Looking to buy a boat

[Ckrueg]

Hi all, I'm new here and I'm currently looking to buy a ski boat. I grew up skiing behind various I/O and outboard but I finally want a dedicated ski boat my budget is about 7500. There's a couple boats near me that I like within my budget. The first is a 1989 mastercraft prostar 200 with a 200 Yamaha. The other is a 1993 American skier Volante open bow. I like outboards and how I won't have to worry about freezing the block late season and early spring. I also really like the room in the American skier because a lot of the time we have 4-6 people when we ski. Any opinions would be appreciated. Here's the links to the boats.

LINK

LINK 2

[Wish]

Will you just be doing recreational skiing? Will it be big lake skiing? Any thoughts to wakeboarding or bare footing on occasion? I've skied both boats but your circumstances may dictate which boat is better.

[Ckrueg]

I have yet to ski a course but I've really only been slalom skiing regularly this summer. I want to start next year, there's a few courses on the lakes I ski. Mostly small lake skiing with the biggest lake being about 11 miles long and 3 wide. I want it to have the best slalom wake but I will be going out with other peopl who may want to wakeboard. I don't barefoot but someday I would like to start. I usually free ski at 22- off at 30 mph on an HO tx to give a decent idea of skill level. I definitely am working to improve to 34 and shorter lines eventually.

[Wish]

Volonte has a notable bump at 15 and 22 and slower speeds under 34 will make that worse. However, tracks very well and would be easy-ish for someone to drive the course for you. Would also make a decent recreational wakeboard wake. Would be a good big water boat with high sidewalls and a deep bow section. With a boom, half way decent bare footing. MC has smaller wake by far especially at slower speeds. Tougher to drive in a course as tracking is less the good. Probably rougher in big lakes and open water. It's a barefoot boat so you're good there.

 

Tough call. Pluses and minuses to both. Maybe condition and maintenance records will tip the scale.

[Ckrueg]

Any input on the wake at shorter lines? I tried freeskiing at 28 off and I prefer that. I test drove the prostar and I really like the wake, it was almost nothing. It actually tracked very well but the steering wasnt great being that it is not hydraulic, and the throttle was hard to set at a given speed. I plan to look at the volante today or tomorrow so I can compare condition etc. The main issues with the prostar was reverse was a rough clunky shift, and it sounded like it was missing around 1500-2k rooms. Not sure if that's just a 2 stroke thing though, cause it yanked my 220lb self up no problem. Also do those prices seem fair? The prostar was pretty good shape but the vinyl was starting to get a little stiff and the pylon was peeling the chrome coating. Thanks for all the help!

[shansen345]

Go for the MasterCraft. Fantastic boats for a lot of reasons!

[BraceMaker]

Get an on board. Wait for it

[6balls]

OK so here's my experience. Have owned or skied(father owned) a barefoot Centurion (similar to the MC) since 1988. I still have a '91 Falcon Barefoot with a 225 EFI Vmax Yamaha on our public lake. We have a Nautique on our ski swamp.

 

In my younger years before any speed control existed (hand driving even in tournaments) I skied into 35 off at 36 mph on the outboard with accurate times and my Dad wasn't hacking any driver balls with the boat...and I'm a bear to counter at the 2 and 4 ball.

I bought that boat from him cuz it had tons of interior room given no motor box, and the wakes were tiny for my kids. I was a barefoot endurance tourney competitor too, so cool there.

 

Wakeboard/kneeboard...not so much. Not only not a huge wake but tough to hold that speed the boat either wants to plane or settle into the hole so it's work on the driver. With a lot of people in the boat it's better cuz it settles into a more inboard like plow at those speeds.

 

Traversing big water...outboard all day long. Can trim to minimize the nastiness and we take nothing over the bow like you can in an outboard.

 

Inboard has that big platform in the back...so nice for in/out of the water and putting on skis/wakeboards.

 

We have hydraulic on my outboard...we had it without. Others disagree but it's a must for me.

 

At this point in my life...inboard for me. I don't need the people space, I rarely barefoot, I run buoys, my kids kneeboard and wake board and want a ramp. I don't pull recreational slalom skiers who would benefit from the outboard's ability to throw small wakes at longer lines and slower speeds.

