jerrychabot

So. Bummed out. Bought an 03 Sportster maybe a month ago or so now. Been great, huge progression in my skiing (first year). I'm in NH and got a wetsuit and have had the lake to myself, air temp about 55, water was 57 this weekend. I'm totally comfortable. And then... Work people came up from Virginia for a few days this week. I had to work so they asked if they could take "the boat" out for a little cruise (we'd been out several times). I assumed they meant MY WHALER. They took the Bu. The lake is down about 3 damn feet. You know where this ends. That was Wednesday. This weekend looked great so I over nighted a new prop. My trailer is 3 hours away. Changed it under water Friday. So fun... Took it out had an amazing session. Come back and noticed the damn bilge is running non stop... Sigh. Long story short, when they bumped the prop and then drove it back complaining of a bad vibration, they cracked the HDS box and I had about 10gph coming in. Ugh. I ended up wasting a high 60s and sunny day driving 6 hours round trip to get me trailer and I pulled it today. No damage other than water getting in (can see it draining out the prop shaft opening). I'm confident I can fix it this winter, not a big deal just.... Not skiing! All this to say I'm sitting at the lake staring at beautiful flat water, foliage, and sun and my season is unexpectedly over and I'm not ready! Ugh! Really sucks! My wife and 17 year old were super into it too, he was even getting out on a wake board in a wetsuit not staring at his phone! May feels like 6 months from now....

Thanks Ron I've seen some of your boats they look amazing. I think I'm picking up this Sportster tomorrow. Excited.

That's the one I'm buying, the yellow one? He listed it for less and disclosed the busted glass over on Craigslist.

I would never put this thing in Champlain that lake scares the crap out of me! I'm only on flat water or I wouldn't be skiing and I ski almost from the dock

Oh another update! The guy with the 03 Sportster LX and busted glass just said 11.5k cash if I come tomorrow. Quick, talk me out of the Sportster LX hull and carb engine!

Thanks for all the input, helps steady my nerves. So the 94 Echelon is gone but I found another even nicer, same boat. So it's glass, not diamond hull, no locker, l no PP, low hours. Then I'm forcing myself not to buy this cherry 89 Centurion for 6k. The low entry point on a restored boat in mint shape is so tempting and the tru trac hull gets good reviews. But I'm fighting the impulse. The 03 Malibu is a Sportster LX with PP and busted windshield for 12k. I didn't realize it was a smaller hull and carb engine and maybe not a good a wake and the silly bow area. But it's a good value and it's local and I could be on the water next weekend. I'm pulling the trigger on something this week.

12k would be the absolute max I can tie up in a third boat, and I'd only do that if it was an amazing value. Turns out the 03 has a busted half windshield not mentioned in the add and that looks impossible to buy and could be 2k? Turn it's a 14k boat with PP. I would ONLY use this boat for ski runs and I drop in 1/4mi from my dock and run up and back behind an island. It's a great spot. I'm leaning towards the Echelon cause it is all glass and newer and something I could build on. The 88MC would need money put into it. The 89 Centurion is a sharp looking turnkey boat and I wouldn't put a nickel into it (all been done) aside from maintenance and it's cheap, so I could likely flip it in a couple years if we got more into skiing or one of my son's decided he liked it, and then I could upgrade at a fairly neutral cost as I never see a ski boat that floats sell for under 6k. Just has wooden stringers and I'm counting on the judgment of the owner who did the restoration that they were solid, I guess. The Echelon I could maybe invest in and add PP and hang onto it long term, though.

Prices started falling here this weekend. Several boats in my list went down in price today. Wetsuit comes Friday so I think I'll put a jacket on my wife and give it a week, see how that goes. But it goes cold here quick. We usually close up end of October andb open first weekend in May, water is usually 56 or so.

I saw that newer MC and I don't know why I'd jump up in price to get it? It doesn't have PP as I recall so it's just newer. I'm thinking I get 4-5 years out of this boat and then I'm into the used market of some really nice boats that are big money now (and my last kid graduates college)

Also yah after looking at more LX online, that's never going to be more than a ski boat for us. None of these are, so I need to just put that to bed and assume there is no cost offset out there.

Great stuff! Looked closer and the LX and it's got a busted windshield panel which seems like an impossible to source repair. I added a ski controller to my sea doo mid summer and... Yah... Wow that was a huge difference. Set the launch set the speed and she just drives. She loves it until it's cold.... Which it is. Went out tonight water was 67 air was maybe 70 and that was actually a little cold! The Centurion is so mint. Cosmetics I guess though. But at 6500 leaves room to add a perfect pass? But then I'm investing in a 6500 boat. The Echelon does look nice and I found another one, fair bit nicer condition but 5 hours away. Still 9500. Still no speed control. But that feels like a keeper boat so add the PP?

Lurker 1st poster. Been on "one ski" for years just just this year got into proper slalom turns. At the point where I think I could get through the course. Never skied a course. I've been behind a sea doo wake with a pylon as my boat is a big old bow rider. Seadoo does a good job for my level, honestly, but it's getting a lot cooler here in NH and my driver aka my wife is grumbling. I'm getting a wetsuit and want to keep skiing! I could also join the club here on Winnipesaukee and ski their course next year. I do have the money, I just don't want to spend much on this right now as 2nd kid headed to college next year. I've done a lot of research on the older boats from the 80s and so understand the wood stringer and floor issues. I'm good with motors and I'm pretty fussy about my stuff and if it's ratty looking I'm bound to spend the money to fix it, which can increase my total investment. I've found a few boats: 1. 89 MC prostar with "original" interior, but it's not ripped up. All glass!. 6k (seems cheap!) 2. 89 Centurion tru trac ii. New floor, owner said stringers were good, new interior, shiny gelcoat, trailer fresh painted, garage kept. Nice boat, looks great. Tru Trac ii hull sounds great. 6.5k (market price but boat looks GREAT) 3. 94 Echelon in "original" condition but looks fine. Would clean up with work. Has HEATER and HW shower. 9k (decent price) 4. 03 Malibu Sportster LX with perfect pass. Boat looks NEW. A bow rider which could open the door to just selling my '02 Ebbtide in the spring if we find it is OK on the water. But will it be colder for my wife in the fall and spring than closed bow? 12k (feels wicked cheap but still 2x the Centurion) Leaning to the Echelon (heater, glass) or the Centurion (fiscal decision, wife likes the cost). Man the '03 though. But open bow feels cold. Appreciate any advice to get me off center here! Mech Eng so I do like to tinker on old stuff ... and I am a yankee so I am cheap, but value is value and at 49yo I want a boat I will be happy skiing behind (and my wife will want). Thanks!