Looking at buying 2000 Air Nautique and need buyers guide.....

[Spessx]

Hi All

I hope to become a regular member here pretty soon. I'm in the process of shopping for a Nautique. I'm currently looking at a 2000 Air Nautique with 400 hours on it. The boat has been garaged (not docked) since new and always used in freshwater. It appears to be in great shape. What problems should I look for when evaluating the boat?

Any tips you can offer would be a huge help.

-s

[bturner]

Unless you know what to look for (and sometimes even when you don't) get a survey done on the boat before the final sale. I've been buying and selling boats for well.... a very long time and will still get a survey when I sniff anything that doesn't seem quite right or if we're talking anything over $60K.

If we're just talking first pass to see if the boat may be a keeper, this is what I do.....

Get a general feel for the condition of the boat when you walk up to it.....

• How does the boat present? Is it clean, freshly waxed, are there any chips/scratches, any broken items you can see?
• What does the trailer look like? All the same items as the above.
• What does the interior look like? All the same items as above.
• What does the engine look like? All the same items as above but in addition, I like to look close to see if the engine's been apart. A boat with 400 hours should have been trouble free on the engine and drivetrain unless it was beat. Stuff happens and this is not a show stopper but I'd want to know what happened. Look for paint chipped off bolts, gasket sealer that isn't painted. Parts with different colors, etc.

If you get past this then you move on to a more detailed look at the package.

• Ask for any documentation on the boat. Service records, registration for boat and trailer, owner's package, etc. The more the owner has the better.
• Start a functional check of all the systems. you're looking here to see if all the pumps, blower, lights, stereo and any other system operate correctly.
• Back to the trailer.... Check the master cylinder for fluid, is there any? You wouldn't believe how many I've looked at where there wasn't. What's the condition of the fluid? Is it dark in color or mostly water? Get the date code off the tires and verify how old they are. It's not uncommon to find 8YO tires that look like new.

Past here if everything is still good you're about ready to either water test the boat or start negotiating the price based on a successful water test. If you don't know what you're doing get that survey and arrange for the survey during the water test. This is good money well spent unless you're a seasoned mechanic or someone that really knows these boats. Even if you are it never hurts to have a second set of eyes on the boat.

[Spessx]

Unless you know what to look for (and sometimes even when you don't) get a survey done on the boat before the final sale. I've been buying and selling boats for well.... a very long time and will still get a survey when I sniff anything that doesn't seem quite right or if we're talking anything over $60K.

If we're just talking first pass to see if the boat may be a keeper, this is what I do.....

Get a general feel for the condition of the boat when you walk up to it.....

• How does the boat present? Is it clean, freshly waxed, are there any chips/scratches, any broken items you can see?
• What does the trailer look like? All the same items as the above.
• What does the interior look like? All the same items as above.
• What does the engine look like? All the same items as above but in addition, I like to look close to see if the engine's been apart. A boat with 400 hours should have been trouble free on the engine and drivetrain unless it was beat. Stuff happens and this is not a show stopper but I'd want to know what happened. Look for paint chipped off bolts, gasket sealer that isn't painted. Parts with different colors, etc.

If you get past this then you move on to a more detailed look at the package.

• Ask for any documentation on the boat. Service records, registration for boat and trailer, owner's package, etc. The more the owner has the better.
• Start a functional check of all the systems. you're looking here to see if all the pumps, blower, lights, stereo and any other system operate correctly.
• Back to the trailer.... Check the master cylinder for fluid, is there any? You wouldn't believe how many I've looked at where there wasn't. What's the condition of the fluid? Is it dark in color or mostly water? Get the date code off the tires and verify how old they are. It's not uncommon to find 8YO tires that look like new.

Past here if everything is still good you're about ready to either water test the boat or start negotiating the price based on a successful water test. If you don't know what you're doing get that survey and arrange for the survey during the water test. This is good money well spent unless you're a seasoned mechanic or someone that really knows these boats. Even if you are it never hurts to have a second set of eyes on the boat.

This is a great start - thank you!