Best Tournament Skiing Boat

Utahboatnut

Senior Chief Petty Officer
Joined
Jan 15, 2009
Messages
785
Re: Best Tournament Skiing Boat

Well for skiing (given your title thats what you are into) there isn't one very best. Even the tour has used different brands over the years. A true SKI boat however is not a practical boat for anything else but they are amazing to ski behind. True ski boat would be closed bow, direct drive(no v drive) V8 with a short pylon in front of the doghouse, drivers seat, observers seat, maybe a bench across the back. I prefer the older mastercrafts as they produced almost NO wake. But any of the mfg all made/make good ski boats but one just for skiing is getting tougher to come by these days. It just comes down to what YOU like as most have similar powertrains in them. Looks, wake, options, etc make the difference because they are quite simple boats when it comes right down to it. Mastercraft, Nautique, Centurion, Tige, Ski Brendella, Malibu, Blue Water, and on and on. The merc inboards are decent as well as the ford stuff, or indamar makes a good setup. I am the same age as Andy, saw him ski a few times, he was /is even though now retired the best there ever was. He never skiied with a rear boot just an open toe plate and he always cut the bottom out of his front boot so he could feel the ski better...
 

skibrain

Senior Chief Petty Officer
Joined
Jun 17, 2004
Messages
766
Re: Best Tournament Skiing Boat

I frequently ski the slalom course with friends who have late-model direct drives as follows: '00 Malibu Response LX, '04 Malibu Response LXi, '04 Mastercraft 197. '05 Malibu Barefooter LXi.

34 mph / 22 - 28 off is where I ski. Sometimes free ski 32 off.

These are open bow boats. My favorite to SKI BEHIND is the Response LX. The wakes are slightly narrower and smaller wake than the LXi (which is a wider hull). The LXi (340 hp) and Barefooter (375 hp) are tuned for more horsepower and have louder exhaust than the base LX (320 hp). Bordering on annoying for folks that live on the lake. THERE IS NO REASON THEY COULDN'T BE MUCH QUIETER. (okay, off my soap box now.) A guy on the lake with a new Correct Craft last year was quieter.

For DRIVING in the course, the newer boats with Perfect Pass speed control win hands down.
 

rpg

Cadet
Joined
Aug 17, 2003
Messages
18
Re: Best Tournament Skiing Boat

what the other guys said. A true slalom boat is generally terrible in rough water as it's hull is designed to flatten the wake, not cut through it.

Our little ski club uses the following:

2004 Mastercraft ProStar 197
1983 Mastercraft ProStar (Stars and Stripes)
2008 Mastercraft ProStar 197 40th Anniversary
2002 MB Sports 190 Plus.

All, including the old M/C are phenomenal to ski behind. Most of us run the course between 15 and 32 off. If you're into short line you also want to be concerned about the spray coming off the hull sides. Only the older M/C has this issue in our group.

My personal favorite to drive is the '83 M/C. It's like driving an old souped up Mustang with the small block Ford under the hood. And the sound across the lake is incredible. That sound is my "alarm clock" to get up and out on the water.
 

kyle f

Chief Petty Officer
Joined
Sep 5, 2007
Messages
408
Re: Best Tournament Skiing Boat

The older Ski Nautiques are preferred by many... especially the 2001 hull design (I think it was from 81-87 they used it)

there is no "best", but if I had to pick one... I would og with a Direct Drive MB Sports.
 

ntidsl

Recruit
Joined
May 11, 2009
Messages
2
Re: Best Tournament Skiing Boat

this one...
 

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kenmyfam

Supreme Mariner
Joined
Aug 10, 2006
Messages
14,392
Re: Best Tournament Skiing Boat

Mastercraft and Ski Nautique.

Just my 2 cents though.
 

svahle

Recruit
Joined
Aug 2, 2008
Messages
3
Re: Best Tournament Skiing Boat

I have a 93 American Skier Legend Tournament Edition. Throws a very flat soft wake at 32 mph. But like others have said, I don't know that anyone can say what boat is the best. Generally a direct drive inboard is the way to go for skiing.
 

Booner76

Cadet
Joined
Jun 18, 2009
Messages
8
Re: Best Tournament Skiing Boat

Hi Folks

Well ....

The boys I ski with..(I'm 58 going on 27) ..we have a selection of boats in our "ski gang".
2007 Nautique 206 (with wake sacks ,etc)
2006 Nautique 206
2008 Nautique (V drive crossover)
2003 Nautique (V drive full wakeboard)
and......a 2003 Malibu Sportster

I ski (course at 22 off at 32) and free (34 to 36 at 32..sometimes a 39 1/2 off...for a real buzzzzz) ...my board.... Connelly F1X... Vision bindings.

My fav (the 206 are VERY nice) BUT......the Sporster ..especially at 32 and 39 1/2 off. The wake...(what wake???) is so soft. You can concentrate on trying to slow down after each load and release.

Just my 2 cents... (keep the curvey side down!)
Cheers
 
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