Nautique Newb-looking at my first SN

Hey gang, first time poster here….I’ve been researching boats for about a month now, and a friend has really turned me on to the older Nautiques. For the last couple of weeks I have been devouring any resource I could find that has info on these boats.

I’ve already come across one that I’m going to see this week. It’s a 1990 Ski Nautique with “about” 1500 hours according to the current owner. In the pictures that I’ve seen, it looks like the boat is in really good shape cosmetically. The trailer looks pretty good in the pictures too. 

I’ll be going to see it in its storage location (without the owner, but with his permission), and as long as I like what I see we (the owner and I) will take it out on the water Sunday. It’s currently stored covered on its trailer in a covered, open storage facility (think carport).

My plan is to do as much of the prepurchase inspection list that I have found on here as I can when I go see it the first time. I’ll try  to do the tap test on the stringers too if I can. 

I’m assuming that it’s pretty obvious how to check the oil, but what about the  transmission fluid? Is there an obvious dipstick when the engine cover is open (just to have a look at the fluids and see what kind of shape they’re in)?

My big question, and reason for the post is what would you value a 1990 Ski Nautique at that appears to be in pretty good shape (it’s only an hour from my house too, which definitely adds to the attraction for me to this boat). 

Anything I’m missing?

Haha…yeah I’ve read so much on this forum that my head is spinning. My post was mainly just looking for some affirmation from this awesome group of folks and trying to gauge everyone’s thoughts on what a fair price is. Other than walking the floor and checking for soft spots, and tapping on the stringers wherever I can, are there any other ideas for checking the integrity of the wood bits on the boat (besides the motor mount and other bolts referred to in the checklist)? 

I’m from a different generation for I was born in the 60’s and grew up on a lake. So, when I first brought my 89, I been around the block a few times on what to look for. The first thing I would ask is what owner he is for that will tell you a little history of how much the boat has been passed around over the years. Then start looking at the how many hours, the condition of the interior, how clean the engine is, how dirty the bilge is. These are things that tells you a lot of the care of the boat. Did he maintain a history log on the maintenance of the boat? All of these areas tell tell signs of should I continue or walk away. Then it goes to soft spots on the flooring. Mainly by the ski pylon/seating areas. Any panel you can pop off, I would to get them off to have a better understanding of how much care this boat has have.  Again, do I want this boat or walk away. I looked at 3-4 boats and walk away from them. It took me right at 6 months before I bought mine but I was looking for the almost impossible cleaned, no work needed boat.