What would you do?

Hey guys,
I thought I'd throw out my scenario to see what you guys would do in my situation.

I have an 80 Ski Nautique. I purchased a couple of years ago for $6500 (including trailer). Other than the occasional water pump impeller or carb adjustment, the boat has performed mechanically pretty well.

This is my third Nautique. 1979, 1995 and this 1980. I purchased an older boat because I live on a lake and like to keep my boat in the water during most of the summer. I liked the idea of not having to worry about tens of thousands of dollars getting scarred on my dock and have been pretty satisfied with the decision.

I'm now having more and more miscellaneous engine problems that are becoming costly. Additionally my boat needs a floor and probably stringers.

Here are my options:
1. repair engine and trade for similar vintage Nautique cost approx $500-$1000
2. repair engine and replace floor and stringers cost approx. $2000
3. New engine (INDMAR Vortec and transmission) replace floor and stringers cost approx $4000

I love these old Nautiques and would love to go with the new engine and tranny, stringers and floor. This would give me a 3 year warranty and basically a new/old nautique. However, I'd never recoup my $10,000+ investment. Repairing the old engine is just buying time.

What do you guys think?
Steve

Spend the 2k to rebuuild motor and fix rot in the stringers then find a reasonably price boat lift and cover and you'll have no worries.

Swatkinz wrote: However, I'd never recoup my $10,000+ investment. Repairing the old engine is just buying time.

Steve,

Please don't take me wrong on this, but while these boats have appeared to held their value, they are not 'investments'. They are no different than cars or trucks in the long run. Boats and motorcycles hold a false value longer because of the old laws of supply and demand. Only something like real estate (land itself) is truly an investment, although I have seen the bottom drop out of the land market too.

We have these boats because we want them, plain and simple. If the older style gives you pleasure, fix the stringers, rebuild the engine/tranny if necessary and get a lift.

To paraphrase Dennis Gage (the guy with the handlebar mustache on the Classic Car Show), "keep'em on the water".

Like I said, please do not take this wrong.

If ya like it, fix it, use it and enjoy!

Don

I pick door number 2. I bought my 66 with seawater in the engine for $700. I rebuilt the motor and tranny and used Git-rot on the stringers. I liked it for the same reason you like the 80. I don't have to worry about theft or somone dinging the finish with a ski or board. If you can do it all for 2K I would. Git-Rot is good but new stringers would be ideal. There is also a good chance any boat you buy of that age will need new stringers.