Ski Nautique vs. MasterCraft

For those of you who have much more boat knowledge than me, what's the major differences between the 1980's Ski Nautiques and MasterCrafts? Looks like both boats had 351 engines and the MasterCraft was lower profile. Can you notice the difference in quality? Wake size? Handling? I'm not a big fan of the stars and stripes graphics. I believe in 1986, MC had sort of rainbow shaped graphics. Anyway, I'm just courious.

Because I have both correct crafts and a MC S&S...
BKH has hit the major points...to add some...MC had the powerslot tranny and turned a 14 X 18 prop...also a plus...Great hole-shot. The MC is not as deep a hull but wieghs more...Still it will slap ya around in the chop,where as the SN cuts through it better. The MC handles great when it's smooth and turns on a dime at high speed.

Both certainly have there merits and are well built!

Wakes...Again Brian covered it! The MC once you add 500-600 pounds of fat sack does OK for boarding...SN will give a better wake though.

I heard they changed the hook on the hull for 86 only and thus it is the most coveted year for the pre-91 MCs for slalom wake.

86SN2001 wrote: Since we're talking about the differences between CC and MC. Can anyone tell me why the MC has a higher Coast Guard person limit than the CC? All the sncb's that I have ever seen say 6 people while the same size MC can legally carry 9 people. Why is this?

I think it's because folks with smaller and lighter brains buy MCs. Just kidding. I never noticed that difference before but it would be interesting to know the answer. BKH

Even if it can legally carry the weight where the heck do you sit 8-9 people in a closed bow ski boat? Unless they're advocating the 2 on the gunwale and 1 sitting on the motor cover. Sounds like a marketing ploy. "We carry more people than the Other Brand"

Just my useless 2 cents.

My 82 Stars and Stripes had the molded Speedo housing similar to my 81 Ski. In 83 they went to that instrument cluster that looked like it fell off a spaceship and looked like crap. they also changed from the curved windshield to the angular one and I didn't think that looked as good either.

My 82 had the same PCM 351w as in my Ski. Powerslot trans was a hugh difference over a boat with a 1:1 trans though. Powerslot was a great option.

As for Stars And Stripes you either like um or you didn't, that was classic Mastercraft though. If you ever get a chance to drive an old MC do it, they handle really nice and don't roll in the turns at all, incredible how flat they turn.

They were years ahead of CC in getting rid of wood in their construction, not just in the floors either. Their observer seat bases were glass as well where CC where wood for years later. I don't know why it took CC so long to do that.

All said, I loved my MC but my old CC ski is a true classic boat, It has completely different lines and resembles the old woodies more than the MC does and that's where my loyalty lies.

Trans has 1.5: gear reduction, hense the big pitch. It let the revs come up faster. The pull was stronger but the 351's ran out of lungs earlier. A little ahead of its time, it could have really used the gt40 heads for the extra rpms.

Yes, 454's were available but not common.

I ran the 14x18 prop and it topped out at 44 but pulling a footer or 2 it did die off in a turn. I went to a 14x16 with double cup and that thing pulled 3 deep start footers and ran 42 with anything in tow. Raised the rpms a bit further than suggested but 800 hours later it was still running strong.

My 1980 Nautique wake had a defined rooster tail at 28 MPH. It was rough crossing the wake and trying to get as little air as possible. Sounds like MasterCraft didn't have that rooster tail. I skied on a friend's 1982 Nautique 2001 as a kid. I recall that wake being forgiving.

Ken