Considering a Prostar - '93-'97 what to look for?

Hi all,

First post. I'm considering the purchase of a '93 to '97 Prostar 190 and I'm curious what advice current owners would give me with regard to the purchase.

How many hours are too many without a rebuild?

Are their any typical issues that I should be on the lookout for?

Thanks... I hope to be a fellow owner soon.

Jeff

[TMCNo1]

This is a very informative thread in the General Discussion Frequently Asked Questions, http://mastercraft.com/teamtalk/show...4&postcount=47

Thanks for the link. I am also interested in more specific information with regard to the '93 - '97 Prostar 190's in addition to the basic information about used boat purchases found in that thread. Although a good read, and a good reminder, I'd also like to know if there is anything common or specific to this model and production years to be aware of.

Jeff

[Chicago190]

93-94 and 95-97 are different hulls. Both ski very well. Many consider the 91-94 to have the best wake ever, but at short line lengths there are spray issues. 95-97 eliminated the spray issues and is still one of the best ski wakes ever.

Mastercraft introduced fuel injection in 1994. 94-97 will have either the GM 350 TBI (~285 HP depending on year) or the Corvette LT1 (300+ HP). I don't know the engines offered in 91-93. Standard 1:1 or Powerslot 1.5:1 transmissions were available all years.

91-94 hull has a little less freeboard (important if you weight the boat for wakeboarding) and rides marginally worse in rough water.

Chicago190

Thanks - I have actually read the great write-ups on this site found in the FAQ pages about the history of the hull design changes over time. Very interesting stuff there... I learned a lot about the basics behind the changes in the hull designs and the wake characteristics while reading them.

I guess I'm not making my question very clear, or maybe there are no significant issues with these model years that are common.

I moderate on two motorcycle forums for Triumph motorcycles. Specifically the Triumph Daytona 675, and there are a couple of issues that are specific to that bike that someone looking to purchase one should at least be aware of if they are looking to buy a specific model year. They aren't what I would consider to be major issues, but things to check for beyond just the basics of buying a used motorcycle.

If there are no special issues to be concerned with, then that is great and I will just focus on the things found in the first link.

I'm looking forward to becoming an owner in the near future.

Thanks for all of your help so far. I'm sure if I end up purchasing a MasterCraft, this forum will be a valuable resource for many years to come.

Jeff

[Chicago190]

In my opinion, the major changes in towboat boat construction/layout were fiberglass stringers (mid 80s for Mastercraft), fuel injection (94), and v-drive/wakeboard boats (late 90s).

If you specify what you intend to use the boat for members can get into specifics about which boat will best fit your needs.

Mostly it will be used for recreational slalom skiing, wakeboarding and some tubing with the kids. I will be using it in freshwater lakes in Indiana. Some at our lake house in Northern Indiana and some at Monroe Reservoir near our home in Bloomington. I will not be doing any kind of tournament stuff at all. I love the style and performance of the direct drive MasterCrafts of this time period.

[Chicago190]

I think both will suit your needs. 95+ up will ride a little better when the wind kicks up/lake is crowded and will take wakeboard ballast (if you use it) a little better. However, both are tournament ski boats and will ride and wakeboard as such.

My only caveat is the 190 is a purpose built boat. The interior gets crowded in a hurry with 4 people. I don't recall if the 91-94 has a transom tow hook, but if you want to pull from the center pylon 4 people is really the practical limit (3 people plus skier/board).

If you expect crowds, the 94+ Prostar 205 hull may be a better boat.

Great - Thanks... I'll also take a look at the 205, as we may occasionally want another family to join us for some fun on the water. Most times it will just be my wife and I and our two daughters...

[east tx skier]

I'll answer this question in one way. In 92 and 93, the 351 HO carbureted engine had a 4010 carburetor. Though there are a few success stories with this carb out there, in my opinion shared by many, it was a monumental piece of garbage, so much so that it was recalled by Correct Craft in this same era. If you get a 92 or 93 carb'd HO motor, make sure it has a Holley 4160 retrofit or plan to spend $500 to have a boat that will not constantly die at idle.