shopping, need engine education

[Tigerxj]

Hi all,

2 years ago dad sold his 2004 SN206 in favor of a '17 GS20. Great boat, awesome for our family with 4 young kids, but easier day on the lake than the 206 was. HOWEVER, we are missing the slalom wake, and so the wife and I are starting to shop around for a ski nautique. Given this will be more of a dedicated ski boat, we are looking primarily at TSC hulls and close bows. Our budget likely puts us in the late 90s to early 2000s. I am of course somewhat familiar with the PCM excalibur 330 that we had in the 206.

Could someone provide an overall general education on the engine options from 1997 (first year for TSC-1 hull, correct?) to say 2005? Would love pictures for reference if possible. Browsing adds, many are short on details, and these boats are hard to find as it is given that's about the time the wake movement started.

i've got a copy of the nautique spec sheet which lists engine HP options for a given year, but not which engine is which. I'm also aware that the changeover from GT40 to the excalibur happened in 2002, If I'm not mistaken.

Naturally we would prefer the most power we can get. I will admit that even with the additional 1500lbs weight on the GS20, the hole shot with 450hp is quicker than the 206.

appreciate any help and general information the board can provide.

[MN Ryan]

Here's a link to just about every Nautique/PCM manual. You could parse through for the info you're looking for.
https://www.planetnautique.com/vb5/f...uals-brochures

[charlesml3]

In that date range it's almost for sure going to be the GT-40. It was a wildly popular engine with a long history. After about 1999 or so they were all fuel injected. Before that I believe it was an option for a couple of years.

-Charles

[windsurfnut]

GT-40 is a sweetheart of an engine in terms of holeshot, midrange and pull while skiing. 97+ SN is the best bang for the buck.

[NautiqueJeff]

Engine options from 1997 to 2005 would be as follows:

Carb 351 (base engine on early boats, 240 HP)
Carb 351 HO (285 HP)
TBI 351 HO with Pro-Tec (don't get that one unless the Pro-Tec has been converted to a distributor)
GT-40 (very reliable, EFI, 310 HP, available until mid-2002)
Python 8.1L or 8.2L (very rare in a Ski Nautique, about 425 HP, loud, rattles the boat, drinks fuel)
Apex (GM engine, 320 HP, EFI, pretty rare)
Pro-Sport EFI (275 HP, GM Engine, 5.0L)
Excalibur 330 (GM engine, 330 HP, very reliable as well, available from mid-2002 on)
ZR6 (GM engine, 6.0L, 375 HP, (390 HP later))

A great resource for you would be the Spec Sheet here:
https://www.planetnautique.com/vb5/f...n-down-by-year

Not sure what your timeframe is, but I am restoring a 2002 Ski Nautique and a 2003 Ski Nautique, and will be selling at least one of them when they are complete. The 2003 is being worked on first, and should be ready within a month or two. Both boats will be near-perfect when I am finished with them. The 2003 has the Pro Sport 275, and the the 2002 has an Excalibur 330.

[jpwhit]

You didn't say if you were ever planning to be skiing a course. If so, the Excalibur 330 can be converted to ZO. It's not as easy as the Excalibur 343, but is possible. All the other engines would have to be replaced if you ever wanted Zero Off. Zero Off is the only approved speed control for tournament skiing if you or your kids were ever heading in that direction. My girl's skied for the UNC team in college. What a great experience for them.

[Jonny Quest]

TSC-1 hull has an outstanding wake. 1997 for TSC-1. 2002 for TSC-2 (SNOB in 2002 was a TSC-1). GT-40 is a great engine.

JQ

[Tigerxj]

Thanks for the excellent info, looks like I have some reading.

is the pro-tex TBI 351 the same as the pro-boss?

we aren’t skiing a course. Unfortunately our lake banned them when I was about 13, but we’ve always been pretty aggressive open water skiers. That said, on the 206, we never felt the need for PP…that is until my wife tried to pull me with all four kids in the boat, got distracted and didn’t pull back on the throttle. That was a wild ride! That said, our kids are a few years older now, so that’s become less of an issue.

I’ve not skied behind a TSC-1 or a newer one, TSC-3? And I think the new nautique is called OSC hull or something? But from what I’ve read, not much difference, and for us in open water I doubt we’ll notice much difference between the hulls.

[Jonny Quest]

The Pro Boss name was given to the high output engines. ProTec is not an engine, but is an engine management system came on many engines between 1989 - 1996. The TBI engine used ProTec as EFI requires some type of electronic management system. I believe the Holley-based TBI was only available 1994-1996.

ProTec is not a bad system, but parts are no longer available, so if there is a problem, the “fix” is to retro-fit back to a traditional distributor. Many CC owners have done it. No big deal.

JQ