Help with estimating maint costs on used Nautique

Glen, there's a Ski Nautique Open Bow, and a Sport Nautique, they are different. The SNOB is the same hull as a closed bow Ski, but with a bit less cockpit room to make room for the open bow. The bow area is small, and it's a step over the dash, not a walk-through. I'm not sure of years they made SNOB, look in the reference section at brochures and you can find the years and also look at the cockpit shape.

Sport Nautiques have been around since I believe 1990. The '90 to '92 had a bit smaller hull and still wood stringers. The '93 to '97 are 21' and everything Nautique from '93 forward was composite stringers. The '98 to '02 or '03 are still 21' but have a trunk behind the back seat.

I agree if you are really looking to slalom hard, work on the course, you probably want a closed bow Ski. I ski my Sport and like the wakes, but I'm a hack skier. Tonight I skied on a '98 Ski Nautique and the wakes are better, but not enough better to affect my open water skiing a whole lot. I will say the Ski turns better both at speed and at idle. Having skied quite a bit on a mid 2000's 196, that's when I really notice the wake difference, the wake is just barely there.

Hope this helps!

ok, got me there.

The drive trains are not brand specific, so it would be just as likely that MC tranny could have been in a CC.

We'll I kinda think we are all right and at the same time biast.
We all own a CC and nothing beats the built quality.
Just this weekend Inhad folks ask what year our biat was and when I said 94, the Miss said to him in his Monterrey:
See I told you Naitiques are better quality and hold up great.

So if you buy, and you should, buy a CC and the rest comes down to taste, personal oppinion.
Some think sports are great for family, other skis with open bow and others just ski...

Im a closed bow guy myself. But i dont have kids. I dontthink id have an open bow anyway.

jimsport93 wrote: Yea, may not be the perfect slalom course boat, but it is good enough

Didn't poster say he was looking to get back into course skiing? Seems a sport might not be the best tug for OP. I have 3 kids and wouldn't trade my wake, acceleration, handling for the little extra space.

Personally, I would recommend a Sport Nautique. Twenty one foot, open bow, ski, wakeboard, knee board, etc.
The extra size and the open bow make it much more comfortable. Especially when the kids want to bring a friend.
Yea, may not be the perfect slalom course boat, but it is good enough for most of us.
I say buy a boat. Having the family on the boat for a day at the lake is priceless!

With composite stringers, you have a FEW things less to worry about.

I think we spend almost $300 on average a year for boat repairs and maintenance. Thats with us taking it to the dealership for service, mainly because we get really good service here otherwise I'd do all my maintenance and could get by for $150. But keep in mind, at sometime, no matter what year or condition, theres gonna be a mega expense to come, whether it's stringers, engine, tranny etc.

boats are fun. maint costs is not much. it is usually repairs that get expensive.
i am sure someone will give you the acronym for BOAT.

I think my wife learned driving faster than I did skiing...;-)
And a GPS speedo or Perfect pass helps (they call it the marriage saver)
Our boat is a compromise in some ways. While an approved tow boat, the wake is not like a ski nautique. But the open bow is the place kids like most (besides the dog house) and the sport has a decent wakeboarding wake, which might be the thing for your son.
By repowered I meant, that the PO doped in a new engine in 2000ish.
Your welcome to come down one of these days with the family and spend a day with us on the lake.
Or come to the Lake Norman CC reunion in order to see more years/models

Get a boat! Your Family will love it...

Something like this will suit your needs! Add perfect pass if you choose..

98 SN

pretty much fully depreciated and has very little hours!

Im a considering getting back into skiing starting next Spring. Right now I'm working through 2 different possible scenarios. One is to join a really nice local ski club. It's a little pricey but doable. It's owned by the local MC dealer and they have a brand new boat every year. Basically pay Club membership fee and a separate boat fee and all you need to do is bring your own gas and equipment. The club is on a great small private late with jump and slalom course. Other nice thing is there are plenty of completive skiers involved to connect with.

The second option I'm considering is getting a used comp boat. I started considering going this route mostly because of family. My wife has no interest in skiing but does want to go out on the lake. I also have a 14 y/o son who doesn't seem very interested now, but has only tried skiing once and an 8 y/o daughter that could probably go either way.

My thought is that getting a boat, vs. ski club would give us a lot more family time together, and possibly give my kids an in opportunity to get hooked. The ski club would most likely wind up just being my thing. They have a family membership but Im not going to pay that if there is no interest in them going. I could still take them as a guest on occasion. Then there's the cost of maintaining a boat, which leads me to my main question.

I would love to get some numbers from some of you guys that own older Nautiques. I know there has to be a few of you that are nerds about it, like me, and know exactly what you have paid in maint over the years. I would most likely be able to do some of the maint myself...oil changes etc... I know the age of the boat matters, but Im just not sure what I would look for yet, probably mid to late 80's on up through 90'S, so feel fee to share any experience. Would love to hear what year you have, avg annual maint cost over the years, any major repairs/failures and boat hours.

Thanks