The 10,000 Sport Nautique ?

No such thing as a '89 SNOB, it didnt debut until 1992.

Does the Fish count? Where did you read 300hp? Use the 1990 brochure for 89 Sport info. I'm not sure I've ever seen a first generation Sport with anything but the 240hp.

TRBenj wrote: Yes those were the only open bows available in '89. Why the fix on that particular year?

The focus on the '89 is that I believe it to be the debut year for the Sport Nautique and the last year for the Martinique. Is this valid?

So I am considering a first year, first generation Sport Nautique as my next project boat. I am wondering a few things.

1) Are there any Sport Nautique project boats out there? What is the pricing and availability? I would expect a first generation Sport Nautique to sell for $8500 $12,000 depending on condition etc.

2) Would it be possible to find a Sport Nautique project boat for around $5000?

3) What would be the differences between this first generation Sport Nautique and the 1986 Martinique I currently own?

It is interesting that you bring up the Excel. The excel is a V-Drive version of a BFN correct? Is this in anyway a predecessor / first generations to the Super Sport Nautique and later the SAN?

The 1st gen Sport does not share the same hull as the Super Sport/SAN. That was the 2nd gen (1993-1997) Sport. The 1st gen Sport has a bit more vee to it and has lifting strakes, etc.

The Excel does not share any running surface similarities to the Super Sport, but it did fill the same spot in Correct Craft's lineup. The last year for the Excel was 1994, it was replaced by the Super Sport in '95.

To answer your question, there are definitely 1st gen Sports in the sub-10k range, many below $8500. These do not seem to be as highly sought after as the 2nd gen. You might have to look pretty hard, but its not out of the question to find one for $5k. It will likely need major work though. Be aware that the open bow may make structural restoration more difficult (possibly requiring you separate the deck from the hull), and all 1st gen Sports will have wood under the floor.

I dont have any first hand experience with the Sports, but any of them will be smaller, lighter boats compared to your Martinique. Having less of a v-hull will make them handle much better, and they will surely produce a better ski wake. I would suspect they would make a better boarding wake as well- the v-hull's wake shape never looked very nicely shaped... but thats just a guess. You would probably give up some interior room and rough water ride moving away from the bigger Martinique, though.

So, it sounds like the current Crossover Nautique is not really a continuation of the original Sport Nautique line, but in fact the Sport Nautique had a major over haul in 93 and that the Second Generation Sport Nautique is really were the acclaim of the Sport Nautique / Crossover Nautique came from?

As far as the Excel goes...

Is the Excel/BFN relationship pretty much the equivalent relationship of the Dominique to the Barefoot Nautique?

So basically an Excel is Dominique once the BFN switched to a V-Drive?

The Excel didn't have a very long run?

Perhaps you guys could help clear something up for me.

I have been told that the Dominique is the small block version of the BFN.
But you could actually order a BFN with a small block. So at that point is the only difference between a Dominique and BFN the graphics package?

What I was told, by The Godfather himself, is that the Australian national barefoot team was was helping to design the latest Barefoot Nautique at the time. While testing out different boats at the factory they liked the wake of the old Southwind the best so that is the hull that they went with. I thought that there was a post of this discussion, but I can't seem to find it. I have also heard talk about the Martinique being based on another Southwind, but looking at the hull in pictures it is not as deep and the strakes are quite a bit different.

The Open bow is the real difference between the Excel and the Barefoot, I've only heard of one Excel with an open bow and a BBC, but a few Barefoots with small blocks.

TX Foilhead wrote: The Open bow is the real difference between the Excel and the Barefoot,

So why not just call it an open bow Bare Foot Nautique or BFN O/B ??

I still have much to learn

BKH, that's right Excels could be both open or closed, most seem to be closed. Barefoots were all closed bow, but a few chose the small block. I had a friend who found a BBC open bow Excel the other day so I guess that was an option. The Barefoot package was really just a graphics package for the closed bow boats.

Hopefully Dave will see this and shed some light on the subject, I can't seem to get past the 100 post limit in the search to find my original discussion about the Excel

TRBenj wrote: That is correct, but that the boat in question was the original Barefoot Nautique (1979), and not the v-drive 2nd gen (1991). That is why I corrected you.

Wasn't there another major design change in there somewhere?

I thought that the 1979 BFN was a much smaller hull than a 1987 BFN. My '87 BFN was a direct drive 454.

/// Modified post above.. Never mind.

96 sport listed on craigslist austin for 10.5k. I'm not smart enough to know how to post a link. I think that would be a gt40. Point is, if 10k is your price, I think the boat's out there.

The Era of the $10,000 Sport Nautique has arrived.

The Wakeboard Report

Jernberg

How does a SNOB compare to a Sport Nautique for general family use? I need the open bow for room, want a good slalom boat, but have skied on enough different boats to not need the absolute best wake. Is a Sport an okay slaom boat, or is the wake just too big?

The open bow in the SNOB is very small, and it takes away most of your primary storage under the bow. It also reduces the cabin space of the boat, slightly, as the windshield is moved back a few inches.

As said, the SNOB is a better slalom boat, but the Sport is pretty good. The Sport is a better wakeboard boat, but the SNOB can be ok as well.
The sport is a bigger boat by about a foot. In my opinion, the Sport is a preferred "family boat."

BKH

63 Skier wrote: If I find one in good shape, '93 or newer, at a reasonable price I may find it hard to pass up!

1998 Sport Nautique $9500

1994 Sport Nautique $11,500 or Make Offer