1989 American Skier

***posted as "first time boat buyer"...but thought this title line might bring American Skier Techs to the forum

http://sacramento.craigslist.org/boa/1984926167.html (Please take a peak)



I would ABSOLUTELY love some advice for my first boat purchase...Im looking at an '89 American Skier 19' w/ and open bow 454 Motor.

The person is asking $5,000 OBO

This is what the ad entails (photos are small enough its hard to tell but nice looking:

"I have a 1989 American Skier boat. Its 19 feet long, and drives great. Seats redone two years ago but not perfect. Boat has some scratches here and there as you would expect from a 20 year old boat. It has a 454 that runs perfect with the Carb rebuilt this summer. The drive shaft has new packing as of a month ago. Radio that is Ipod ready, amp and two batteries. Has a universal ski tower and a bimini top made just last year.

We bought this boat so as our daughter was learning to wake board and wife was learning to drive a boat. They have both out grown it and its time to move up. This is a great reliable starter boat. "

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR TIME

Just

Re: 1989 American Skier

Welcome to iboats!

1. Does this type of boat suit your needs and the waters in which you'll be boating?

2. Do you know someone with a good knowledge of boats who can go with you to check out the boat's condition? At the very least, you need to determine the condition of any wood in the boat- sole, stringers, and transom in most boats of this size and vintage; not sure in this particular boat, and the condition of the engine (a compression test is a good indicator of general condition).

3. Will you be able to test the boat of the water?

4.How much boating experience do you have? That's a lot of power in a small package, and you will definitely need to get used to its capabilities, as well as YOR capabilities. I urge you to take at least a basic boating safety course.

Re: 1989 American Skier

NYbo- Thanks for the quick response!

1) Yes watersports ie: wakeboarding, skiing, wake surfing is what I will be using the boat for AND in the fresh water lake setting...with some time on Lake Tahoe

2) I plan on making some sort of deal with the private seller to either pay in full and be able to take it to a mech, or pay a smaller sum and put the condition of the boat on me

3) The idea is to pick the boat up sunday night and go straight to the lake and run it hard monday on New Melones, Ca

4) I do quite a bit of boating but never repair work on boats...Im somewhat more familiar w Ski Sanger's