The Question No One Can Answer...

[mercutio520]

Hi iBoats Community -

We operate a summer camp up in New Hampshire for 8-10 weeks each summer and water skiing / wake boarding / tubing is the campers' most popular activity. We strive to give each camper 20 minutes of personalized instruction each day so the boats go straight from 6:00 AM -7:30 PM.

Since the 80s we've tried all sorts of different ski boats (nautiques / moombas / malibus) but they all end up costing a ton and requiring constant maintenance. The leather gets ripped, the engines have issues, and they get very unreliable. Our staff are also not the ideal people to be doing boat maintenance and having a bunch of campers pile in and out all day probably doesn't help. Either way, these boats are constant headache.

As a result, a few years ago we switched over to whalers. They're not ski boats but there is no interior to trash and if something goes wrong with the engine we can always pop another on. It's been great but certainly not ideal.

Which brings me to the question we've been unsuccessfully tying to answer for the last 50+ years. Is there a ski boat out there that...

• Suits children
• Is extremely reliable
• Can take a serious beating
• Costs between $35,000 - $50,000

Because if there is we'd love to learn about it!

Thanks!

 

[robert graham]

Considered any type of pontoon boat?....not totally ideal for skiing but can be very durable and functional for a great variety of activities....

 

[alldodge]

Hi iBoats Community -

We operate a summer camp up in New Hampshire for 8-10 weeks each summer and water skiing / wake boarding / tubing is the campers' most popular activity. We strive to give each camper 20 minutes of personalized instruction each day so the boats go straight from 6:00 AM -7:30 PM.

Since the 80s we've tried all sorts of different ski boats (nautiques / moombas / malibus) but they all end up costing a ton and requiring constant maintenance. The leather gets ripped, the engines have issues, and they get very unreliable. Our staff are also not the ideal people to be doing boat maintenance and having a bunch of campers pile in and out all day probably doesn't help. Either way, these boats are constant headache.

As a result, a few years ago we switched over to whalers. They're not ski boats but there is no interior to trash and if something goes wrong with the engine we can always pop another on. It's been great but certainly not ideal.

Which brings me to the question we've been unsuccessfully tying to answer for the last 50+ years. Is there a ski boat out there that...

• Suits children
• Is extremely reliable
• Can take a serious beating
• Costs between $35,000 - $50,000

Because if there is we'd love to learn about it!

Thanks!

:welcome: to iboats

Looks like you answered your question. Boats take a lot of maintenance, and rentals (so to speak) are a real problem. Your staff is not equipped to do the maintenance so leaning toward outboards is the way to go. You do want outboards because if someone messes up (and they are many ways to mess up) the engine is swapped.

Many of the marinas use out boards for the same reason. They put them on house boats and all it takes is for someone to put it in reverse and gun it for a short time for air to get into the engine and blow the head.

No matter how much instruction you give someone, if the person your instructing does not care or does not fully understand (most cases) they are going to damage something.

So whalers of boats of similar types are probably the way to go. No matter if you stay with them or not don't go high HP on the engines, that will bring up more issues

 

[ondarvr]

Whalers tend to cost a great deal for what you get, there are other lower cost options that would perform in the same way and would be more like a ski boat, just stick with an outboard.

 

[KD4UPL]

I would stick with any boat that uses an outboard. Many companies (Larson, SeaRay, Bryant, etc.) are now making 20'ish bowriders with outboard power.
Also, I would hire a mechanic to work nights and take care of all scheduled maintenance. I don't care what you buy, if you don't maintain it you won't get very good service.

 

[southkogs]

Welcome aboard:

Y'know a 17' Whaler or Carolina Skiff doesn't sound like a bad boat at all for what y'all need. There are a few other boats in that same "genre," but the Whalers have a pretty decent hull for skiing behind. The interior is very low maintenance and pretty stout. That sounds like you made a good move.

PERHAPS, you might find a aluminum hull boat that will do as good a job and not cost as much ... but Whaler has always been a pretty quality boat.

Boats are going to require maintenance. You just can't escape it. Maybe re-think your budgeting and as opposed to dedicating quite as much to replacing boats, shift some to a maintenance contract or part-time position to give the boats a little TLC that your staff can't do?

 

[mercutio520]

Thanks for all the feedback! Based on your recommendations, we're zeroing in on the Whaler 170 Sport with the skiing tower. Are there any other boats in that class that we should also be considering? I was told today that Whalers had a premium assigned to them due to brand value but I'm not sure if that's correct.

Again, you guys are the best.

 

[ondarvr]

Whalers tend to have a big premium added for the name, there are many other boats that would meet your needs at a much lower cost.

