Supra, Mastercraft, Nautique or?

[OVERKILL]

I'm looking at getting a 90's ski boat to tow the kids around on for next year (getting a little late in the season this year...) and the boat I have the most experience with was the Supra, as one of my best friends growing up had one with an SBC in it. Our neighbours had one with a 351W in it.... (they also had a Nautique) Both were very reliable save for the time the water pump went out on my buddy's when his sister was driving and she let the engine catch fire...

Anyway, everybody knows I'm an SBF guy, so I'm looking for something with a 351W. I've found a couple at this point that interest me but as noted, my experience has all been (positive) with the Supra, but I see all kinds of ski boats out there and so I'd love to hear some first-hand accounts of what has and hasn't worked for my fellow BITOG'ers.

I'm not interested in an I/O, I want an inboard, FWIW. And I believe most of the dedicated ski boats are inboards anyway.

Thanks in advance!

 

[OVERKILL]

BTW, here's a 1992 Nautique with a 351 in it for reference:

http://wwwb.autotrader.ca/a/Nautique/Ski...showcpo=ShowCPO

And a (less expensive) MasterCraft (also with a 351W):
http://wwwb.autotrader.ca/a/Mastercraft/...showcpo=ShowCPO

 

[terminaldegree]

I'd be inclined to know which models of which makers switched from wood to fiberglass stringers and when. I came close to buying a straight inboard '80s-'90s Century Resorter this year, but when I think of 20-30 year old wooden stringers, floors, and cored transoms in a ski boat that gets wet, I get really, really nervous... Those sort of rot repairs can be in the several thousand dollar range if you don't know how to do it yourself.

Having said that, there's no substitute for the smoothness, sound, acceleration, effortless planing, and handling in turns that a true ski boat can give you. Although a bit more complex and not so much a "purist" tow boat, I'd love to have a v-drive ski boat (without the gaudy wake tower and graphics, please) as my own personal day boat someday! I hope you find something really nice.

 

[Phishin]

OVERKILL,

Why not look at a classic? I've owned two Correct Craft Mustangs that always treated me well.

One had a 327 SBC and the other a 351W SBF. One boat was a 1965 and the other a 1970.

The boats handled really, really well. And they pulled effortlessly. And the best part is, everyone loved the boat. They were so beautiful.

And for $10k, you can have yourself one helluva nice vintage Mustang.

 

[DuckRyder]

I'm not sure where the availability of SBF marine parts stands.

I had a 1998 Ski Nautique Masters Editon, it was a good boat, had a 310 HP GT40. At that time there were 3 options in Nautigues the base motor at something like 250-260 hp, the 290 horse carb and the 310 horse FI. the 290 and 310 where the same engine below the intake.

Mastercraft had the LT1 and a couple of carbed options that mirrored the Ford/PCM options.

I thought the Mastercraft was more nicely put together but the dealer was not as good. If there had been a good dealer I probably would have bought a pro star instead of the Nautique.

My Nautique dealer serviced all makes and since the closest MC dealer was not well liked he worked on most of the Mastercrafts in the area and was constantly talking about not being able to get parts for fairly recent boats.

Also I believe all PCMS use a reduction gear (1/43:1 IIRC) and the Mastercraft it was an option called the powerslot (1.5:1). PCM's turn backwards from straight drive Indmars, not sure if a power slot turns the same as a PCM or not (don't remember).

LT1's also had an issue (the intake I think) that failed quite a few engines. Years back it was pretty easy to find ProStars with blown LT1's.

Supra's are not popular around here so I don't know anything about them, but between a Mastercraft and Correct Craft I'd just buy the nicer boat myself.

 

[hattaresguy]

I'm not a ski boat person, but I always thought Nautique was one of the better boats you could get.

Their Fish Nautique was a nice boat.

 

[ECUpirate]

Mastercraft Stars and Stripes is my personal favorite. Good performance, classic styling, nostalgic. I still see these boats being used a lot today. Something like THIS one, although I'd look for a different color scheme.

 

[SteveSRT8]

Originally Posted By: OVERKILL
I'm looking at getting a 90's ski boat to tow the kids around on for next year (getting a little late in the season this year...) and the boat I have the most experience with was the Supra, as one of my best friends growing up had one with an SBC in it. Our neighbours had one with a 351W in it.... (they also had a Nautique) Both were very reliable save for the time the water pump went out on my buddy's when his sister was driving and she let the engine catch fire...

