2001 Super Air Nautique overall reliability

[j-rob]

Sure did! Delivered last Monday, been too busy playing to post up. We are beyond happy with it! Gonna post up the in the show us your nautique section though.

[DW SD]

J-rob, did you land your new boat?

[DW SD]

I did a remote sea trial test via FaceTime with my remote seller. It worked pretty well. Perhaps the sales team can pipe in jrob

[markj]

It'll be all sunny by this afternoon. Too bad you couldn't wait until later in the week when it'll be in the 70's.

[xlwater01]

Teak was standard on all models in 2005, composite optional, not sure about 2006 and by 2007 you could only get Teak on the 196 & 206 as an option.

Quinners got me covered on the correct years. That was my bad.


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[Quinner]

Teak was standard on all models in 2005, composite optional, not sure about 2006 and by 2007 you could only get Teak on the 196 & 206 as an option.

[DaveNH]

That '03 is a really nice looking boat! Doesn't look it's age at all, had to have an owner that took pride in it.

[xlwater01]

I believe composite was standard but teak was available as an option until 2005? You don't see too many boats of that era with the teak.

[j-rob]

j-rob, let us know how it goes. For the price that 03 looks pretty clean based on hours. Trailer doesn't look the best with the rust/dents but hopefully it's not too bad. Slight prop ding is not the end of the world. As long as there is no vibration while accelerating/cruising. I'm curious how much the rudder packing is leaking. And what's with the crack in the rear right of the swim platform? My biggest concern would be the gauges as that could be a gateway box issue!

Also, I'm annoyed with what that mechanic said. Much of it was incorrect and he sounds like a Malibu fan boy that loves hating on Nautique.

In the event this 03 doesn't work out, don't discount the GT-40 because of what he said. Sure the ECU may be hard to get however I've been around GT-40s my whole life and I don't think I've ever heard of a problem with one. It is one of the most proven/bulletproof engines, some even prefer it over the 330 Excal. Usually it's a toss up depending on who you talk to.

Thanks dude. Pretty much all my thoughts exactly. I did notice the crack in the platform, but I'm not concerned over it. I actually have some teak in the garage that I can replace it with if it really came to it. Though one thing I am curious about...I thought in 03 they went to composite swim platforms? Just what I read. Not worried about it as I actually prefer the look of the teak myself.

I like the Vortech on account of it being made with real tornadoes!

Should know something here pretty quick if the weather in Rancho is good enough for a wet test this morning!

[xlwater01]

j-rob, let us know how it goes. For the price that 03 looks pretty clean based on hours. Trailer doesn't look the best with the rust/dents but hopefully it's not too bad. Slight prop ding is not the end of the world. As long as there is no vibration while accelerating/cruising. I'm curious how much the rudder packing is leaking. And what's with the crack in the rear right of the swim platform? My biggest concern would be the gauges as that could be a gateway box issue!

Also, I'm annoyed with what that mechanic said. Much of it was incorrect and he sounds like a Malibu fan boy that loves hating on Nautique.

In the event this 03 doesn't work out, don't discount the GT-40 because of what he said. Sure the ECU may be hard to get however I've been around GT-40s my whole life and I don't think I've ever heard of a problem with one. It is one of the most proven/bulletproof engines, some even prefer it over the 330 Excal. Usually it's a toss up depending on who you talk to.

[j-rob]

Yikes, this is taking a turn I didn't want it to take. I have no doubt the guy had reasons for what he said, and being that I turn wrenches for a living myself, I fully understand his point of view and respect his input as a mechanic. That said, I chose to disregard his input for a few reasons:

-He had no details about the boat in question other than a year and model, and never asked me my intended use until after about 15 minutes of bashing it. Primary use by the way, is an area run about to the lakeside pubs and restaurants, and general exploring. Though Wakeboarding and surfing are equal in their importance to us, otherwise we would just get a cheap runabout.
-A quick google search on a few of his points led me to know that he was correct on the ECM and Harness not being available anymore for the GT40. However searching for common failure of those components came up lacking. It should also be noted that not everyone that experiences an ECM failure on that vintage of Nautique is going to run to the internet and post a thread about it. Any forum will provide only a small glimpse into it's particular focus. Still it never hurts to cross reference.
-His POV on Nautiques is very exclusive. The rest of the world seems to love them. I am always skeptical of a negative opinion as you never know what formed it.

Side bar: A good friend of mine who is a motorcycle mechanic HATES KTM. Loves Honda. Says KTMs are expensive fragile junk and difficult to work on. I enlisted him to help me rebuild my top end. He bitched the whole time, and at the end of it....He says "you know the way they built this actually makes a lot of sense and it wasn't actually that hard, really well engineered" On the contrary,, working on my girlfriends Honda....I'm not a fan. So even from a wrenching perspective, a lot comes down to opinion.



-He said the boat doesn't surf, which I had seen evidence to the contrary of on here and other places. I'm sure it doesn't surf as well as his 2015 Malibu with 7000# of ballast.
-He bagged on where I live. This was ultimately the kicker for me. It was the thing that I actually woke up kind of pissed about the following day. "Water in that area is salt not brackish, and it ruins all the boats down there. I hate working on boats from that area because they are always rusty and dirty because people don't take care of their stuff. That water will eat a hole through your boat"


Not only did he assume that I wouldn't take care of my boat/things in general, but apparently I can't buy any boat until I move somewhere further inland with fresh water.

I am sure he is probably a good mechanic and a great guy and all, but the whole thing just rubbed me the wrong way. All this thread was about was getting a second opinion, I should have left he subject of the mechanic out of it.

Despite being undeterred about ECM failure I did start looking more exclusively at boats with the 330 excalibur motor. Parts abound for that unit and I even have a lead for a FWC kit from the forum here.

Pending an on water test (hopefully tomorrow morning) we will be going with the 03 SANTE from Rancho.

If a couple months down the road the boat falls apart, and my rudder breaks off then I guess that will just be my karma.

[DaveNH]

You can guarantee what he knows, but he told the guy that the 1" shaft was prone to break, rudders break off if they hit a fish, and harnesses fail and can't be found. False, false, and false. He obviously doesn't know about some basic features of that boat. And, I'm thinking a person or two has surfed that boat, contrary to his statement.

[Gwozhog]

My guess is the mechanic you are talking about is James elswick. I guarantee he knows more about nautiques then just about any member on this site because he wrenches on them all day for a living. I'm sure as a mechanic there is nothing more frustrating than not being able to get parts that you need to get the job done. So that is why older nautiques have left a bad taste in his mouth. Also if you are seeing the same problem over and over on multiple nautiques it's pretty easy to form a negative opinion about a product too. Now would I buy a Malibu in that era? No way they are just to **** fugly to look at. Mastercraft in that era is my favorite. I sold a 2000 mastercraft last year after 2 years of ownership. Most reliable piece of equipment I ever owned. But I'm sure a 100 people would tell you the same thing about there older nautiques too lol

[DW SD]

Well, I texted Cory. His is still for sale; he just stopped trying to sell it. Hit him up, perhaps. Doug

[DW SD]

It is not listed / marked as sold. I remember him saying he might keep it if it didn't sell. He also said he had an upholstery replacement quote for $2k. I didn't see how that could be, but maybe. Cody's # is 760.889.two two five zero - call or text him.