Opinion on this Boat

I really like the full color hull in bright colors, Vapor Blue, Orange and Yellow all look great.

That is a very cool boat with ton's of HP, what the hell Murph, you only live once, write the check.

jmurph, Oviously a nice boat. 2003 is the most coveted year for the SANTEs.

My two cents is that the python is overkill. I have a 2001 SAN wich I bought new. It has the 310HP GT 40. I have never fealt the boat is underpowered. If I were going to put 4000lbs of ballast in it, I might feel differently, but I'll never add that much wieght. BKH

bkh....I appreciate the opinion. I don't think I have a need for 4k of ballast. I've got three little kids, two of which I plan on getting on skis this summer (5 and 2 1/2). I think my perfect boat is actually a 206, 211 or 216. The crossovers should work well for us, because we plan on pulling everything from a hydroslide to slalom skis to wakeboards. The particuliar boat just happens to be the color scheme I love and it looks like a great deal.

Why are the 2003's so coveted?


I will add that my '79 SN with 220hp (stock) seems like plenty of pull for us, but I seem to fall into the more is better metality some times. I honestly think we should wait a year or two until we jump into something new. My wife and I are weekenders, so when we get to the lake we (I) don't want to be worried with getting the boat to run. It is a 1979 and can be a bit testy sometimes. I wish I had some of the mechanical skills of the likes of eric, boat dr, 79, and many others on the site, then I wouldn't worry about it.

-JMurph

I've seen Jeff's online. I met the guys that sold him his 236 (on the way) at the Baltimore boat show. His boat is really nice looking. We actually pa$$ Lake Anna (VA) to get to Lake Gaston (NC). His boat is a couple of thousand more than the orange one, although he has the second color scheme choice for us, but the orange one has the extra hp. I would have a hard time pa$$ing up on the extra hp if it were one or the other. I guess I would have to ride in both to give it a true test.

Jim if I had the cash I would be all over that machine, love the color and the motor, no mods needed ever. well other than looks a little chrome never slows you down.

Waterdog wrote: JMurph    Are you thinking of going to Lake Norman for the N.C - Mid Atlantic Reunion ,I'd like to make it if possible. (Memorial Day Weekend ?)

I will definitely make it to a Lake Norman Reunion. Let's make it happen. If Reidp does host, then it will be a "don't miss" reunion. He has some great old CC's (quite a few of them), and is generally a great host.

On the other hand, I look forward to meeting you down in Pea Hill Creek this year. Where are you located? We're in Timberline Shores. Good luck with deal you've got working. I don't think you'll see that SANTE in our boathouse, at least not this summer.

-JMurph

Just went thru this post again and guess I musta missed something else. WHAT LAKE NORMAN REUNION? If it is at Reid's then it must be a don't miss event. As we will not be able to make it all the way to Green Lake, Lake Norman is a great alternative.

john

I love the looks of your '79, but of course I am biased. But I realize that with a family the space would be nice. But in the "old" days we all had the smaller boats and did just fine. Guess we didn't know any better.

ReidP has rubbed off on alot of guys around here.

Thanks for the b-day props. Same back to ya, belated. Why did I think the Kings B-day was in August or September? Whatever, no one will EVER match Elvis.

john

Ok I knew there was an August connection. Thanks.

john

My son was the mechanic in our family. Where he picked it up, I'll never know. I realized when he went off to the Navy that I didn't know how to do any of the stuff he did. I can change the oil and the impeller, thats about it. That is why I was so pleased that MM called to offer his help on my manifold. Plus I get to meet Blondie in person. And Reid is gonna stop by as he will be in FLA for the Daytona that weekend.

I can't wait for the "Mid-Atlantic".

john

Brian,

We had it the same way. My dad and his dad were both great mechanics. My dad still is, his has pa$$ed. He just wanted us to have fun and get on with it. I was the first to go to college, which he paid for. I plan on doing the same for my three, although hopefully they will take an interest in stuff like rebuilding an engine. I need to figure some of that out before they are old enough to start teaching them. My goal is to get an old engine and tear it apart. Then put it back together, just to see what everything looks like. I'm not brave enough to start with my own boat. Maybe a project boat.

-John

Reid,

You shouldn't have let the secret out. Here I thought you were a mechanical genius.

Murph, I'm still debating on whether I pay for the kid's college. I guess I'll know in 18 years. I paid for all 8 years myself. It was tough, but I didn't have to answer to anyone's expectations except my own. BKH

reidp wrote: I promise I'll never tease you about anything or ever beat you again in basketball if you buy it.

Once you wakeup from your dreaming about the basketball, you can start the teasing again. I doubt that we'll end up with that boat. First, I don't think the wake will be flexible enough for us. Second, I'm not ready to drop 41.5k on a boat right now, so start getting the American Skier ready and I'll have a backup.

Waterdog wrote:     The other day a friend said of his 1 year old the college money was a loan, upon graduation it's a gift;very profound.

Not a bad way to go. My parents paid for about six years for my brother. He never graduated. I watched that and graduated in three and a half. I guess I felt a bigger responsibility. He doesn't seem to have any shame, but I couldn't live with myself if that were me.


BKH......I'm trying to convince my wife that Abbey would make a fine plumber. Maybe Aspen can join her and you won't have to make the college descision. (Kidding, of course)

Waterdog-

That's right up the road from us. You're pretty close to the Nautique dealer. I've had pretty good luck there. Any experiences with them that I should know about? It sounds like you do most of your own work.

We call Maryland home. Right outside of Annapolis. Therefore, we can't just pop down for the day. Most of our neighbors at the lake are from either Richmond or Raleigh. That would be nice, but work holds us where we are. Go figure.

Waterdog, I grew up in and most of my family still lives up the river in Washington. You're not a NC Phosphate guy are you?