Hoping for some boat buying help

[magene]

I'm looking for help choosing a new (actually used) boat. I've been looking at used boats since before Christmas and am narrowing in on a few. The choices seem to be between, a 99 Sport Nautique, a 99 Malibu Wakesetter, a 96 MC 205 Sammy Duvall edition and a 93 MC 205 with 500+ hours. We are looking for a general purpose family towboat. The usual situation: Mom and Dad ski, our 13 year old son and his buddies wake and knee board, our 8 year old daughter and her pals like tubing and raft tows (so does Mom). Eventually she will want to ski or board. We probably don't need a competition ski boat or a pro level wake board boat. However, we ski hard enough to want a smooth wake so some wake board boats may not be suitable. I'd appreciate any comments people have. Leads on good used boats in the $20K to $25K range near Northern California would also be great.

Thanks - Gene

[André]

The Wakesetter wouldn't give you the ski wake you're looking for.
The 205 Sammy Duvall will!Room,wake,EFI,with a tower it will be plenty of wake for the kids to wakeboard and it's a good looking boat.
Drive them and ski them if you can,but i would put my money on the Sammy...
Good luck!

[Professor]

Sounds as if the family will have fun on the water this year! You mentioned a specific boat in the MC 93 205 which is a good boat but I agree the S. Duvall sounds as if it is the best compromise. There is a thread on ‘what to look for when purchasing a used boat’ in “General Discussion” at http://www.tmcowners.com/teamtalk/showthread.php?t=1720
Also, you can check out one site that offers free boat valuations at: http://www.nadaguides.com/MarineHome.aspx?WSec=14&wPr=0&wPg=2004&FileId=2004&it=27052
Good luck on the purchase

[jmueller]

I would have to agree with Andre'.?? I have a '97 205 Sammy Duvall and I'm pretty happy with it. The ski wake is good and wake board wake isn't bad either. It's not monsterous, but plenty good for the average boarder.

[east tx skier]

For the best of both worlds, I'd agree that going with the 97 205 is your best choice. I have a 93 205, and while I prefer the slalom wake of the 93 to the 97 and would buy the 93 all over again, the 97, will throw a better wakeboard wake at slow speeds (I regularly ski behind both the hulls, but am not a wakeboarder). It's also a bigger boat with a bit more room than the 93. The 97 205 has a nice slalom wake though --- very enjoyable. NSXBill has done a great write-up on the Prostar 205, which is on the old board as well as www.mymastercraft.com.

I've not skied the other two boats you mentioned, but according the Nautique owners with whom I've spoken, the sport nautique was not all that great a slalom boat compared to the ski nautique or the Prostar 205. The wakesetter is not going to be a good crossover boat either because it is wakeboard specific (just a generalization).

There's a good thread in the works concerning what to look for when buying an inboard. Check it out! And good luck with your purchase.

One other thing to consider. Is the 93 fuel injected or a carb boat. If the latter, which carb. The 4010 carb was problematic. However, they may have retrofitted, as I did, a 4160 or other carb on there. This is $400 job, but well worth it.

[rem_pss308]

I can only give info on the 93 205 MC, Unlike east tx skier we only Wakeboard. I am a beginner level, but my son is a advance level. My son is just begining to outgrow the wake our 93 205 throws. ( with added Ballast) We add about 2000 lbs of ballast in fat sacs when no one else is in the boat.the wake size is just a little smaller than my friends 2002 X9. It wakeboards fine. At my level I only use about 500 lbs to have a wake that is plenty big enough.
I am sure that the new 205 sammy duval would also be fine for wakebaording.
All the inboards will be fine for tubing. ( Just hang on tight )

[rodltg2]

check out my mb sports, not a mastercraft but very comparable. great multipurpose boat. look under marketplace for listing.

[aprgriggs]

ok...not on your list but I have a X10 for sale. Check out my new ad http://forums.wakeboarder.com/viewtopic.php?p=551044#551044 or contact me at aprgriggs@yahoo.com or 214-663-6622.

Thanks,
April