Versatility of ski boats

[g-lenn]

I'm looking to purchase my first boat. I have 20 years of experience boating but never had to own one myself, so I'm not unfamiliar but I don't have any experience with ski boats at all. I'll be using the boat mainly on a lake where it doesn't get too rough and half the time it will be used for wakeboarding while the other half will just be touring with friends. I'm wondering if there may be drawbacks to having a ski boat such as poor fuel economy, slower, maintenance, mooring ability. I will be mooring the boat for the season and I already know that having a rudder that cannot be retracted is somewhat of a disadvantage in shallower areas (which aren't really a big issue for where I will use the boat). Can anyone comment on the benefits or drawbacks of a 20' bow rider with an I/O VS a 20' ski boat? Do ski boat have any sort of trim? Do I need to worry more about exhaust ports or the stuffing box leaking water into the boat on a ski boat VS I/O?

I should mention that I'm pretty cheap and will be looking at boats <$8000 which means a considerable difference in age of a ski boat and bow rider that I could afford. Bow rider is probably ~13 years old VS a ski boat being more like 20+ years old.

Thanks for the input!

 

[Chris1956]

Re: Versatility of ski boats

I presume you are talking about an inboard tournyment-style ski boat such as Mastercraft. They are usually mid engine, large block motors geared down to pull skiiers at standard speeds. The motors take up much of the cockpit, and they usually cannot go very fast. An I/O bowrider of the same size will usually have more room, higher top speed, be easier to beach, get better mileage (due to gearing).

 

[oldjeep]

Re: Versatility of ski boats

I love skiing behind a comp skiboat. That being said, they are not a very good all around boat. Seating is not good if you are using the pylon and the boats sit very low which means a lot of water over the bow in choppy water.

 

[Taxus812]

Re: Versatility of ski boats

We have what I call the Malibu crew here (all ski boats) on our lake. they navigate quite well in the shallows and turn on a dime. They really don't cruise in them however. They all have trim fins on the back.

They go through props when they hit things since threre is no give

Here is my recommendation. its a bow rider, It has a fish and ski package and should be right about around your price range.

Mine is a 2002
Im on a small lake, 1/3 of my time is fishing, 1/3 cruising, 1/3 slated for sking (need skis ). I run with my wife and two kids.

 

[Home Cookin']

Re: Versatility of ski boats

consider outboards, too; superior for shallow water, less likely to sink if moored (no bellows) more romm in the interior.

I consider a ski boat a specialty boat like a bass boat--superior for one function but therefore not as friendly for general use.

 

[southkogs]

Re: Versatility of ski boats

There are several older Inboard competition boats that are kinda' cool if you can find 'em in good condition (I've always kinda' liked the old MasterCraft Stars and Stripes). BUT ... consider this:

Waterskiing - you want a boat that drops a nice flat table, that's easy to cross the wake at a higher speed. So, any boat (I/O, Outboard or Inboard) that has good pullin' power, comes outta' the hole fast and doesnt' drop a big wake is gonna' be good for you (that's what a competition ski boat does).

Wake boarding - you want a boat that has pullin' power, it doesn't really need to be all that fast but, it needs to cut a beast of a wake so you have something to hop over on that wake board. Diametrically opposed to a competition ski boat. There are dedicated wake boats, but they're rather new (they have ballast tanks) and I would think out of your budget (don't know for sure).

You can add fat sacs (water sacks to add ballast to the boat) to increase your wake on nearly any boat - though I have no clue how well they work (don't really wake board).

A good size I/O with some fat sacs may be fine for a semi-serious wake boarder, but a semi-serious skiier may hate it. If you see what I mean.

So, you may not really want a competition ski boat.

 

[rallyart]

Re: Versatility of ski boats

There are all kinds of great used ski/wakeboard boats in the $25k price range that are excellent all around boats. In the under $10k range it is almost all direct drive inboards originally designed for skiing. Many of those also make good wakeboard wakes with added ballast and are lots of fun to drive. They give good economy while cruising at 25-30 MPH but eat gas above 35. The seating is around engine so you are further from your buddies while you cruise. You drive them a bit differently. A trim tab can be added to the transom. (or two) they have a shallow draft but you can't raise any gear if you are unsure of the water. Water will not come in through the exhaust but will always enter through the packing on the driveshaft. An auto-bilge will handle that easily.
My direct drive inboard is moored on a buoy for a couple months every year. No issues with it and we get big storms that arrive in a hurry.
If you swim from the boat an inboard is great. The swim deck is right on the water and the low freeboard makes it great to jump in over the side. My kids feel sorry for those that have to swim from their I/Os.

It's more of a philosophical decision on which you want. There are many benefits to an inboard but you make some sacrifices as well. That's why you might be spending as much on a 20 year old boat as you would on a 13 year old boat. For me, I'm not going back to an I/O or outboard for where and how I boat.

Just remember to check the condition of the hull as it will be an old boat. Ask on a wake forum like Wakeworld about the specific boat you are thinking of getting. Some do not make a good wake for boarding.

