What’s the right boat to buy?

Revman,

Based on your post, I assume you are looking at the 19.5 foot or ski nautique hulls. How old of boat depends upon your ability/tolerance for working on these boats and taking care of them. Of the vintage boats you discussed, the hulls can be broken
down as follows 81-89, 90-96, 97-99.

81-89: The SN2001. Good waterski wake, however a little hard. First of the "larger"
Ski nautiques. This boat is well liked by wakeboarders because it can be weighted down to produce a very good, or even excellent wakeboard wake.

90-96. Ski nautique with the Euro style tail.
There is a noticable step up in the waterski
wake. It has less spray and is softer. Weighted down, this boat can put out a decent
wakeboard wake, but not as good as the previous vintage. In 93, CC began the composite stringer system This means that there is no wood in boat. Personally, if I were looking at one of these boats, I would get a 93 or later. I can't recall when Fuel
injection began, but I believe it was 94. Cosmetically, they changed the striping almost every year, added built in stereos, changed the windshield, etc. but not much differnce.

97-99: This was the first era of the Total Surface control Hull. This is a modern, world class waterski wake. Boat handles unbelievably. EFI was not standard, but most
came with EFI. Even weighted down, this will
produce the weakest wakeboard wake of the three vintages you have mentioned.

Check out the references section of this section. There are sales brochures from a lot of years which can help you understand the progression of features, etc.

Hope this helps. I'm sure others will pipe in
with distinguishing characteristics betwen these boats.

BKH