Anyway, everybody knows I'm an SBF guy, so I'm looking for something with a 351W. I've found a couple at this point that interest me but as noted, my experience has all been (positive) with the Supra, but I see all kinds of ski boats out there and so I'd love to hear some first-hand accounts of what has and hasn't worked for my fellow BITOG'ers.

I'm not interested in an I/O, I want an inboard, FWIW. And I believe most of the dedicated ski boats are inboards anyway.

Thanks in advance!



Ski Nautique, we had one for 5 years. Probably the best ski boat we ever owned, my Family were ski nuts. I started skiing at 5, we always lived on a big lake so we could ski.

You won't be able to tell whose engine is running it, a big V8 means excess torque is always available. The well equipped boats have a bladder for ballast and tabs, so you can alter the wake.

We used to set ours up to squat and surf on the wake...

 

[OVERKILL]

Originally Posted By: SteveSRT8
Originally Posted By: OVERKILL
I'm looking at getting a 90's ski boat to tow the kids around on for next year (getting a little late in the season this year...) and the boat I have the most experience with was the Supra, as one of my best friends growing up had one with an SBC in it. Our neighbours had one with a 351W in it.... (they also had a Nautique) Both were very reliable save for the time the water pump went out on my buddy's when his sister was driving and she let the engine catch fire...

Anyway, everybody knows I'm an SBF guy, so I'm looking for something with a 351W. I've found a couple at this point that interest me but as noted, my experience has all been (positive) with the Supra, but I see all kinds of ski boats out there and so I'd love to hear some first-hand accounts of what has and hasn't worked for my fellow BITOG'ers.

I'm not interested in an I/O, I want an inboard, FWIW. And I believe most of the dedicated ski boats are inboards anyway.

Thanks in advance!



Ski Nautique, we had one for 5 years. Probably the best ski boat we ever owned, my Family were ski nuts. I started skiing at 5, we always lived on a big lake so we could ski.

You won't be able to tell whose engine is running it, a big V8 means excess torque is always available. The well equipped boats have a bladder for ballast and tabs, so you can alter the wake.

We used to set ours up to squat and surf on the wake...


Thanks Steve. Do you have any experience with the others? There's a 6K difference between the one Nautique I'm looking at and a seemingly similar powered MasterCraft (I think those are the two I linked in my 2nd post) and I know there is a difference in hours on the two, but that's a rather massive price rift.

 

[SteveSRT8]

IME they are extremely similar. Many times I was on our big lake in Tampa and there would be a mastercraft there skiing also. Side by side they were very similarly capable boats dedicated to skiing.

I'm sure either one would be a fine choice. Just ditch that 351 for a nice Chevy LT1!!!

 

[ledslinger]

The 90's weren't the best for quality control for MasterCraft. They started being good about 2005. The Nautiques of this era are better. The Pro Boss PCM 351 suffered ECM failures and they aren't available so a distributor conversion is required when it fails.

I have a 1984 Nautique I bought new, my brother a nice late 90's one he loves. Nautiques are generally better 4 event boats, slalom, trick, jump and pleasure than MCs, which were better man made ski lake boats.

 

[OVERKILL]

Originally Posted By: ledslinger
The 90's weren't the best for quality control for MasterCraft. They started being good about 2005. The Nautiques of this era are better. The Pro Boss PCM 351 suffered ECM failures and they aren't available so a distributor conversion is required when it fails.

I have a 1984 Nautique I bought new, my brother a nice late 90's one he loves. Nautiques are generally better 4 event boats, slalom, trick, jump and pleasure than MCs, which were better man made ski lake boats.


Thanks for the info

What about Supra?

I want to get the RIGHT boat here and selection isn't going to be fantastic. I'm leaning toward a Nautique at this point based on the feedback thus far....

 

[roadrunner1]

You can't go wrong with a Nautique.I remember about 30 years ago being scared to death in a Ski Nautique by my brother-in law.

He had just bought it and we were on a shake-down cruise, I was running the boat(at 48 mph) and he told me to turn around, obviously I wasn't turning sharp enough.
He reached over and turned the wheel hard over, wow.

I had seen it done in at Sea World, but never when I was in the boat, needless to say I was impressed.

If you plan on skiing/tubing this is your choice, in my opinion there isn't even a second choice here.

 

[OVERKILL]

Originally Posted By: roadrunner1
You can't go wrong with a Nautique.I remember about 30 years ago being scared to death in a Ski Nautique by my brother-in law.