 

[alldodge]

Agree Whalers are a premium boat, but also the bring the premium on resale. Even as a rental kind of boat they are a solid boat for anyone looking for a used one. Google center console boats and there will be others of similar packages

 

[ondarvr]

I wouldn't look for a center console, they don't make great tow boats, look for something more traditional.

 

[ondarvr]

You can probably get a boat like this for a very good price right now, they're made in Canada and the Canadian dollar is low.

http://campionboats.com/boats/505ob/

 

[southkogs]

... Based on your recommendations, we're zeroing in on the Whaler 170 Sport with the skiing tower. Are there any other boats in that class that we should also be considering?

I'm sorry - I thought I read that you had already switched over to Whalers. So I was functioning on the "already have 'em" idea. If you're looking, I think the Whaler is a good option, but Carolina Skiff may work too. A utility type of boat - center console or dual console - with a austere interior and a fairly flat hull is what you're looking for.

But a 17' Whaler would fit that mold for me.

I was told today that Whalers had a premium assigned to them due to brand value but I'm not sure if that's correct.

They are. And Whaler is proud of being Whaler. And they like to be paid like you're proud of owning a Whaler ... 'cuz it makes you "cooler." BUT ... you don't get that kind of brand equity by building a piece of junk. Whalers are well built and taken care of they are exceptionally durable.

I wouldn't look for a center console, they don't make great tow boats, look for something more traditional.

I normally would agree with you: however in a very utility environment like a summer camp the Whaler hull is durable and lays down a pretty decent skiing table. If these kids were learning intermediate skiing, I would lean away from this idea too - but as best I can figure each kid is getting to ski about 2.5 hours per week: novice at best, right?

Whaler - or something like it - would be easier to take care of long term (IMHO).

 

[ondarvr]

I won't talk brand preference because it can get me in trouble due to my job, but design I can discuss.

A CC in that size range has almost zero usable room for a few kids and very little seating. A 17' bow rider will have enough room for a couple kids seated comfortably and some other gear. At one time I did a similar thing, teaching kids to ski at camp, small bow riders worked great. I own a 19" CC it's not a good platform for skiing, can you ski behind it...yes...doe's it work as well as my old bow rider, definitely not.

 

[agallant80]

Any newer ski boat with an outboard would be a great choice. With that said are you drying the boats and covering when not in use? As for a prefence I would take a look at the Bayliner Element. its meant to be a low cost, low maintance easy to operate family boat and they are about 16K new.

 

[oldjeep]

For the OP. If you have been running a camp using real tow boats, how upset do you think your repeat clientele is going to be when you swap them to a fishing boat?

The only real solution is to get your staff and campers to treat the boats properly. My Malibu was a camp boat from a local group and it was basically spotless after 2 years of kids climbing all over it. They had the kids treat it with care and wipe it down after every trip out.

Ski schools put thousands of hours on their towboats doing nothing but changing the oil and other basic maint. I'm wondering what kind of engine issues you are having with modern fuel injected tow boat motors?

 

[oldjeep]

Any newer ski boat with an outboard would be a great choice. With that said are you drying the boats and covering when not in use? As for a prefence I would take a look at the Bayliner Element. its meant to be a low cost, low maintance easy to operate family boat and they are about 16K new.

You are confusing ski boats and cheap runabouts.

 

[Slip Away]

For the OP. If you have been running a camp using real tow boats, how upset do you think your repeat clientele is going to be when you swap them to a fishing boat?

. I'm wondering what kind of engine issues you are having with modern fuel injected tow boat motors?

He is not running a camp with tow boats. He is running the camp using Boston Whaler's. Last I checked, 16-18 ft. Whalers do not have inboard (tow boat) motors, they use outboards.

IMO, you might want to look into something like a Crestliner 1850 SuperHawk or Fish n' Ski for your camp. They are light, durable, versatile and can be bought for around $30K with 115H.P. Outboard.

 

[robopath]

How about a Grady-White 192? Cheaper than a whaler, not much fabric to rip, and falls into your pricing criteria (barely)...

http://www.gradywhite.com/192/

http://www.boattest.com/boats/boat_video.aspx?ID=3165

 

[oldjeep]

He is not running a camp with tow boats. He is running the camp using Boston Whaler's. Last I checked, 16-18 ft. Whalers do not have inboard (tow boat) motors, they use outboards.

IMO, you might want to look into something like a Crestliner 1850 SuperHawk or Fish n' Ski for your camp. They are light, durable, versatile and can be bought for around $30K with 115H.P. Outboard.

Ah, had a hard time following since he mentioned a string of actual tow boats
"Since the 80s we've tried all sorts of different ski boats (nautiques / moombas / malibus"