Re: Best choice?
Hmmmmmm, fer the advice yer lookin' for some more info would be helpfull.
#1 How big, (body weight), are the primary skiiers that will be usin' the ol' ski boat?
#2 Slalom I would assume?
#3 Fresh or salt water or both? If both % of salt water skiin'?
#4 Other planned uses of said boat?
#5 Rank priority of said uses.
#6 Budget?
Now based on what I do know or can guess: I weigh 210 LBS n' have skiied agressively fer 40 years + or - primarily on fresh water. I learned ta ski on me Mom's 14 foot Pacific Mariner behind a Merc 500. That lack of power taught me to drag a foot, and I prefer a ski without the rear boot, (I prolly weighed 180 lbs back in those days).
I have skiied A LOT behind a small block Chev V8 IO in a 19' boat that ran out North of 55 MPH @ WOT, n' had lots of snot outa the hole. I also skiied behind a Mastercraft a significant amount of time, that also had a lot of hair when ya put the ol' hammer down. The slightly smaller narower VERY hard wake of the Master craft was slightly preferable, and the ski boat handled in the lake much better, (turned sharper et al), then the IO, but would not have been good at all in rough water out in the Sound or a real big Lake, (like Chelan), with very large waves that happen from time to time. BTW there are much bigger Lakes with waves nearly as big as the open ocean.
I totally 100% favor outboards on fairly small light boats fer the power, wake, and handling, and versatility for a SKI boat. But I own property on a very nice 900 to 1000 acre clean fresh water lake that does not get very rough. I only ski on a mirror, ('cause I'm old n' cranky), n' I hate more then an inch of two of wake from the tow boat. I want LOTS of power outa the hole cause I'm real lazy n' want to get up in a nano second or maybe two, n' start carvin' up the ol' mirror.
Ya can find an ol' Sidewinder/Jollyroger/Fiberform et al, (my favorite would be a Fiberform as my son has), with an ol' screamin' smokin' inline6 Merc, or if yer in salt the ol' V-4 Johnnyrudes. Fer more money n' speed ya can step up to the V-6s in either the Mercs or the Johnnyrudes or could go to a Yammadinger if ya have lots of large $ to throw at this deal. Ya need power trim, n' a tachometer, n' a tripod, (IMHO), n' that can be had fer a mere $1000 to $2000 here in God's Country. Don't know as much about the quirks of the ol' Johnnyrudes or the dingers or other OBs as to which years ta look fer n' all, but I know the advice exists here on iboats which is where I would go to educate meself prior to putin' yer dollars out.
Bottom line, fer the down payment on most newer multi purpose boats ya wanna ponder ya can own the VERY BEST ski boat ya'll ever ski behind. My old girls, (Black Boat Anchors), will run away from any normal Mastercraft type ski boat(s) outa the hole (where it is important) to top speed n' handle rough water far better, n' handle nearly as well too, same fer the real powerfull I/Os, (except they will take rough water better n' may out run me once they get the ol' things wound up down the pond a bit). The wake is the REAL BIG deal if ya ever get used to an OB like I'm talkin' 'bout. N' even a REAL BIG ol' boy 300 LBS or so will pop outa the hole, (if he can hang onto the pull), and can't pull ya, (drivin' the boat), around very much if yer rollin' about 33-35 MPH, which is my sweet spot. Minimum HP fer an ol' underated inline6 Merc: 90 (at the crank), n' the Johnnyrude V-4 88 at the PROP. My overpriced $.02. JR
