Baller 454SS Posted February 22, 2011 Baller Share Posted February 22, 2011 anyone ever ski or own this boat? what are the wakes like? how does the mercruiser 350 do in this boat? seems like a fairly well optioned boat for its time, how well do they hold up over time? Any comments would be helpful. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller_ Wish Posted February 22, 2011 Baller_ Share Posted February 22, 2011 New I kept these Boat Buyers Guides for reason. This is on the elite lx. Fast for the day. 49mph with Black Scorpion. Centurion Articilating Tracking System or CATS where the rudder was somehow connected to a forward rudder. One of the tracking fins I would assume. Two rudders work together for better tracking according to Centurian. Not sure how easy that would be to tune or fix if it went bad. No mention of this system in later years. WSM "15 off rooster tail flatter at 22. A little harder at 28 off but flat. 35 off shallow dip. Never skied behind one. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller 454SS Posted February 22, 2011 Author Baller Share Posted February 22, 2011 thanks Wish, that CATS system does sound like it could get expensive, though there could be a way to disable it. This boat says it has a 350 mag EFI, I don't know if thats the black scorpion or not. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller 6balls Posted February 23, 2011 Baller Share Posted February 23, 2011 Almost sure that motor is not the black scorpion. It was the base motor. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller ForrestGump Posted February 23, 2011 Baller Share Posted February 23, 2011 350 Mag was not a Black Scorpion. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller_ Wish Posted February 23, 2011 Baller_ Share Posted February 23, 2011 WSM listed test engine as MerC Scorpion. Base engine MerC 5.7L. They may both be 350s but I think 6balls is correct. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller ForrestGump Posted February 23, 2011 Baller Share Posted February 23, 2011 Base engine was the 350 Mag rated at 295hp I believe. Optional was the 5.7 Black Scorpion rated at 330hp. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller Bulldog Posted February 23, 2011 Baller Share Posted February 23, 2011 That steering system is amazing there is no skidding at all... the boat turns like it is on rails. I almost got ran over on a pull out with a first time driver….. "Do Better..." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller swc5150 Posted February 23, 2011 Baller Share Posted February 23, 2011 Wasn't the Black Scorpion fuel injected too, versus the 350 mag? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller 6balls Posted February 23, 2011 Baller Share Posted February 23, 2011 Scorpion was EFI, not sure about the mag, but I think it was as well.  I have Mag MPI in my mind (multi-port injection). My bro had a scorpion in a Gekko GTR-22...that thing vapor locked on hot days like no motor I have ever experienced. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller 454SS Posted February 23, 2011 Author Baller Share Posted February 23, 2011 Thanks for the help guys, this helps a lot. Bulldog it sounds like you have skied behind one before, how would the wakes compare to other boats of the same era? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller Bulldog Posted February 23, 2011 Baller Share Posted February 23, 2011 The wake was fantastic just as good as any other boat of the time, I am not a deep short line skier though (32 off is a good day). I really liked the way it drove, and the fit and finish was good as well. "Do Better..." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller 454SS Posted February 24, 2011 Author Baller Share Posted February 24, 2011 Just purchased my first boat today thanks in part to some of the information you guys gave me. Saw the boat in person and it I had to have it. I'm so excited for ski season now I can't sleep which is the reason why I am typing this at midnight. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller jjackkrash Posted February 24, 2011 Baller Share Posted February 24, 2011 Lets see some pics! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller 454SS Posted February 24, 2011 Author Baller Share Posted February 24, 2011 lets see if I can get this right Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller 454SS Posted February 24, 2011 Author Baller Share Posted February 24, 2011 dont know how to embed the pics or add multiple pics so thats the best i got at the moment Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller swc5150 Posted February 25, 2011 Baller Share Posted February 25, 2011 Congrats! I have more pictures and fond memories of the day I picked up my first new boat than of my wedding day. Of course, I'm divorced now...It's going to be hard waiting for spring! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller jjackkrash Posted February 25, 2011 Baller Share Posted February 25, 2011 That boat looks like its in great shape. Congrats. Now I need to find one! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller 6balls Posted February 25, 2011 Baller Share Posted February 25, 2011 Very nice. Nothing like the feeling of your first boat. Congratulations.Jackrash...on ski it again there is a low hour, 2008 SVFara w/the 343 asking $15.9K. If I hadn't bought a used SN 196 last year I would be on it. The ballers can correct me if wrong, but it's the old Infinity hull, no? The one tourney I skied behind infinity back in the day I thought it had a great wake (tho only skied 28 and shorter at 36 mph), and terribly strong pull for the day, no spray issues. Never drove one. Price seems mighty attractive for a 2008. Took me that kind of dough to buy a low hour 2000 Nautique. