1986 Mastercraft with a Nautique Ram-Lin Trailer

Hello,

I currently have a 1997 Ski Nautique with an Eagle Trailer. Of course the boat is awesome, the trailer is not, for me anyways!

I found a 1986 Matercraft with a Ram-Lin trailer due to a car accident which took out the Mastercraft trailer several years ago.

The Ram-Lin trailer is a year build 2002 in really nice condition. Nautique dealers in Minnesota say that the value would be around $2,000.   New is around $6,500, not sure if that includes shipping. Shipping seems to be the big issue as to why these are hard to find around here.

The 1986 Rainbow boat:

1,500 hours
New Holley Carb
New Prop
Added Electronic ignition
New upholstery, only issue, not to 1986 specs.
1:1 Transmission

My thought was to flip the Eagle to the 1986 MasterCraft and sell in the Spring for hopefully around his asking price.

Also, did Coleman company own these in 1986? Present listed the boat for over a month, could not sell, but will not bend on price!   Crazy year, white gel-coat with rainbow decals, only 1 year produced that way.

Current owner would meet me in Northern Illinois to complete the transaction in early November. He needs to know by this weekend before the boat heads to his pull barn and cabin in Northern Michigan. Boat then becomes for sale next Spring.

Biggest issue with the Eagle trailer is that it is very heavy on the hitch and more difficult on the pulling vehicle a 2014 Toyota Tacoma, Don't get me wrong, we can travel, just not as balanced as the Ram-Lin, which is balanced and smooth, love those trailers. I have put some effort and time to help remedy the problem. Previous owner of my 1997 added a PIVIT HITCH which is manufactured in Riverside California. That might also be an issue, not sure. I have a Polaris ATV, my Ram-Lin for my 1999 Python pulls easy around the yard easily. We noticed that the Eagle really pushes the limit on the Polaris, low enough that the tire jack become too close to the ground.

Any feedback would help.

His asking price is $5,900 no room for discussion.

Thanks So Much!

Hey Scott, if you decide to do the deal and need a place to make the transfer and test drive the boat I would certainly offer my place/our lake. We are only 7 miles west from Highway 94 (Great America Exit), private launch is essentially right next to our place. My piers and boat are still in.

No reason not to first try to fix the distribution on the Eagle you have now.

I'm not buyer and seller of MCs but I don't see any profit on that 86 after a trailer downgrade.

Oh Boy Timmy, here we go. And your vast knowledge of Eagle trailers is based on owning exactly not a single one, lmao. I certainly will give you there are some single axles out there that have the boat WAY to high, inefficient and looks like chit. If you line one up next to a Ram-lin without a doubt they are a much more stout trailer. Not saying they are better then a Ram-lin or worse, simply they just are not the POS you typically allude to. My 12 yr old Eagle looks like brand new and has preformed flawlessly throughout.

Tim, I don't care what inboard it is, it'll always look better on a Ramlin over an Eagle.

Also, any brand boat trailer that is garage kept should look brand new 12 years later. Eagles are not good inboard boat trailers, they should stick to boats with the big thingy hanging off the back.

1986 is a sought-after year for the MC. They did something with the prop tunnel lip just that year that really made a difference, apparently. I think the one-year-only decals that year are actually kinda neat. I don't think that price is out of line.

The wakes on that hull are really soft for that vintage of ski boats. I was always impressed with the wakes on my 83 Mastercraft and the tweaks on the 86 version of that same hull from all I've heard make them that much better. Pro Star History - Check out the 1986 entry a little bit down the page. Great read.

M3Fan wrote: 1986 is a sought-after year for the MC. They did something with the prop tunnel lip just that year that really made a difference, apparently[/URL]

MC closed the powerslot tunnel in 1986 which remained through 1990, prior to that is was open. My dad has an 86 MC. It is essentially a 87-90 prostar hull and a 85 deck. This and the graphics make 86 a truly one off year.

I feel am '86 MC is miles ahead of an '86 SN in terms of wake. And composite too.

Just trying to keep you on your toes

Mmm waffles

M3Fan wrote: This is a "for nostalgia/novelty only" buy for sure.

That's about 90% of the boats on CCF. That boat of yours looked pretty nice. I'm sure someone loves it.