$15K-$23K Used Boat Opinions

I am helping a buddy of mine shop around for a used boat. This would be his first inboard boat, and here is what he says he is looking for:

"Looking for a good starter boat. Not sure I am going to be an expert. Want a wake that is good enough you woudn't say "that wake sucks!" doesn't have to be the best of all time, but also want to be able to have the wife ski behind it without the wake killing her. I would like to stay in the 15k to 20k range. I don't know enough to know if I really need v-drive over direct drive. Seems like some direct drives like the 209 are wider and space is not much of an issue. I have 23'4" fron tto back int he garage, so probably limited to 19'-21' with swing away tounge."

I've been trying to get him into a Super Sport, Air Nautique, 205V, or early Wakesetter type boat. Any opinions? He really likes a 2002 Mastercraft X7 but I don't know that much about the wake. Any thoughts there?
http://www.texascars.net/web/974/vehicle/357284/2002-Mastercraft-X7-21-Arlington-Texas

I found a very clean 1995 Super Sport. It is $18K with no tower or perfect pass. The interior is brand new though, but does $18K seem high for a '95?
http://www.planetnautique.com/index.php?name=PNphpBB2&file=viewtopic&t=14272

Any other opinions or boat models are welcome. Thanks!

I don't know much about the wake but it is one low ridin boat.

If wakeboarding is the only thing going on, the X-7 isn't the best option. It's a good all around boat when skiing is taken into consideration.

To me $18K is way too much, but the people selling them are always keeping it around that price. Sad thing is they didn't pay $30K 15 years ago. I just lost a boat I was trying to get for $5K more than NADA. The person that bought it has no idea how much extra they spent, but hey, at least the original owner only lost $5,300 the 12 years he had it... Some of these prices are robbery.

If it's for family and cruising the X-7 will be a little cramped too.

We picked up our 99 Tige 21V riders for 22K earlier this year. Surf wake is awesome with a little weight (only 600 lbs + people), ski wake is very nice, and the wakeboard wake is great when you put TAPS up and add a bit of ballast. That, and we can SEAT 15 in it (you're tight, but you get the idea). We love it, and it would be in the price range - do some looking around, there are a few out there yet for sale. May have to be picky finding a swinging tongue, and our tower shakes like mad (original), but either way, something to look into

A-Dub - It really is crazy how much these boats hold their value. I guess it doesn't hurt that the newer ones go up by 10% every year it seems. Yeah, I've seen people buy a Super Air type boat in the early 00's and then sell it a few years later for what they paid for it!

That Super Sport is so nice with the brand new interior, but I know it is hard to stomach $18K for a 14 year old boat that probably cost, what?...$25K at the time?

J,
The V-drive nautiques are holding their value very good but the DD versions (like my old 93 sport) can be had for very resonable prices. IMO, with that boat, the V-drive is the only option. I loved my 93 wake, handling, etc etc but with 3-4 adults it was very very uncomfortable. I would suggest something like a 96 Sunsetter. You should be able to find one of those with tower and all the goodies for around 15k maybe. It was wider, deeper and much more comfy than my nauqitue. Obviously the wakeboarding wakes didn't compare, but it was still great when I was learning. Just some more to think about. Lots of options to consider in that price range

How are the wakes on the late 90's Sumsetters? Thanks for chiming in Adam. Yeah, the v-drives are obviously more expensive but provide you so much more seating and out of sight storage in my opinion.

By the wake, are you getting your LSV wake dialed?! It's pretty sick huh? How are you weighting it?

(Message edited by eubanks01 on August 03, 2009)

These are interesting:

http://austin.craigslist.org/boa/1261841757.html
http://austin.craigslist.org/boa/1288730979.html

Thanks Trace. I know he inquired about both of those actually so I'll have to ask him what happened.

With 15-23k, I would definitely hold out for a V-drive.

Late 90's Sunsetter LX and VLX (except the '01 SSVLX) are on the same hull as the WSVLX up to 2004. Great boats.

Thanks Trace. So this is the same hull as the WS VLX thru '04?
http://www.boattrader.com/listing/2001-MALIBU-Sunsetter-VLX-95377425

That is good to know.

