Older Malibu Boats

[mdmSkier]

Anyone every ski behind a Malibu Euro F3?? There's one for sale a few hours away from where I live and I'm not sure if it's worth my time to go look at it. I mainly ski at 32 and 15 off and am concerned about its performance at shorter lines and slower speeds. Thanks in advance.

[rq0013]

Do not get the F3. Wake is not good. They changed the hull in 93,the echelon has the new hull. I have a 96 echelon and wake is decent, still big and hard but better

[mdmSkier]

Thanks for the input!

 

[ALPJr]

My first rides behind an inboard and in the course were behind an 89 Euro F3 at Jimmy Durham's Ski School in Greenville SC. Seem nice to me at 32/-15. Also ski behind one at a tourney in Charlton MA around '99 which skied pretty well.

[rawly]

Nasty bump at 22. It looks nice , but that's about all. The Echelon is much nicer as stated above.

[thompjs]

Get 98 or newer LX

[bigtallweed]

I have a 94 Euro F3. I also ski behind a 98 bubble back Nautique and a Malibu Sportster. The euro has a much softer wake than the sportster and at -28 and less it has a great wake. The Nautique owner often says he prefers driving my boat. The Nautique has a better -15 and -22 wake but after that its no better. There is a rooster tail at -22 but if you keep the tank at 6 gallons or less its ok. It's a flat bottom boat so choppy water is a harsh ride but I don't use it then. 1993 is the first year of no wood . I would not buy an earlier one. A number of -15 skiers have said how good the wake is. The 98 or newer Response and Nautique are better boats but I like to ski behind my boat.

[DW]

@mdmSkier: One item to evaluate when considering an older boat is how to repair items that break and are not replaceable with standard hardware such as the glove box door, dash pod, windshield or similar. I have seen some posts on the Malibu Crew site with people asking the where and how to questions, and I am sure it applies to pretty much any brand. There are several hard core square windshield Bu fanatics on the Crew site, I suggest asking them for some advice, although they seem to lean towards the more popular activities behind the boats.

 

As far as the Euro F3, it is a pretty decent boat, has a roost at -22 off but not bad at other lengths. As with most vessels of that era, speed is the wakes friend, so slower will result in a more pronounced bump. The Echelon / Response as the SV23 hull is a better slalom option, that is the hull that bumped them to the big three league. The Euro F3 is a pretty good barefoot boat and you can foot right off the platform as the wake is footable there.

[Wish]

+1 for Echlon as an "older" Bu

[sunvalleylaw]

I remember loving skiing behind one back in the early 90's. It would work for my free-skiing purposes. I remember it being my favorite wake of that period with the period Mastercrafts being second, and Nautiques a distant third. If it were close to me and a good price and in good shape, I would get it for my purposes. But my purposes are generally free-skiing with some attempts at the course for fun.

 

[rawly]

Where do you live @mdmSkier ? People love to help look for boats on this sight. Some may even be familiar with the boat you are considering. Someone recommended a boat that was a super deal on this sight , and I ended up buying it for my kids. Wasn't even really considering it until someone pointed it out. Price range ? Good luck

[mdmSkier]

Thanks again for all the input! I figured that the slalom wake wouldn't be great but I also occasionally trick ski so it might make up for it there. I'm actually considering two boats right now. A 1990 F3 and an 87 barefoot warrior. The F3 has 202 hours and looks to be clean and in great shape. On the other hand, barefoot warrior has definitely seen better days and I'm not sure how much time is on the engine. Has anyone had any experience with a barefoot warrior?

 

 

[gregy]

What's your budget? There's some deals out there on early 90's Mastercraft ProStar 190s which have a good wake. Also the mid 90's nautiques that had the slant back had good wakes. 98 and newer Responses.

 

Spend the money once and get something decent. Otherwise you get something you think is OK then end up wanting what you should of bought a year later. I've been there and wasted some money.

[skibumm]

If the barefoot warrior looks like it has seen better days I would be concerned as that boat is a wood stringer boat and they might also have seen better days. I love the pure barefoot boats for barefooting and they actually ski pretty dang good too. The one issue I have is with the outboard you are stuck with two very small platforms off the back and you then are forced to get your ski on in the boat.

[6balls]

We owned a '88 Warrior. Loved it but wouldn't buy one today...most likely rotten. Hates trick speed, too. Either wants to plane or settle back in the hole. Only a VERY well kept example would be worth a look and at that best be a slalom free-skier who likes a soft wake or a bare footer or both. It's also very rough around the refinement edges...and old brute of a muscle car. Grab the F3.

[mdmSkier]

Hoping to get something under 10,000. The f3 owner is asking 7000 for the barefoot warrior owner is asking 4000. I would like to get something with a decent slalom wake but I live in north east pa and there are unfortunately very few options near me.

[6balls]

I'll say it again...pass on the Warrior. The F3 for $7K asking (offer $6500 or something) if in good shape and 200 hours will do just fine for now. Even the vinyl looks good in the F3 pics...pull the trigger and start skiing.

[gregy]

I drove 4 days round trip to pickup my present boat. I figured for something I was planing on keeping for a while it was worth it. My girlfriend and I make a mini vacation out of it and did some site seeing.

 

For 10k you could get into a Nautique 196. Whatever you get, check it out well drive, ski, have mechanic look at. Not using a boat can be worst than a ton of hrs. My boat was 99 with 156hrs and I had to spend another $1200 after I bought to get it to run properly and that was just parts. I did all the labor. I knew that the boat need work when I pick it up, but boat parts add up quick it turned out a little more than I was expecting.

 

copy and paste this changes as need and you can search all of craigslist:

nautique 196 site:craigslist.org

 

Also if you haven't looked at www.ski-it-again.com check it out.

 

http://minneapolis.craigslist.org/wsh/boa/5149151798.html

http://stlouis.craigslist.org/boa/5119534426.html

http://orlando.craigslist.org/boa/5134530883.html

http://nmi.craigslist.org/boa/5181237174.html

http://lincoln.craigslist.org/boa/5151615913.html

http://maine.craigslist.org/boa/5120942210.html

http://detroit.craigslist.org/okl/mcy/5118215502.html

http://akroncanton.craigslist.org/boa/5122531248.html

http://indianapolis.craigslist.org/boa/5128904441.html

[powbmps]

mdmSkier - are those pictures of an F3 in NH? I was heading up to take a look at one just like that and someone came in a couple hours earlier and bought it. Nice looking boat.

[DW]

@mdmskier: the Malibu F3 also has wood stringers, so when checking out the boat, check the stringers carefully for softness.

[mdmSkier]

@powbmps yes, it was located in nh but I wasn't the one to buy it. A near mint 1994 mastercraft 190 came my way and I went a head and pulled the trigger. $8,000 and only 550 hrs. Hard to beat the wake and officially a baller! Thanks again for everyone's insight. It really helped a lot. Ironically, this Malibu titled thread will end with a new mastercraft owner! Haha

[escmanaze]

Oh man that is awesome!!! Now you have to reward us all with pics, pics, and more pics!!! :)

[6balls]

Dude you stole it...great boat. Post some pics!