issues is maintenance and set up. Keep the trailer in excellent condition, get it set up properly and try to pull in the cooler parts of the day. This has worked out extremely well for me. Don't see why it wouldn't for others.