No, for some reason only the year 2001 model (also the last year of the Sunsetter VLX) was on the non-wake Diamond hull. All prior years were the SV23 wake hull. The Diamond will still throw a great wake, but take more weight to get there. It's considered more of a crossover hull.

Thanks Bro. I was afraid of that.

Not a bad option.
http://austin.craigslist.org/boa/1267564706.html

http://austin.craigslist.org/boa/1297107642.html

http://dallas.craigslist.org/ndf/boa/1303459090.html

http://dallas.craigslist.org/dal/boa/1292954866.htmlhttp://dallas.craigslist.org/dal/boa/1276413559.html

Real good choice for a family wakeboard boat.

http://dallas.craigslist.org/dal/boa/1282502422.html

http://dallas.craigslist.org/ftw/boa/1255133948.htmlhttp://austin.craigslist.org/boa/1275756159.html

http://austin.craigslist.org/boa/1275756159.html

May not fit in the garage but would be nice

http://austin.craigslist.org/boa/1292925781.html

http://houston.craigslist.org/boa/1274061232.html

http://houston.craigslist.org/boa/1253521994.html

If it were me I would probably go with that Super Sport you listed. The X7 is more of a hardcore slalom boat. It is really low profile and not super roomy. The couple tige 21V's are probably a good way to go to. They are really wide and have a ton of room. The Malibu sunsetter's are good choices but keep in mind their is a sunsetter LX and sunsetter LXI. The LXI is more of a crossover ski/wakeboard boat.

I would go with that super sport you listed that is a great boat and that one looks real cleeeean.

I would help you out, but we have no Nautique v-drives in stock in that price range, they go fast.

If I get something in, or find out about a good deal, I will send you a message.

Thanks Brett for the links. I will look at those.

Jeff - Thanks as well. Yeah, that Super Sport looks awesome. I think it's hard to pull the trigger on a '95 when you can get a '01 for close to the same price. There is something to be said for the condition of the boat though. I like the new interior but I wondered if he just trashed it so bad he was forced to put in a new interior?? You wonder how well the rest of the boat was kept. I guess I could go see it for myself since it's on Lake Lewisville!

What about this boat? Is this the same hull as the original X-star and 205V?
http://houston.craigslist.org/boa/1286733599.html

I agree with Jeff. The Super Sports are great

The 96 I've ridden a lot on (my father in laws) was pretty solid with the wedge (added later obviously) 2 side sacs on each side of the engine and a sac in the ski locker. Learned a lot on that wake. But, as everyone has said, the V-drive is for sure the way to go.

As far as the LSV... We love it but have had issues with perfect pass (go figure...) And I had to replace the starter. Nothing really bad but just annoying for our short summers up here. I'm having a hard time convincing the wifey to upgrade the prop so I haven't been able to load it down how'd I'd like. All that being said we're riding with prob 2500 lbs plus the wedge and I'm having fun, I just want bigger LOL!

Spring time will bring the 1235 and a few 750's and we'll be set. How's ur summer going?

Pretty good. I've been getting out once every week and a half or so. My daughter is growing up so fast so we've been busy keeping up with her! I have finally been taking down some new wakeboarding tricks so that has been fun. You?

+1 for the supersport

Except 3 years ago we paid 18k for a 95' supersport with only 250 hours on the boat, and 60 on a new engine.... spent like 4k on upgrades and its an amazing boat

... and the GT-40 is an amazing engine. Sips gas and is bulletproof.

You can get him down a bit on the price.

but if you went with the SS, paid 18k and did these things it would be perfect:
Tower: 500-- (got an old stock CC tower from a dealer that was leftover)-- up to 1500
Stargazer speed control - 1000
Ballast - 500 sacs - 200 pumps - 100 plumping stuff
Stereo (not needed, clearly) 1000

grand total for one of the single best wakeboard boats to date:
~22k

Good, super busy, the kiddo is a busy body but loves to be on the boat so that helps us get out 2-3 times a week most weeks. Progressing some but not how I'd like. Big camp trips planned for the next few weeks and maybe a Powell trip with the in-laws in September. Summers up here are CRAZY busy, you only get like 3-4 months tops. I miss Texas in april and oct/nov

So is the '00 Air Nautique the same hull as the SAN?

