Help finding a great boat under $8000

would like a tower included but $7000 is really all I can afford.

what is this worth?
http://www.correctcraftfan.com/forsa...ort=&pagenum=2

or

http://texas.findanyboat.com/boats/1...-open-bow.html

That excel is worth more than hes asking, plus its posted from July, find out whats wrong with it.

Look for a nautique 2001 (82'-89') on craigslist.

That 92 CC would be cool..... even if you had to run with an extended pylon for a while & wait to add a tower.

Call this guy: http://www.wakeworld.com/forum/showthread.php?t=789626
Would be way better than the SeaRay you listed.

Fair price on the Excel. I would take that 10 times out of 10 over that searay. Best bet is to save up for a while longer and stretch your budget to 10k. Then you should be able to find an old sunsport, 2001, sunsetter, 205, sport nautique. Some may even have a tower. All those should be in teh 7-15k range depending on condition and options.

You can probably find some decent supras in that price range too.

I drive by this every week. I saw an advertised price of $8,999, I bet you could talk them down a lot. All refurbed, no work needed for an old one.

http://www.texasmotorcarsmckinney.co...ey-Texas-75407

What is the difference between the SKI and SPORT Nautiques?

Heres ur best pick for the money right now...guy just listed it after his summer use, only 7500 for tower, auto ballast etc.

http://www.planetnautique.com/vb3/sh...speakers-racks

Maybe I will hold out for a $10k boat like this 1997. Hours are high tho.

http://www.correctcraftfan.com/forsa...ort=&pagenum=1

Depends on the year, but in general:

Ski = Smaller, shorter, closed bow
Sport = Larger, longer, open bow

For the money, I doubt you could find a better boat... specially if it is in good condition...

1975 Rayson Craft

Originally Posted by rexlex01

Maybe I will hold out for a $10k boat like this 1997. Hours are high tho.

http://www.correctcraftfan.com/forsa...ort=&pagenum=1

Research ur boats and spend lots of time on ccfan or planetnautique if ur set on CC. A 90' and newer ski nautique is not the hull u want for wakeboarding.

Unless its sport, barefoot, excel or when they started to roll out the SAN

Originally Posted by SamIngram

For the money, I doubt you could find a better boat... specially if it is in good condition...

1975 Rayson Craft

I already have seen this nice boat.
I just cannot do yellow.

Originally Posted by LR3w8kbrdr

Research ur boats and spend lots of time on ccfan or planetnautique if ur set on CC. A 90' and newer ski nautique is not the hull u want for wakeboarding.

Unless its sport, barefoot, excel or when they started to roll out the SAN

yeah, I just would like composite stringers, but if in good shape I cant be choosy

Originally Posted by rexlex01

yeah, I just would like composite stringers, but if in good shape I cant be choosy

Then i suggest saving up more $ and look at spending $10-12k if ur looking at CC. 93' and new r composite.

Do you need an open bow for family size?

Originally Posted by LR3w8kbrdr

Then i suggest saving up more $ and look at spending $10-12k if ur looking at CC. 93' and new r composite.

Do you need an open bow for family size?

not really, but would sure help resale.

How much more does a 90's "sport" weigh over a "ski" including trailer?

Originally Posted by rexlex01

Maybe I will hold out for a $10k boat like this 1997. Hours are high tho.

http://www.correctcraftfan.com/forsa...ort=&pagenum=1

Average of 83 hrs per year. Thats pretty good. I read somewhere the national average is around 75 per yr. but that can vary depending on if the boat is from Florida or Wisconsin.

And unused boat can have issues too. I bought an MC 205 yrs ago that had an average of 12 hrs/year on it. I fought dry rot problems with it for quite a while, every rubber hose, belt, impeller, thread, stitching, etc. had to be replaced. So method of storage should be looked into if it's super low hrs (this boat was kept in a barn in a really dry climate).

Sent you a pm. Let me know if your interested.

Wish I could afford this:

http://www.correctcraftfan.com/forsa...ort=&pagenum=1

Originally Posted by rexlex01

I already have seen this nice boat.
I just cannot do yellow.

Ahh... a form over function guy!

You are at a tough budget for a 90's inboard.

To give you an example, I just sold my I/O a couple months ago. 1989 Sea Ray 160 I/O. Had a 3.0L Mercrusier I swapped for a brand new one in 2006. Otherwise, it was in good condition for the year, interior was original but in good shape for its age, original outdrive, and a trailer that was a total POS (rusty, entire brake system shot). I had it sold in 3 days for $4000 without even trying. I know I could have got $4500 for it, and likely could have got $5000 if I was wiling to put some work into listing it and sat on it a bit.

