tips for buying inboard ski boat?

[bill 22]

I am looking for my first inboard ski boat. I mostly slalom ski and have a portable slalom course. I do not wakeboard so don?t need a tower. I do need a high end boat and don?t want to pay for just a big name down the side, like Master Craft, Nautique or Malibu.

Open bow would be best for the extra room. Fuel injected would be real nice and speed control would be awesome. I don?t need Perfect Pass but heard some ski boats have a cruise like in a car. The local Moomba sales guy said most of the Outbacks in my price range are carbureted and the cruise control will only work with fuel inj. or throttle body. I know a boat with a carb is ok but when my slalom skiing gets better in 2 ? 3 years I?m going to want the speed control for consistency.

What brand or models do you recommend? I don?t want to look at boats older than 98. I don?t want to be replacing seats in a year or two. Also, don't want a wood floor. My price range is up to $12k. Anyone know of a model that I could easily add speed control to latter when I need it.

I found a 1999 Moomba Kanga in good shape for $8k, but its closed bow.

 

[oldjeep]

Re: tips for buying inboard ski boat?

Any modern ski boat should have a perfectpass or equivilant system. $12K is going to be pretty tight for a 98 and up inboard ski boat though. Moomba is bottom of the barrell as far as ski boats go. Not that they are not an OK boat, but not in the same league as Malibu/mastercraft/centurian/Nautique

Pricewise you are going to need to be closer to 17K to get you into the year range you want. As an example, MY FIL is selling a 2004 Malibu response LXI for 27K

 

[coastalrichard]

Re: tips for buying inboard ski boat?

Google "inboard ski boats"

 

[oldjeep]

Re: tips for buying inboard ski boat?

And as for tips - water test, big time. Take off like you are skiing and crank some hard turns like you are at the end of the course. Biggest items are making sure that the transmission is not slipping and that all the electronics are working properly. Check the shaft seal for leaking when in the water and remove the rear seat and pull the rear floor plate to make sure there is no water coming in from the back.

 

[bill 22]

Re: tips for buying inboard ski boat?

oldjeep, thank you.

I have searched on onlyinboards.com and it looks like there are some 1991-1995 in my price range. They are ALL closed bow. If a boat was kept indoors for winter the seats could be still in great shape.

The boat I'm selling was not covered good for winter and I just had to replace almost every bit of wood on it! Don't want to do that again.

 

[oldjeep]

Re: tips for buying inboard ski boat?

oldjeep, thank you.

I have searched on onlyinboards.com and it looks like there are some 1991-1995 in my price range. They are ALL closed bow. If a boat was kept indoors for winter then the seats could be still in great shape.

The boat I'm selling was not cover up good for winter and I just had to replace almost every bit of wood on it! Don't want to do that again.

For boats that old, I'd also make sure you get a compression check on it - or better yet have a mechanic evaluate the boat. Ski boats can be well cared for or whipped and the way they look doesn't always indicate the mechanical condition.

 

[RotaryRacer]

Re: tips for buying inboard ski boat?

If you are looking at Moomba...Don't overlook Supra. (Sister companies)

Back in the day Supra made a well respected tournament ski boat that was far less $$ than the Mastercraft or Nautique of the same era.

Supra made a dedicated slalom ski boat as well as bigger open bow boats...before the wakeboard craze took over.

 

[haulnazz15]

Re: tips for buying inboard ski boat?

The early 00 and up Maulibu Response is a highly touted boat, as is the SN 200. Perfect Pass can be used like cruise control and is available for FI or carbureted boat models.

 

[salty87]

Re: tips for buying inboard ski boat?

$12k for an inboard is going to put you closer to the early 90's. you're flirting with wood floors depending on the exact year. supra's switched to no wood 92-93. the tell tale sign is the windshield. the it's curved glass there's no wood in the floors. if it's angled sections, wood. they made an open bow version of the very popular Comp TS6M (which is closed bow)...the open bow model is called Mariah. Comp's were THE slalom boat back in the day and there are lots of them still around.

the early moomba's were very bare bones and closed bow. the newer moomba's are very nice.

 

[bill 22]

Re: tips for buying inboard ski boat?

Thanks to everyone this is all good info.

 

[bill 22]

Re: tips for buying inboard ski boat?

If you are looking at Moomba...Don't overlook Supra. (Sister companies)

I have heard they were sister companies and plan to check out any in my area. I don't see to many of them for sale on line.

I have all winter to search so, I going to keep looking.

 

[bill 22]

Re: tips for buying inboard ski boat?

Perfect Pass can be used like cruise control and is available for FI or carbureted boat models.

Do you know if PP can be added to a carbureted ski boat as an after market upgrade? Or even if it is possible is it way to expensive to add to a 1990's boat?

If I find a good boat for $12k it does not make since to add a $3000 speed control. I could just find a $15k boat that had PP factory installed. I have NO idea what it would cost to add PP. I just saying, I would forget about going down that road if it is that pricy.

 

[oldjeep]

Re: tips for buying inboard ski boat?

I have heard they were sister companies and plan to check out any in my area. I don't see to many of them for sale on line.

I have all winter to search so, I going to keep looking.

Around here you don't see many of the small ones, but a lot of 21ft with 454. There's one for sale on the lake right now for 7K

 

[oldjeep]

Re: tips for buying inboard ski boat?

Do you know if PP can be added to a carbureted ski boat as an after market upgrade? Or even if it is possible is it way to expensive to add to a 1990's boat?

If I find a good boat for $12k it does not make since to add a $3000 speed control. I could just find a $15k boat that had PP factory installed. I have NO idea what it would cost to add PP. I just saying, I would forget about going down that road if it is that pricy.

Yes, you can put them on car boats. You can get a perfect pass cruise system for around $700 + ??? for install
http://perfectpass.com/?q=systems

Best bet is to call up one of their dealers

 

[rallyart]

Re: tips for buying inboard ski boat?

Most PP systems can be sold used for most of what you bought them for. They usually add about $1000 to the price of a used boat. The Stargazer system is really easy to intall yourself. Most people find that they would never go back to not having a cruise control once they have used one.

 

[bill 22]

Re: tips for buying inboard ski boat?

The $700 weekend warrior cruise system looks like it would be perfect. I need to give them a call to get a list of what year & model boats it is compatible with.

 

[86 century]

Re: tips for buying inboard ski boat?

Anything made by skiers choice (supra or moomba)after 92 will be all composite. The comp. is a 19.5' that was maid for the slolom there is also a combrio that's the same hull with an open bow.

Our bravura is the 21.5' closed bow that we love. Most of them you will run acrossb will have the 351w I belive it is 240hp or there abouts

 

[86 century]

Re: tips for buying inboard ski boat?

We have perfect pass stargazer it is worth every penny.
However the Gps is not recommended at slalom speeds. With stargazer you have the option of running gps based or rpm witch is all the cheaper system is

 

[bill 22]

Re: tips for buying inboard ski boat?

I talked to a PP dealer and directly with Perfect Pass yesterday and they have kits for boats with carburetors back to ‘86 and anything in between. They said most boat owners should be able to install PP at home.

PP cruise works exactly like cruise in a car. It does not have the ability to program in an exact speed. With it you have to get the boat up to speed and push engage.

This is a good example of why it is good to get a second opinion. The local sales guy told me boat speed control only work with FI.

 

[bill 22]

Re: tips for buying inboard ski boat?

However the Gps is not recommended at slalom speeds.

I thought they only use GPS speed control for slalom tournaments. GPS would be more accurate that rpm based control correct?

Tournament slalom skiers need exact speeds.