Late 80's Mastercrafts?

So I've been looking into picking up a boat around 8-10 grand in the fall or winter. I've watched a few good deals on ebay and on here. It seems like one of the more affordable boats is either a 87-89 Mastercraft or Supra. I am wondering what the difference is between the Mastercraft Tristar and the Prostar? Last week an 88 Tristar went with a full tower, prop speakers, ballasts...and a ton of other stuff for $10,050 on ebay. The boat looked mint. I am wondering if anyone can help answer the Prostar vs Tristar...or point me in a better direction for less than $10,000?
Any help is greatly appreciated.
Thanks
Jeff

ProStar - 3-event boat.
Tri-Star - family boat. Now MariStar series.

Look for the rounded hull at the stern.

Although I am a Mastercraft man, if you can only spend up to $10K, I would look for a early 90's Nautique 2001. IMO, for $10,000 that is the best wake you can buy. If you are going to be 50/50 skiing and wakeboarding then go with an early 90's Prostar. I had a 91 Prostar 190 and the wake was pretty good to learn on. Try to find one with a power-slot tranny.

Do a search on Tristar and Prostar. I had a Tristar 190 and the wake was well balanced with a couple of fat sacs. It was marketed more toward a family boat and the Prostar was the true comp boat of the two. Both will put out really good wakes when loaded (speaking from experience). These were the boats back in the day. to second what Byrd says a 2001 Nautique will put out a great wake. the drawbacks to these boats is lack of interior space when loaded down with sacs. Old Supras can also be had for pretty reaonable prices however try to stay away from the comp TS6M. You really have to load this boat down with weight and it has a low freeboard.

Tristar is a solid boat that will kick up a nice wake when loaded. i have the 22' version. I'll try to post some pics later. LOTS more room than 2001 with its closed bow.

Used to have a tri star back when it was new. The Tri Star did not last long. It was a nice boat but in 94 we bought a Prostar 190. Now we have a 99 Xstar.There is not much more room in the closed bow tristar and the prostar 190. What I would do is take the 10K you were going to spend on an 87-89 and get a loan for something like a Mid 90's 205. If you still want a 87-89 the newer the tristar the better.

All good points, but Byrd, the 2001 series hull ended in 1989. Just wanted to clarify.

Good luck in your search.

i have a '91 tristar 190 and im pretty satisfied with it, how ever i wish i chose one with an open bow due to space, but then you loose storage. the tristar is also about a foot wider then the prostar

this is with 4 people in the boat and no sacs

I have a tristar and the wake is great for me.I really don't get to board that much.The boat has never given me a problem not one.

wake on the 2001 is alot bigger

wake pichttp://www.wakeworld.com/MB/Discus/messages/3183/339299.html?1155625782

Thanks for the info everyone. I will continue to look around, as I want to wait until the summer is over before getting real serious about purchasing. For now, I've been riding behind the parents 2005 Stingray 18.5' I/O. I am sure any boat I am considering will be better than this. It looks like for the money though, that the Nautique 2001 will throw out the nicest wake. How is the wake on the other Nautique's from this era? - I am not sure if they are all 2001's?

The wakes are all about the same. My friend has an 88 2001. The wake is different than a Mastercraft more vertical than ramped. It will toss you with weight in it. They just dont have much room. If you get a 2001 make sure to get a tower or atleast the board racks for the pole. You can fit 4 maybe 6 with weight in a 2001 but you will be cramped

Thanks for the info, Mike. A buddy use to have one and we use to alternate boats. I knew it was about the same age as my 91 Prostar, I guess mine was twwo years newer, lol....

I'll try and get pictures of the wake on my 87 nautique with 2 700 lb sacks in it this weekend. I use to have an 84 mastercraft and with 1000 lbs the wake wasn't even close to the nautique with the same amount of weight. Just make sure that if you get the 2001 you check the stringers. They had wood stringers till 89, where mastercraft went to fiberglass in 84. From what I have heard you can't really get much of a wake from the supra comp because hull design and the nose and transom are rediculously low. I love my 2001 so far.

That was my Tristar that just sold on Ebay for $10,050. Not quite what I was hoping for but then you would always like to get more. Yah it does have a lack of interior space even with the open bow, but it helps. I raised the back seats to make a nice little deck.

I was very frustrated with the boat for most of the first year I owned it. However, after doing a lot of research on here I learned that you need to put about 2500lbs in it. I also added an acme prop. Ever since I did that I was stoked on the wake, very huge, nice and clean. Even bigger with friends. Anyway, boat was a little tricky to not dip the nose, and when you drive into the wind you got a lot of splash back at you. Other than that I really did love it. Sad to see it go.

Hey Rob...thanks for the reply. The boat definitely looked great and was set up nicely. Sounds like you had it dialed in correctly.
Thanks again