A 2000 Air Nautique has the same wetted surface I believe. The problem is the boat is lower profile and has a lot less storage than a SAN. With the same amount of weight but with it moved towards the back it should throw an almost identical wake. Be careful with Air Nautique's in that range because there is also a Pro Air Nautique that is a direct drive like the regular Air Nautique but has some weird cutouts or something and it doesn't respond well to a bunch of weight.

My buddy who I ride with prolly 3 times a week has a 95 SS with 4K in it and the wake is DOPE. $18K is a little steep but add PP and a tower and you will not find a better wake boat for $20-22K. Plus that thing looks supa-clean.

Brett - Yeah, I know about the Pro Airs which is what is strange. The Air my buddy is looking at has similar cut outs that I don't remember seeing on the SAN...but this one is not supposed to be a Pro.

It is clean, I had a customer that was going to buy that boat, but the seller backed out a few months ago, but now its back on the market.

I am looking at this AN, the seller assures me it is an AN, not a pro, but does this hull look like a AN or a PRO AN?

C - I looked at a couple of Super Airs from 2000 and they had they same cut out on the side. So now I'm not exactly sure where you can see the hull difference in the Pro Air!

This is a good angle to compare hull desgins.
Here is the Air shown above:

Here is a 2001 SAN. They look pretty similar to me.

J - Thanks, so it sounds like it is the AN as far as we can tell...Any confirmation appreciated (no offense J)

If you look at a 2001 model Nautique the hull looks like those pics above as well. The Pro Air must have something else that makes it different that can't be seen from a view like that.

@Chris, the pic of the boat you posted is the Air Nautique. The Pro Airs have a "vented" hull which is evident by a triangular cut-out usually right about where the fender is on a single axle trailer, they also have chines on the front of the hull (v portion) that the Air Nautiques don't have.
I have a Pro Air with a Python engine and I run about 1500# of auto ballast in the boat, and the wake is very good. It's not as steep as a SAN/SS wake, but there's no trough and the wake still has a nice lip at the top. You can typically buy a Pro Air for $3-5K less than a V drive SAN/SS (same age range/condition) and the Pro Air will ski better than the Vdrive, but not as good as the Air hulls. You also get the benefit of direct drive handling compared to the V drives. If it's your first inboard type of boat the DD are much easier to maintain as far as impellers, belts, and just general access to the engine.
There are people who post negatively on the Pro Air's based on hearsay and not first hand experience riding behind one, if you find one in your price range, test ride it, bring some sacks and see what you think. They need some weight in the front, to balance the wake, but my opinion on the Pro Air's is that you can build a very good wake for the $$$.

Jack, thanks for the comments based on first hand knowledge and experience...That is good to hear. I have been looking at both the Air and the Pro Air. I think the SAN is just a bit out of my price range for a first wakeboard boat, so I will likely stick with the Pro/Air.

I'd be all over this if I was ready to buy...

http://www.wakeworld.com/MB/Discus/messages/8/722738.html?1249428579

I may have a boat that could interest you.

It is a 1999 Sport Nautique with direct drive and a tower.

The boat is in excellent condition and worth seeing, although it's located in Oregon lol... No sales tax - haha

- Always garaged
- One owner
- Never damaged
- Annual maintenance and winterization

We are looking at upgrading to an 08 SAN 210. This boat has been an awesome boat for me and my family!

Here is a link to some pics I had lying around:

http://web.me.com/wlisac/boat

Will, Thanks. I am planning to look at the red AN (see pic above) this Friday. If the deal falls through I may check back in with you regarding the 99 Sport. It would be a bit of a haul!

Hopefully it does! Enjoy the AN

Hey, thanks to everyone for their help. I actually ended up buying the 00 Air. I have had it out three times since last Saturday and I have been very happy with it.

Chris,
congrats on the new boat, she looks like a beaut!
Keep an eye on the gauges if they are still the digital versions, you will most likely have to change them out eventually.

+1 for the SS and the GT40!!