He had just bought it and we were on a shake-down cruise, I was running the boat(at 48 mph) and he told me to turn around, obviously I wasn't turning sharp enough.
He reached over and turned the wheel hard over, wow.

I had seen it done in at Sea World, but never when I was in the boat, needless to say I was impressed.

If you plan on skiing/tubing this is your choice, in my opinion there isn't even a second choice here.


I know EXACTLY what you are talking about, my buddy demonstrated that same thing to me with their Supra, LOL!!! It was WILD!!

 

[DuckRyder]

Dump the throttle when you do it and it will just about spin on the turn fins...

If I'm remembering correctly (and it is entirely possible I am not) Supras have a bit more V in the hull and it improves the ride over a full fledged competition boat like the ProStar 190 or Ski Nautique 19.

As much as it pains me to say it being a Ford guy, I would probably look for one new enough to have Chevrolet power for parts availability. Correct Craft was the last to go to GM power as PCM arranged an exclusive deal for Ford marine engines that forced Indmar to go to GM first. The exception in Correct Crafts was the Barefoot Nautique which is BBC powered. The only other ski boats that would keep up with one of those was a Sanger with a 377 Super Scorpion or a MC Barefoot 200 (out board).

 

[OVERKILL]

Originally Posted By: DuckRyder
Dump the throttle when you do it and it will just about spin on the turn fins...

If I'm remembering correctly (and it is entirely possible I am not) Supras have a bit more V in the hull and it improves the ride over a full fledged competition boat like the ProStar 190 or Ski Nautique 19.


I dunno if it means anything, but my buddy's Supra said "World Champion competition tow boat" on it. His was SBC powered BTW, not SBF.

Quote:
As much as it pains me to say it being a Ford guy, I would probably look for one new enough to have Chevrolet power for parts availability. Correct Craft was the last to go to GM power as PCM arranged an exclusive deal for Ford marine engines that forced Indmar to go to GM first. The exception in Correct Crafts was the Barefoot Nautique which is BBC powered. The only other ski boats that would keep up with one of those was a Sanger with a 377 Super Scorpion or a MC Barefoot 200 (out board).


I've got an entire spare 302 here and getting Windsor parts (that aren't proprietary) wouldn't be difficult unless I'm out to lunch on that, LOL!

BTW, the one Supra I was looking at:

http://wwwa.autotrader.ca/a/Supra/Saltar...showcpo=ShowCPO

Has a 7.4L PCM, which I assume is a 454 GM mill? I'm betting it is a thirsty one!!!

 

[DuckRyder]

RE: The SBF parts. I would be more worried about ancillaries, manifolds and risers in particular. (maybe it isn't a problem but I would sure check it out)

I know you said you wanted an inboard, but you might consider a V-drive, it is basically an inboard that the engine is over the transmission and drive shaft. Examples from the 90s would be MariStar 210/230, Nautique Excell and at least some Air Nautiques.

They generally have a bit more v in the hull and ride better and are faster all things being equal. It is the best of both worlds if you aren't after the finest slalom wake to be had.

 

[OVERKILL]

Originally Posted By: DuckRyder
RE: The SBF parts. I would be more worried about ancillaries, manifolds and risers in particular. (maybe it isn't a problem but I would sure check it out)

I know you said you wanted an inboard, but you might consider a V-drive, it is basically an inboard that the engine is over the transmission and drive shaft. Examples from the 90s would be MariStar 210/230, Nautique Excell and at least some Air Nautiques.

They generally have a bit more v in the hull and ride better and are faster all things being equal. It is the best of both worlds if you aren't after the finest slalom wake to be had.


I grew up around inboards (my grandfather was an antique boat nut) and just generally prefer the layout. I also have no gripes with the ride of the Supra/Nautique on the lakes up here, so that's not much of an issue

I like the traditional style of the boats I linked and that's what I'm after. But thank you for your suggestion

 

[DuckRyder]

Understood, that is basically how I ended up with one too, couldn't even ski when I bought it...

For the full retro classic boat vibe find a Correct Craft Paragon...

 

[OVERKILL]

Originally Posted By: DuckRyder
Understood, that is basically how I ended up with one too, couldn't even ski when I bought it...

For the full retro classic boat vibe find a Correct Craft Paragon...

Ever pull a tube with a 1931 Chris-Craft Cadet? LMAO!!! How about one with a 425HP Ford in it?

THAT is an interesting experience. Not one I'd repeat though.