1993 Open Bow

First time poster. Looking for a Nautique for the family primarily for skiing but also tubing and some footing. Weighing in at 6 ft 210lbs I like it between 39-42 mph on the water.

I have a line on a 1993 open bow Nautique with a tower. http://stlouis.craigslist.org/boa/4888439448.html

It has a 351 PCM with 757 original hours on it. Looks clean and well cared for from what I can tell thus far. However what I don't know and what I call upon the experts here is the following:

- Whats the top speed of this boat? Can I get 40-45mph comfortably out of this with a couple kids and maybe an adult in the boat?
- Can I attach a barefoot boom to this boat? The current owner is not a footer and never attached a boom. I see that the tower mount looks to be directly behind the driver seat which makes me wonder if that would be in the line of the boom out the side.
- Hows the ski wake behind this open bow boat? Is it better suited to boarding or is it good for slalom as well?

Thanks for any info you can provide.
Tom

Oh man, no tubes!

That's a ski nautique open bow. It will have a great ski wake and with enough weight, a decent wakeboarding wake. Plenty of power for barefooting- though the exact speed it will hold depends on whether it has the proboss (ho 351) at 285hp vs the standard 240hp 351w. The latter will still hold a guy your size at 40 and is only a head upgrade away from holding 43-44. Unloaded, expect 41-43 (240hp) or 45-47 (285hp).

A boom will fit, though it will likely be tight on the stbd side on a snob. Side spray is not bad on this hull.

It's worth noting that the SNOB had the same hull as the closed bow Ski Nautique, but a different deck with the dash moved back a bit to accommodate the open bow. This makes the cockpit a bit more cramped, and you lose the under bow storage. The open bow is a shallow playpen and has a walk over (not walk through). They didn't sell in great numbers and usually command a premium price- and this one is priced very high considering it's not in mint shape. Personally, I think a closed bow of the same vintage offers more useable space and storage, and would save you a bit of money (and would be easier to find a nice one). To really gain significant space, it might be worth considering a Sport Nautique, the 93-01 years were based on a lengthened version of this same hull and are very versatile boats- only forgoing a small concession in skiing and performance compares to the smaller Ski Nautique.

Welcome (and ditch the tubes).

HW is wrong on the speed, btw... My 90 SN (same hull) would pull my 195lbs 41mph when it had 240hp and an upgraded Acme prop like the one this '93 has. I don't see proboss decals on the shroud, but it may very well be so equipped... A closer inspection of the heads or engine model number (listed on the tag on the intake) would provide the necessary clues to be sure.

Owning lakefront and buying an open bow seems foolish. Which would you rather be?

TommySki wrote: First time poster. Looking for a Nautique for tubing   Tom

Tom,
Are you sure you want a Nautique?

Welcome to CCfan. If you do go through with a purchase, make sure you post some pictures.

Here's you link to the boat

I'm with Tim and HW on the open bow. Since you have lakefront property, leave the unneeded people on the dock.

TRBenj wrote: and this one is priced very high considering it's not in mint shape.

Very high? Sheesh, Mr. "mystery-nonexistent-NWZ-deal-goggles" Benjamin! I don't think 11,5 for a decent all fiberglass boat (93) in good shape with a solid interior is too out of line.

I don't think the SNOB is a good choice even if you want more seating... Assuming you're using the boat to ski. Who sits up front while there is a skier behind the boat? Sitting on the floor facing the skier is where extra passengers normally sit around here. A closed bow has more room for that scenario. We ski off the dock here... Closed bow all the way.

Joel, do I need to keep sending you reasonably priced NWZ's? I wish it their values were higher but sub-10k for a clean 90-93 is absolutely the norm. Snobs are incrementally higher but 11.5k would be tip top dollar, and tha boat is not clean enough to warrant it IMHO.

TRBenj wrote: Joel, do I need to keep sending you reasonably priced NWZ's? I wish it their values were higher but sub-10k for a clean 90-93 is absolutely the norm. Snobs are incrementally higher but 11.5k would be tip top dollar, and tha boat is not clean enough to warrant it IMHO.

Although I do agree 11.5 is too high, it seems to be the norm right now. In fact, it seems to me 12k is the asking price right now for a NWZ in the southeast. Im finding the not bashful asking 15k.

$4500 '92
10.2 '92
Super clean '94 14,750
'94 11.9 If still available in March I'm gonna consider it
'94 15,900!!!
1990 gone from 12k to 10,5
'91 12k

No I think all the prices are high. I agree with Tim, these should be sub 10k. Did Tim and I get accustomed to a bad economy?

https://austin.craigslist.org/boa/4883124647.html

http://siouxcity.craigslist.org/boa/4874106321.html

http://boise.craigslist.org/boa/4891999869.html

Gary, you're preaching to the choir. Unfortunately most people can't relate to buying a 20-25 year old boat with a big thing in the middle and will go for the jet boat. I think under 10K is where those early 90's boats should be.

I was seriously interested in buying a jet boat for my kids about 12 years ago. My wife said, "if you're going to buy one of those things, why don't you just buy a ski boat". I listened to her.

Does that ad really say "No Spooks"? LOL, unbelievable and hilarious.



These ski boats are not a "commodity" item. They didn't make that many even when they were new. Location, condition, features, and specific situations the buyer or seller may be (as well as their knowledge of the subject matter) in will cause a wild fluctuation in pricing from one to another. Generalizing that they should all be a certain price point, either (admittedly) high or low, seems a little bold and silly. I'll gladly "overpay" for the right boat in the right location because I like the boats more than the thrill of the deal. Each of these boats is pretty much a "one of one" for sale at that current time, which for the picky buyer makes it a seller's market. For somebody that just wants a deal and doesn't care about the boat, sure. Buyer's market for those. There were no real "steals" this fall on these unless they were beaters, and the few that meet my standards are "overpriced". I'm ready to overpay this spring for the right one and I won't regret the purchase.

We found this 95 SN last year advertised for $15 but purchased for $13.5
100 original hours garage kept.
They are out there. I did end up having repairs that cost me another $1,000 by the time it was water worthy again.
Keep looking, buy now before boats jump into Summer pricing.
A well cared for 1,000 hour boat can be worth more than a 300 hour boat that was not taken care of. Proper maintenance and good winter storage technique is everything on boats.

M3Fan wrote: Does that ad really say "No Spooks"? LOL, unbelievable and hilarious

I'd be curious on how old the seller is? I haven't heard the term since my late father was around!

TommySki wrote: I'm guessing he means no Craigslist scammers,

Hopefully "spooks" is a southern Illinois term for scammer but, St.Louis, you never know!!