 

[sickwilly]

Re: Versatility of ski boats

There are a few older direct drives with an open bow that would be a nice compromise. See if you can find locally a Supra Saltare

Something like this: 23' Supra Saltare

It would be harder to find around 10K, but look for an older Mastercraft Tri Star. If you can push up a little look for a Mastercraft 205 or Nautique Excel.

 

[oldjeep]

Re: Versatility of ski boats

If you can push up - then look for an older Maristar. All the benefits of the ski boat, plus a v-drive and decent seating.

We were making this decision recently when trying to decide how to upgrade our 3.0L bayliner. Initially I was thinking more powerful I/O, but the skier in me loves the wake of the 04 Malibu and 12 Mastercraft that I get to ski behind occasionally. The family guy in me hates the seating in those boats. A v-drive has the perfect seating, but the wakes behind most of them are awful unless you can get a 20ft or so which narrows the field considerably.

So - that left us with a use Malibu LSV 20, which is near impossible to find and when you do they are 60K or a Moomba Outback V (basic but decent)

We settled on a new or nearly new Outback V for next year. Everything is compromises and one of the compromises that we will be accepting is the danger of operating in shallow water and damaging a $500 prop instead of a $100 prop.

 

[moosehead]

Re: Versatility of ski boats

Others covered it well above. A comp ski boat excells at low slalom wake, and is otherwise designed for slalom/trick ski/ski jumping. Inboard ski boats can be a bit more passenger flexible if you can find an open bow for extra capacity and add a tower to stow watertoys.

Said differently, an I/O is extremely versatile for everything else. I/O's primary downside are that they generally put up a larger, harder wake that is unkind to slalom skiers. This kind of wake however, can be revered by wakeboarders, especially with added ballast.

Horses for courses. You seem to have a good idea of your needs and preferences.

 

[beason]

Re: Versatility of ski boats

EDIT: No solicitation allowed on the open forum.

 

[Campylobacter]

Re: Versatility of ski boats

A V-drive would be ideal, but likely out of your price range. I would worry more about the bellows than the stuffing box leaking, so the mooring an inboard is not anymore risky than and I/O. Between a direct drive and I/O its pretty much up to your personal preference.

If you ever think you may want to try wakesurfing, however, you have to get an inboard. Too dangerous behind an I/O.

 

[g-lenn]

Re: Versatility of ski boats

Well, I think you guys have convinced not to get a ski boat. Minimal wake is a bad thing for me as I rarely ski. I was actually trying to purchase a Four Winns horizon 190 with a wake tower earlier this week but the deal fell through. After that I got to thinking some about ski boats, but it sounds like a compromise that doesn't have a lot of benefits for me. Wakesurfing does sound pretty cool (never done it) but I think I can give that up since I don't know any better. Back to searching for the right 18-20' bow rider.

Thanks for all the insight!

FYI, I am located in Maryland.

A V-drive would be ideal, but likely out of your price range. I would worry more about the bellows than the stuffing box leaking, so the mooring an inboard is not anymore risky than and I/O. Between a direct drive and I/O its pretty much up to your personal preference.

If you ever think you may want to try wakesurfing, however, you have to get an inboard. Too dangerous behind an I/O.

 

[southkogs]

Re: Versatility of ski boats

...Back to searching for the right 18-20' bow rider.

Don't rule out things like dual consoles (generally Outboards) or even a Center Console. Those can be nice well built hulls that are designed for big water ... AND drop nice chunky wakes for that board.

Maybe try renting a couple of different boats and try it out.

 

[sickwilly]

Re: Versatility of ski boats

Much more fun to wakeboard behind a direct or vdrive too, as it is much easier to hold slower speeds, steady. You will enjoy being towed by your buddies more behind and old direct / vdrive than that 190. And, eventually, the old IO will be worth less than the old direct drive / vdrive. Don't rule one out.

 

[geneseo1911]

Re: Versatility of ski boats

I see a lot of serious wakeboarders using older comp. ski boats with a BUNCH of ballast. I read that the wake shape produced by those boats is superior to that produced by i/o's, but I'm not an expert.

I also would argue that an inboard is much simpler and lower maintenance than an i/o. It also seems like the older ski boats are, in general, better cared for than older sterndrives.

The i/o's advantages are versatility with the ability to trim up which gives better shallow water capability and allows you to adjust trim for cruising or running high speed. The biggest thing I see however is maneuverability. An i/o is very easy to handle around a dock since you have the ability to have directional reverse thrust, as well as stronger directional forward thrust at low speed. Freeboard was mentioned earlier. I have had an outboard with very low freeboard, and now a sterndrive with massive freeboard, and I much prefer the latter. It feels safer, especially at speed and in turns, and the wife and kids really appreciate that factor.

In the end, it seems to me like a toss up unless you're really concerned about either docking in tight areas or creating a perfect wakeboarding wake, which would favor one design over the other.

 

[rallyart]

Re: Versatility of ski boats

Good luck g-lenn. Coincidentally my brother in law is looking for an under 10k older ski boat to replace his 2005 Four Winns Horizon 190. He always had a nice wakeboard wake from his Horizon but he's decided he wants a boat for him to ski behind as his kids are older now.