by "functionoverfashion" (functionoverfashion)
Published 06/20/2017 at 22:26
by "functionoverfashion" (functionoverfashion)
Published 06/20/2017 at 22:26
Tags: boatlopnik
STARS: 7
I’ve been eyeing boats like this for about 15 years at this point. Finally, the right boat came for sale at the right time and this weekend we will pick up our new boat, a 2003 Nautique - specifically a Super Air Nautique, Team Edition whatever that means (it means, basically, loaded with the best options). It’s not perfect; it’s mechanically well-sorted; I love the colors; it’s a great layout for... everything. Our family will enjoy this boat for many years to come.
Put it this way: with the technological complexity, bulk, flashiness, and simply the cost of newer ski/wake boats, I have lost interest. There’s literally not a single new boat on the market that I really pine for. If I could go out and buy any boat for my family, it would be this actual boat. And it’s happening, this weekend. Cheers to that!
"Katsumoto" (katsumoto)
06/20/2017 at 22:29, STARS: 1
Bust out another thousand.
I dont really care about them. Theyre fun a few times a year, at least around me. Other than that, I hope you enjoy it and it lasts.
"JR1" (type35bugatti)
06/20/2017 at 22:31, STARS: 0
Is the framework over the front for a bimini top? Also that is a great color
"TheTurbochargedSquirrel" (thatsquirrel)
06/20/2017 at 22:41, STARS: 2
Boat mirrors: so you can both drive and watch your friends eat it when they wipe out.
"functionoverfashion" (functionoverfashion)
06/20/2017 at 22:46, STARS: 0
Tower for pulling wakeboarders, holding boards, speakers, and a Bimini...
And yes I love the color that’s half the deal right? It’s gotta look good.
"JR1" (type35bugatti)
06/20/2017 at 22:57, STARS: 0
Looks like a great little rear swimming deck too.
"Chariotoflove" (chariotoflove)
06/20/2017 at 23:00, STARS: 0
Does it come with the trailer, or do you have your own?
"awmaster10" (awmaster10)
06/20/2017 at 23:08, STARS: 0
Very pretty, im jealous. Whats the drive setup?
"The Snowman" (the-snowman)
06/21/2017 at 00:16, STARS: 3
Roll bar. You can’t race a topless vehicle without one...
"Lokiparts" (lokiparts)
06/21/2017 at 10:16, STARS: 0
Beautiful boat! I’ve always liked Nautiques... although that may be partially because my father has been an avid waterskier since he was a kid and my whole childhood he always talked about them and pined for one. All my life he has had boats, mostly old clunker boats when I was younger but he never gave up the dream. And while he never did get a Nautique, he did eventually end up buying a MasterCraft Prostar 190 when I was in high school, and then eventually upgraded to a Malibu Wakesetter 23 XTI. Now he’s had that boat for something like 10 years, and he just babies it. It is such a beautiful boat that easily belies it’s age.
Someday I may get a boat too, I enjoy boating, but I just haven’t felt the need to own one yet... It helps that my dad is always ready to go out, and two of my best friends also have boats. It also helps that I get to live vicariously though their experiences and see first hand just how much they constantly spend on them. It’s true what they say, “a boat is just a hole in the water that you pour money into.” Although there definitely seems to be a direct inverse relationship to how much the boat initially cost and how much you have to spend on it. Which is one of the reasons that even though I have been offered a fairly old ski boat for free, the thought of how much it would probably cost to keep it going is mildly terrifying.
"functionoverfashion" (functionoverfashion)
06/21/2017 at 12:00, STARS: 1
Yep, that’s a really nice thing on inboards. Water-level swim deck, and the prop is way under the boat.
"functionoverfashion" (functionoverfashion)
06/21/2017 at 12:01, STARS: 0
No joke, I’ve heard people call those roll bars.
"functionoverfashion" (functionoverfashion)
06/21/2017 at 12:11, STARS: 0
I’ve also always liked Nautiques, because I genuinely think they’re the best-made inboards out there. MasterCraft and Malibu are damn close if not the same, depending on the year.
Using other people’s boats is almost always better than having your own, haha. But we spend so much time at the lake, it makes sense to have our own.
Those old ProStars are great ski boats, I’ve been in and around several and they are fun to drive and put out a nice flat wake at ski speeds. That era of Nautique had a better wakeboard wake, in hindsight - which is why you see so many people using those 80's Nautiques for that. You can have a good one of those for $6k which is a smoking deal compared to a new one at around $100k.
"functionoverfashion" (functionoverfashion)
06/21/2017 at 12:13, STARS: 1
It does come with the trailer, thankfully. I have a trailer but it matches my old boat, and will go with it when I sell it.
Not having a trailer means any time you need it out of the water it’s a call to the marina. When I worked at a marina this was no big deal; not so much anymore. They’ve pulled my boat on the forklift as a favor now and then, but it’s not like I can do it on my lunch break anymore.
"functionoverfashion" (functionoverfashion)
06/21/2017 at 12:15, STARS: 1
Thanks, I love it. It’s a PCM Excalibur engine aka 5.7 GM block, EFI with marine modifications, set up for high-load and high RPM, rated @ 330hp.. Then it’s a v-drive mated to a 1.5:1 (+/-) gear reduction transmission.
"awmaster10" (awmaster10)
06/21/2017 at 13:06, STARS: 1
I havent been around inboard ski boats much but this seems like an excellent example. Nice layout, clean carpet and upholstery, solid tower setup, and probably the exact color combo id want
"Chariotoflove" (chariotoflove)
06/21/2017 at 13:46, STARS: 1
Excellent. That makes it even better.
"functionoverfashion" (functionoverfashion)
06/21/2017 at 14:57, STARS: 1
yeah, this is exactly why I’m buying it. It still kind of has classic lines like the 90's boats (it shares the hull with boats back to 1995) but it’s got some “modern” things, yet it’s easy to convert things like the gauges, which are digital, back to analog if they fail. Step forward 10 years and you’ve got screens and computers.
Even the electronic keypad that replaces the key switch and all the other stuff is only $350 to replace. Yeah that’s a lot, but they’re available. I remember a customer having a 5-7 year old SeaRay with a digital keypad that failed and the manufacturer already discontinued the part.
Colors are a total bonus, but it really pushed me over the edge to buy it now even though we weren’t really ready to do that. I don’t like to have flashy/shiny things and this boat isn’t overly flashy by any means; especially in comparison to the $100k+ wake boats we’re seeing now.
"Chuckybas" (Chuckybas)
06/22/2017 at 07:42, STARS: 1
You’re doing it right. Grew up waterskiing and working at the Nautique dealer. You can NOT improve on your choice, even with the modern ones. Kudos! Which part of the country?
"functionoverfashion" (functionoverfashion)
06/22/2017 at 10:01, STARS: 0
I’m in New Hampshire... thanks, yeah. I think if I had an unlimited budget, I’d go and find the nicest ‘05 Super Air in the country, not a new one.
"Chuckybas" (Chuckybas)
06/22/2017 at 10:54, STARS: 1
Cannot beat the V-Drive seating layout and I’m sure the wake is huge. Have the best summer!