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller jjackkrash Posted February 25, 2011 Baller Share Posted February 25, 2011 6Balls: I have been looking at that boat all winter. I would really like to hear from someone about how it skis and drives. I am also a little afraid of the mid-mounted v-drive, just because I don't know anything about it. Right now I am looking at a 2000 Nautique, a 2000 Am. Skier Volante, a 1997 Am. Skier Volante, and a 1997 Nautique, that are in the same ballpark (all a little less) but are all 8-10 years older. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller 6balls Posted February 25, 2011 Baller Share Posted February 25, 2011 The driver's at the tourney liked the Infinity. I remember great wakes at 36 mph, but can't remember what the 34 mph skiers thought about various lengths.I ended up buying a '00 SN 196 w/84 hours the fall prior to last for $17000 on consignment.  At the time was looking for $15K max, but w/84 hours, an hour drive to check it out, and on consignment at dealer so with no sales tax I had to go look. He was asking $19,800, but needed to sell badly so got a nice deal at $17K even and no tax. No regrets. Buddy has a '97 SN 196 and though we have same hull and it skis great, I dislike all of his dash breaker switches. Wish I could tell you more about the SVFARA/Infinity. Seems to be a screaming price for a '08 w/only 40 hours, and have to assume w/343 it could be upgraded to Zero Off.Good luck on your boat hunt. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller swc5150 Posted February 25, 2011 Baller Share Posted February 25, 2011 That Svfara is a screaming deal! I almost bought it from him when it was $18,900. It's a ZX-1 with a nicer interior. They're lightning quick, and fast = 50+. They also handle and track awesome. Svfara also uses the same Faria instrumentation as Nautique LE/TE's. If I didn't just buy a 196, I may be on my way to grab that boat right now. In fact, my brother might go buy it.  Be warned though, the one who buys it will be stuck with it, or take a huge loss like the owner. He started posting it at 22 or 23 grand over a year ago. Most ZX-1's sell in the 10-13 range, but of course, this boat is newer. It's a steal for what it is. The problem is not many people really know what it is. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller jjackkrash Posted February 25, 2011 Baller Share Posted February 25, 2011 Actually, he started posting at 29k. And there's another 2008 SVfara SVOne with similar hours on ski-it-again that they are asking 40 g's for. :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller jjackkrash Posted February 25, 2011 Baller Share Posted February 25, 2011 Correction, 42 G's. http://www.ski-it-again.com/php/skiitagain.php?topic=Search&postid=11925 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller swc5150 Posted February 25, 2011 Baller Share Posted February 25, 2011 Odd that no one pulls the trigger on this boat? You think it's because people want to train behind the boats they will encounter at tournaments, or simply Svfara is an unknown for those in the US? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller Bulldog Posted February 25, 2011 Baller Share Posted February 25, 2011 Congrats its a great looking boat!! "Do Better..." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller_ Wish Posted February 25, 2011 Baller_ Share Posted February 25, 2011 454SS, Congrats. The boat really does look to be in great shape. Love to see some more pics. The SVone does seem like a great deal. They have so much room inside. The layout is perfect. And that's just his asking price. http://waterskimag.com/VTD/2008/Svfara/index.html?manufacture=1&boat=1 WSM Vid of the 08 SVone. What's on Todd's head? Is he trying to be French Canadian? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller 454SS Posted February 25, 2011 Author Baller Share Posted February 25, 2011 More pics Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller 454SS Posted February 25, 2011 Author Baller Share Posted February 25, 2011 . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller 454SS Posted February 25, 2011 Author Baller Share Posted February 25, 2011 And the engine there isn't an hour meter but was told the mechanics believe not more than 300 hours on the engine Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller jjackkrash Posted February 25, 2011 Baller Share Posted February 25, 2011 Sorry for the previous hijack, but that's a sweet looking ride you got there! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller 454SS Posted February 25, 2011 Author Baller Share Posted February 25, 2011 Hey thanks man good luck finding one for yourself now is the time to buy. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller usaski1 Posted February 26, 2011 Baller Share Posted February 26, 2011 Not to rain on anyones parade, and the cent does indeed look nice. Perhaps I had a lemon, but I'll never buy another boat with a Merc in it. Too many problems = too much money out of warrenty. I had dropped more than $2500 on my Merc before it hit 500 hours. It was an 02, the 315 EFI. Water pumps, bad pullys / bearings /belts, ect. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller 454SS Posted February 27, 2011 Author Baller Share Posted February 27, 2011 usaski1, I have never had a Merc before, hopefully yours was just a fluke, I am still in college and probably couldn't afford to have anything major go wrong with this engine. The upside is that this boat looks as though the previous owner knew how to take care of it. Also Im not sure but I think your boat may have had a completely different engine. Wondering if anyone else on this site has had problems with this engine before. My biggest concern right now is the EFI, don't know how easy it would be to work on it if something goes wrong. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller jjackkrash Posted February 27, 2011 Baller Share Posted February 27, 2011 I would not worry about anything until it actually happens. Lots of people have good luck with Mercs. It looks like a great boat, enjoy it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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