Which boat should I buy?

Congrats on the new boat! Looks awesome, enjoy! I can tell those kids are. For me that makes the expense & work well worth it.

awesome... great thread..thanx for taking us along for the ride.

now take that crew out on the Bay & make memories!



john

I think he said 1000 hours. Shows how indoor and covered storage makes a difference in condition. Owner care sure seems awesome.

I am not sure why some people think so highly of dealer maintained boats. A meticulous, knowledgeable owner reluctantly selling one of his boats is the jackpot for sure!

I guessing when Dave rolled up on the guys property with everything in order dock/lift/roof/nice shop all tools away etc he knew these were going to be the two cleanest boats he would see on his journey by far! Obviously before the owner acquired that python, The owner had the 92 on lift under canopy when not buttoned up in his shop.

If Dave bought that python there was no doubt the 92 would have been back out on the lift!

It does have just over 1000 hours.

Andrew is correct. I had seen enough boats already to recognize the great condition that these were it.

I will hopefully catch you on the lake. I am debating towing it down for the weekend of the 4th.... But that place is a zoo that weekend. I may pass.

Hollywood wrote: The boy looks not happy?

I think that look is "are you serious? I can't get a license for 10 more years? I could drive this thing right now!"

Excellent choice! That boat looks exceptional. I wouldn't worry about the stringers at all. The one thing I would do is check for the dash voltage drop wiring problem. Turn on the key and then turn on the navigation lights. If the gauges jump then you will probably want to address the power and grounding at some point. I have 1500 hours on my Protec and it has been almost trouble free. It went to limp mode a few times after I first got it but I installed additional power and ground wires between the engine and dash and a wire from the output of the ignition breaker on the right side of the dash over to the input to the key switch and haven't had a problem since.

dmudave wrote: Thanks for all the replies. I used to slalom ski a good bit, but I have been out of the game for about 10 years. I am 35. I didn't ever get proficient at footing. I am looking for a nice reliable boat to take around on the Sandusky Bay, teach the kids to ski, and do some skiing myself. I also plan to tow it to a lake in Maryland I frequent a few times each summer. Going fast is not a big need.... But it is always fun to get moving every once in a while. Is that your listing I presume?

Dave congratulations on the boat, she looks very clean. It is great to have another nautique in the area. I live in downtown Sandusky and put in at the Shelby street launch all of the time and run over to sandbar with my wife and son. If you every see a model year 2001 SN, the one with the big N down the side, running around the bay flag me down and say hi. My boat is navy and white.

Also, I a ski with a group that used to put the course in between the two bridges in the bay. However, about 14 years ago we moved to a private site out in Milan. If you ever want to get a slalom pull on great water, let me know. I would be more then happy to take you out.

Get yourself a fresh sunbrella cover with sides (Angola, skiboatcovers, custom) and it'll be fine outside.

A cover with sides... Not a bad idea.

I like our mooring cover just fine but I have been looking into a cover sports sunbrella cover. No poles. http://www.coversports.net/store/c1/Featured_Products.html

I also picked up my sunbrella Bimini top. It should be in the mail.

It has been nice having a little $ left over.

dmudave wrote: Thanks! I will keep an eye out. I have been eyeing that stretch of water between Bay View and the bridge every time I have driven by this week. Let me practice up a bit and I may be in touch about a pull. I can't wait to get out on the water. I am on call for work until Monday. Trailering is likely the best bet in the area right? Marina parking will likely foul the bottom pretty quickly. Do you know of a marina with covered storage and a ramp in the area? It is that or kick my wife out if the garage.

You are welcome! Unless you can find someone to rent a boat house from, there is not really any covered dockage that I know of. Unless you plan to paint the bottom leaving it in the water for any extended period of time, would not be very good for it.

The only free public ramp in the Sandusky area that I know of, is the Shelby Street launch. I know that Battery Park has a ramp, but I think that is only for members. As for places in Huron, there are a few marinas that have public ramps. A friend of mine uses the one out at the campground that is out on River Rd. We wakeboard back there sometimes, since he comes out from Cleveland with his boat. If you are wanting to put in closer to the bridges, you can put in at the marina over in Bayview.

When the boat comes home from storage in the spring, my wife loses her garage spot until the fall when the boat goes back in storage. I am hoping that someday she is going to tell me to build a three car garage.

dmudave wrote: Thanks for the info. Last question I think. Who do you take your boat to if it needs work? Anyone you trust with your Nautique over others?

No problem at all. Please do not hesitate to contact me with any questions. I know these boats are not that popular in our area, so if I can help out in anyway, I am happy to do so.

Fortunately, I have not had to find a shop yet to work on it. Last year my fuel pump went out and I was able to diagnose the issue with the help of the folks on here and fixed it myself. These engines are pretty straight forward, so if you have a little bit of wrench turning skills, you can do almost everything yourself. However, there is a shop over in the Kent area that I have heard good things about, they used to be a nautique dealer, but they are not anymore. The head mechanic from that time is still there though, so he knows his stuff when it comes to these boats. However, locally I haven't really searched for a PCM mechanic.

If you run into an issue that you feel you need a mechanic for, my brother is good friends with the people who own Brands Marina over in PC, they might be able to recommend someone.

Late to the party, but I add another - "Well Done!"

Gotta love those early 90's Red and Black Nautiques........

which engine set up? base 240hp o pro boss 285hp?

either way both engine have plenty of power,

It is the base 240 hp.

Thanks again everyone.