 

You have some choices to make it depends on your usage. Happy to discuss off-line if you like. The inboards are just hunkered down and more refined...but an older inboard at longer lines and slower speeds for slalom is gonna be tougher for recreational slalom, better for boarding, and not ride as well in big water.

 

Just me...but I'd look for a Supra Comp Ts6m, or a '91 to '94 MC Prostar given your price constraints...both inboards. You have said tho that you have 4-6 people when you ski...that's really tough to cram into an older inboard and is going to make the wake even worse.

 

 

 

[Wish]

I'll second a ts6m. Owned one. Great slalom 28off and shorter. And can be great for all the other disciplines as well.

[gregy]

When I first got back into skiing 7 or 8 years ago I pickup an older American skier. Pretty quickly realized I wanted more. I ended up getting a 99 malibu reponse lx with fuel injection. The Malibu is such a nicer boat. Don't be afraid to drive some to get a good boat. Think about what you want. To me fuel injection is a must, some kind of cruise control big plus.

[bananaron]

@6balls has some good ideas.I owned a 89 Supra Comp TS6M and that is a great boat.In fact my friend still has the boat and will be selling it next spring.Also the 91 to 94 MC Prostar is another great choice.Ck out all of the websites and you will find something that will meet your needs.

[Ckrueg]

Thanks for all the great advice. Luckily I have until spring to find the right boat

[RAWSki]

The American Skier looks super clean they were well built boats. I would give it a test ride and ski if you can, sounds like it might fit your needs well. You should have a lot of options in March-April too.

[Bdecker]

Here’s a decent looking comp. I think by 96 the wood floor and stringers might have been phased out? Loved my 89 Comp.

 

https://www.facebook.com/groups/747223918707241/permalink/1583462368416721/?sale_post_id=1583462368416721

[MISkier]

You can also see that Supra on the Skiers Pier website. It's in their inventory.

[Kellen417]

As mentioned, there is definitely give and take with either choice. I have a lot of experience with that mastercraft & it's a fantastic tow boat. Primarily if you are interested in ease of use considering the motor with regard to fuel consumption, winterization or if your primary use is open water slalom/barefoot with small all around wake. The take is no platform so you either get in the ski in the water or balance on the back deck while mounting up and then roll into the water. Won't fit a ton of people tho

 

That Inboard is a pretty large hull like my buddies old MC. I'd suppose a nice stout slalom pull compared to the outboard but a wake that's pretty gnarly until 28 and surely 32 & in would be nice & flat. You can fit more people in it and it has the platform.

 

In my opinion, either one is a HUGE step up from an I/O so win either way but if you are still new to slalom skiing and not running a course... I'd prob go with that MC outboard until you want to jump to the next level of commitment in your skiing& financially in a boat. That's what we did over the past 7/8 yrs...

 

Glastron Carlson with 140 OB

Mastercraft barefoot yami 200

2003 response PP

Newer response with ZO

 

Each boat cost more to buy and needs more attention to

maintain.... But skis that much better

 

I'm going to try to copy a Dropbox video link of us skiing behind my buddies '90

MC barefoot with a newer engine. Same boat you're looking at But 175 4 stroke merc

So You can see the small wake/pull - should be -32 off. Wake just a bit firm, but narrow and flat. More so as you get further in. Strong pull for an

Outboard but you can budge it a bit especially if the driver isn't on point.

Tracks pretty well too, considering.we ski this boat when on vacation in the Northwoods on a portable course. Keeps us from jonesin'!!! LOL

 

Hope it helps

 

 

https://www.dropbox.com/s/rbyt5w5zjvwx9io/Video%20Sep%2024%2C%206%2016%2047%20PM.mov?dl=0

[ALPJr]

The American Skier Volante is an excellent boat from that era - about 89 to 2002. Design, materials and manufacturing were all top notch. If it's in nice condition, checks out in a text drive and can be bought for the right price I'd give it serious consideration.

[Wish]

For what it's worth, here is the 1992 BBG review...

I'm missing my 1993 BBG and that model is not reviewed in 1994

.

 

 

[LoopSki]

Well it didn't rate so well in Hot dogging . Better take that into consideration !

