Abbreviated Ski Nautique History

Here is what I recall about Rob Shirley in the summer of 1967. At the time that I met Rob, he and his wife were skiing for the Tommy Bartlett show in Wisconsin Dells. Rob discussed with me the idea of holding off on ordering a Ski Nautique because there was going to be a possibilty that in the Spring of 1968 he would have a new improved three event ski boat for sale. He told me that his boat would have an improved wake for all three events within tournament skiing! I still went ahead and ordered my 1968 Ski Nautique on September 14th, 1967 for $4249.58 with trailer. I needed the boat for my training and for our newly formed club, the Ski Broncs.

The story from Florida makes good sense! Show skiers are not paid well, so using a tree was most likely a cheap and quick way to get the engined pulled.

Pictures of his Cutting of that boat in half and the engine in the tree would be really cool to see!

I have a video tape from the mid to late 1970's showing his boats being made in a very, very small garage! They were going out at one boat at a time, not any sort of production line. Really interesting, but did not see Rob in the Video, but included some of their team members skiing behind the boat.   

Jody...
We need to get Art in gear and have him post some pics of that..

DrCC wrote: Another little tid-bit of info that might be of interest to 62wood. The first Ski Nautique was adopted from a 17' Higgins. AT

Al,
Ive heard that before...pretty cool. I was told they split the Higgins and widened it? My Higgin's deck doesnt have the raised perimeter, above the rub rail like the early SN's do.

....ahhhh someday.... maybe I need to see if I can talk "uncle Reid" out of one of his 60's SN?

kapla wrote: I thought the 80-81 were also known as 2001...

Nope, the 2001 debuted in '82. 80-81 looked unique but used the same hull as the 70's SN.

All this information is great. I appreciate everyone taking the time to share their knowledge.

87-88 have the split winshield
89 is a flat windshield, same intake vents
88-89 has the curved low profile dash pod

I have an 87

Another little tid-bit of info that might be of interest to 62wood.

The first Ski Nautique was adopted from a 17' Higgins.

AT

Does anybody know what the "Ski Nautique" script looked like on the early 60's (63-64). My Dad remembers buffing them off. I have never been able to find a picture with a Nautique with the script still on...

Hulls the same 70-81??? No.

A rundown on some minor changes:

70-72 17'6" ( 3 inches shorter)
73-76 17'9" (alum. deflector bar)
77-78 17'9" (moulded rope deflector)
79     17'9" (moulded fwd. vent)
80-81 17'9" (3pc. windshield)
82-86 18'9" (new design 2001)
87-89 18'9" (weird tilted windshield hump)

And there are exceptions, rolled over features to the previous year and vice versa.
And I've seen Small Letter Nautiques, as late as '78

I thought 92 was the first year without wood stringers.

farmer wrote: Last year of wood stringers was 92?

Yes.

BKH

Hull change years:
'61 (debut)
'70 (2nd Gen)
'82 (2001)
'90 (No Wake Zone)
'97 (TSC)
'02 (TSC2)
'06 (TSC3)

Check out the brochures in the reference section for more info.

Hello,

Just wondering if someone could school me on the model years that significant changes took place in the Ski Nautique model. "For example 1982 the 2001 hull design was introduced". I am a rookie to this forum so please be patient. Other things of possible importance, number of fins, transmissions, ect...

Thanks