Originally Posted by nitrousbird

You are at a tough budget for a 90's inboard.

To give you an example, I just sold my I/O a couple months ago. 1989 Sea Ray 160 I/O. Had a 3.0L Mercrusier I swapped for a brand new one in 2006. Otherwise, it was in good condition for the year, interior was original but in good shape for its age, original outdrive, and a trailer that was a total POS (rusty, entire brake system shot). I had it sold in 3 days for $4000 without even trying. I know I could have got $4500 for it, and likely could have got $5000 if I was wiling to put some work into listing it and sat on it a bit.

Did you wakeboard with that 3.0?

I dont think it is a tough budget considering this 4.6 V6 with tower for $5500:
http://texas.findanyboat.com/boats/1...-open-bow.html

That boat is a bad consideration. The tower will not be sturdy. The boat itself will not live up to expectations (good wake, consistent pull, etc.). Lots of us have had these I/Os in the beginning... including me. But after a year or two, everyone sells & most riders get into an inboard of some kind.
The 3.0 liter will barely pull a good sized guy up. And only on the largest of boards. I doubt it would ever pull up a 200 lb rider on a slalom ski or a wakeskate.

Originally Posted by bill_airjunky

That boat is a bad consideration. The tower will not be sturdy. The boat itself will not live up to expectations (good wake, consistent pull, etc.). Lots of us have had these I/Os in the beginning... including me. But after a year or two, everyone sells & most riders get into an inboard of some kind.
The 3.0 liter will barely pull a good sized guy up. And only on the largest of boards. I doubt it would ever pull up a 200 lb rider on a slalom ski or a wakeskate.

You are very wrong about the 3.0L

- I am 6'3", 225 lbs.
- My 3.0L would pull me slalom. I even pulled slalom with 5 adults on the boat (probably 800lbs total on the boat). It did struggle getting me up with the full load of people, but it did it.
- EASILY pulled anyone up on a wakeboard, as that takes nothing. Never tried any ballast with that boat, no tower. It made for a very crappy wake boat for sure, but getting people out of the water wasn't an issue.

Don't get an I/O, you will regret it. This time last year I was trying to sell my I/O to buy an inboard. I started at $5000 and at the end was asking $2500 for my I/O. It was a nice 21' in good condition and actually threw a nice wake. Had a 260 HP 350 Chevy motor and was bad at holding speed at the sweet spot for riding. I could hold it perfect but no one else could so I never got a good pull. I ended up getting a Supra Saltare and paid cash plus gave the dude my I/O. Just a lucky deal to find someone to take the I/O off my hands, and I liked the Saltare so it worked out well.

Under $8000 if you want an open bow you're pretty much in older Supras. That's it, nothing else unless you get really lucky and find an MC 205 or Sport Nautique for a bargain... Don't hold your breathe. If you don't mind a closed bow you can look at SN 2001.That's about it in that price rnage if you want a good wake. Under $8k and you're gonna have a wood boat unless you want a Prostar 190, no room and a tiny wake. Check the stringers for rot. Like I said, watch for Prostar 205 or Sport Nautique but you're realistically in a 2001 or Supra. In the Supra line look for a SunSport, Rider, or Saltare, they have the most freeboard. Closed bow versions of the same boats are Marauder for the 20' and Pirata for the 23' and usually go a little cheaper than the open bow boats.Just don't waste your time and money on an I/O, you will regret it.

If you want to get out and ride, get an 80's inboard. If you want to worry and over think about getting the right boat, then wait, but be prepared to search for a while. I wouldn't let the fact that a boat had wood turn you away, because realistically, most boats in your price range will have wood. It's fine if their still in good shape.

What is wrong with my Yellow Rayson Craft? Make me an offer! It has all the goodies, tower, bimini, heater, perfect pass, ballast. It is a V-Drive. Im in San Jose, CA.

Originally Posted by LR3w8kbrdr

Research ur boats and spend lots of time on ccfan or planetnautique if ur set on CC. A 90' and newer ski nautique is not the hull u want for wakeboarding.

Unless its sport, barefoot, excel or when they started to roll out the SAN

Dude, you are not kidding on the 90' + ski n. - watch this video for proof http://www.crlvideo.com/nautique/

http://forums.wakeboarder.com/viewtopic.php?t=88134

1986 ski nautique 2001 - $8k.