[Chad_Scott]

It’s a great slalom boat

[BraceMaker]

Do you intend to pick up a boat over winter? If not till spring I can give you a pull behind two MC hulls.

[DW]

@Ckrueg : First, happy hunting. @Wish post reminded me that the 90's era of Waterski magazine boat reviews were very good and gave relevant, relatively unbiased and valuable information on comparing ski tugs. If possible, I suggest you try to check out comparisons particularly your options v. the top rated boats of that era. It helped me a lot in searching for my first ski tug but nothing is a substitute for a good test drive / test ski. Good luck.

[Ckrueg]

I have been looking at some of the reviews in the older Water ski magazines that i can fine online. Not sure if I said this before but during the test drive I actually skid behind the master craft and it was great, especially coming from a big I/O. I was barely able to put my ski on (double bindings) but it was ok, even with no soap. In my search i have skid behind an 86 ski supreme, and a Baja sk190. the MC was the best, and my dad said he felt it had the best tracking of all 3 surprisingly. I probably would have bought it but the shifting into reverse was very ratchety, and it looked like it had a had a history of fuel contamination from the receipts. @Bdecker do you know if that supra has EFI? I read that they went to fiberglass in 94, and the ones with a rounded windshield like that had fiberglass. I really love outboards so I am leaning toward the MC, and I also and found a clean looking 94 centurion barefoot with a merc 200 efi and power steering somewhat nearby as well. I would like to have a boat by spring but with the recent weather, most sellers have winterized and I wouldn't be able to test drive.

[foxriverat]

Supras started going all fiberglass in 92 ones with rounded windshield. And that 96 has the HO gt40 351 multiport fuel injection.

[foxriverat]

@Ckrueg this just popped up on SIA

[Fraser]

@Ckrueg you see this just posted by @ThePantsManCan

 

 

http://www.ski-it-again.com/php/skiitagain.php?endless=summer&topic=Search&category=Boat_3Event&postid=44651

[ThePantsManCan]

Yes I have winterized and I'm not sure where you are located, but I am happy to do a test drive!

[swc5150]

That Bu is a lot of boat for $7.5k, nice!

[MISkier]

@ThePantsManCan,

 

@Ckrueg is in SW lower Michigan.

[Stoner]

@Ckrueg I just sent you a pm.

[Ckrueg]

Yep I'm about 30 minutes north east of Grand Rapids. Thanks for all the links. Unfortunately the colder weather along with being super busy with work has kept me from looking very much recently.

[ThePantsManCan]

@Ckrueg I've got my eyeballs squarely on an old Supra Saltare out that way. Supposedly on Norman Lake. How for are you from there? Regardless, I've lowered my price and to $6,500.

[MISkier]

@Ckrueg, that sounds like an opportunity. Grab a drysuit and go check out that Echelon.

[dhofert]

@Ckrueg I'll go with ya if you want. Lol wetsuit should be enough.

 

P.S. I don't know anything really but would love to get a pull and give you an opinion.

[MISkier]

@dhofert, skiing behind that Echelon compared to your I/O will be an eye-opening and epiphany-inducing experience.

[foxriverat]

@Ckrueg Forget the cold weather forget the busy at work. If you dont jump on this boat your going to be kicking yourself in the A$$

[Jordan]

Check out this Barefoot 200 that Lucky Lowe is selling!

https://goo.gl/q8pSDs

 

[Ckrueg]

I can deal with the cold, considering I skied today with ice on my pond when I got up lol. It's just not easy to get more work off. I'm already taking time off for thanksgiving because we have family coming in. That boat does look really nice though. And so does that 96 supra in Detroit area.

[foxriverat]

The wake on the echelon much better for slalom. I had a 96 supra ts6m last year. 22 off hump is a killer. Also look all the way around the windshield where it meets the frame. The glass delaminates. I now have a 2000 malibu response.

[seveet]

Ckrueg. If your interested in the 91 prostar, I would sell you that and go get the echelon.

[MDB1056]

Supras do have a noticeable ridge on their wake I've noticed. Nice boats otherwise

[Jordan]

@Chad_Scott Why did you give me an off-topic flag? the original post said that he was interested in outboards.

[Chad_Scott]

@Jordan I have no idea. Didn’t mean to press anything on the post. Must of happened when I clicked on the link. My bad