Buying a used tournament boat

[rocketman47]

Anyone know where to find out how much a used boat is worth(besides NADA). I am looking at an 85' Malubu skier. It's in really good shape for it's age. The owner is asking $7500. However, NADA puts it at about $3100 BTW. I'm in OR.

Thanks in advance! Randy

 

[skibrain]

Re: Buying a used tournament boat

Like buying an '85 car (you are talking about a 25 year old boat) Condition and maintenance records are going to mean more than book value. If the boat has been garaged and the floor (wood?) is dry and strong, there is no UV rot on the upholstery or gel coat, and it has been looked after mechanically, then it is what it is. Your decision should consider whether it is nice enough, a desirable enough model, etc. that you feel you could turn around and sell it a year from now for that price.

If you are looking for $3,000 boats I would use that as your filter. If you are looking at $7500 boats maybe that opens up other options that you had not considered.

Above all make sure you water test it. Drive it. Ski behind it if that is how you plan to use it.

 

[haulnazz15]

Re: Buying a used tournament boat

I would buy it, simply for the reason that you would have the only known 85' Malibu ski boat ever made. You would also have the longest tournament ski boat ever made!

 

[piper_chuck]

Re: Buying a used tournament boat

I'm also looking for an older ski boat. I don't know the specifics of the boat you're looking at, but I do know I've seen lots of boats of similar vintage for less and I've seen lots of newer boats for the same price. I've also seen many boats from companies that are viewed as having higher quality, Mastercraft and Correct Craft for example, for similar prices. Keep in mind, this is a buyers market.

One thing to research is how much of the boat was made of wood versus composite materials. Different companies phased out wood for critical components at different times. Wood in older boats can definitely be a source of problems.

Considering the asking price of the boat, look into having a marine survey done on it to confirm it's really worth the price.

 

[skibrain]

Re: Buying a used tournament boat

I don't have any specific experience with the 1985 Malibu Skier. Ask around for info over on this site: www.themalibucrew.com

Those guys are going to know about improvements or issues by model year and availability of parts and support, as well as wake characteristics of the hull for trick, slalom, wakeboarding, etc.

 

[sickwilly]

Re: Buying a used tournament boat

I had the first Malibu skier on lake Lanier in Georgia back in the day (there were two others at the ski club in Alatoona). Hell of a boat. It was either an 85 or 86. Wish I still had it. We ran Mastercrafts in college on the ski team. It was every bit the boat that the Mastercrafts were. It did still have wood in it, back then, to take a good hard look at it.

If its that aqua blue one on Middle Tennessee its a real good looking boat!

 

[Utahboatnut]

Re: Buying a used tournament boat

For that kind of $ to me it would have to be perfect, inside and out. Not to say that it isn't but I would want to really check it out very well. Seems like around here in Utah that boat would go for a bit more than the nada price you listed, if it was real nice. Look at the hours or have a compression test done on it, alot of the older ski boats have tons of hours on them, still nice rigs but you are buying something with alot of use (possibly). If however it is super nice, has very low hours, and is something you like you probably couldn't replace it for the same $ on something newer. Ski boats havent changed too much in the last bunch of years as far as hull design, engine options etc are concerned. Wakeboard boats on the other hand seem like they are changing every couple of years. Make sure if you do go on it that you water test it, the trailer is in excellent shape and the hull has no rot or soft wood, the title is clean, etc. Don't spend the money on something that just needs a few little things to be perfect, you want it to be that way already.

 

[767Captain]

Re: Buying a used tournament boat

$7500? Way too much for that 25 year old boat. We had an '85 Skier, and while it was a pretty good boat, it certainly wasn't a great boat. Lots of wood in the structure. We've also owned a Malibu Sportster, a Supra, a MasterCraft ProStar 205, and a Ski Nautique. Frankly, my favorite was the MasterCraft. For $7500 you can get an early 90's MasterCraft or similar Malibu. I would go in that direction.

 

[clemtiger57]

Re: Buying a used tournament boat

I just bought a 2000 Lowe 170 with 70 hp Johnson, Evenrude trolling motor, Hummingbird wide depth finder, honestly its loaded. And its in very good condition, barely looks used. I only gave $3000 cash for it. There are great deals out there. Don't just buy the first thing you look at. This one i bought was the 16th one i went to see. He wanted $5000.00 for it. I pulled out 3k, he took it. There are deals out there, keep looking !!!

 

[Liledgy]

Re: Buying a used tournament boat

While I would much rather have a 85 Malibu than any I/o or ob. It was no where near the boat of a 85 mastercraft. Malibu has made great strides and is one of the top brands now for tournament skiing. But their boats didn't start to get better till around 91 or 92 ( hull change ). In my opinion they had inferior engines( mercruise instead of PCM or indmar), poor fit and finish like crappy vent covers a piece of vinyl strap to lift motor cover instead of a handle. No hose on the oil pan to change oil. And the 10-12 I drove in those years were not consistant, especially the steering. Many did not turn in one direction you had to almost drop boat off plane and then assist it to turn. Then the next boat turns fine. These may seem like minor things to some people but driving MC. Nautiques and American skiers these symptoms were very annoying to me. Malibu has came a looooooooong long way since the mid 80's and would look at them along with mc if I wanted the best 3 event boat out there. But If I was looking at boats from the 80's their is only one choice and that would be mc. They just flat out were the leader in innovation quality and the best wake. In mid 83 they eliminated wood from stringers, 85 from the floor and seats. I only no of 1 boat post 1980 that had a stringer problem so their fiber encapsulation was pretty damn good back then too. Iwould think 3000 to 4000 for a Malibu of that age in good shape. Good luck

 

[rocketman47]

Re: Buying a used tournament boat

Thanks for the replies, everone! I just purchased a 1987 Ski Sanger Barefoot boat! Guess I should have been more specific in my original post. I was looking for something along the lines of a tournament boat, but I also wanted a stearn drive. In my opinion, I.O. boats make better family boats, considering that the engine is not in the middle of the hull. We are more interested in skiing than wakeboarding anyway. Also, I didn't want something with a tower because of storage issues. This Sanger is a really good shape for an older boat. All the maintenance records are in order. The only thing that is missing, is the owner's manual. I shot off an email to Sanger, to see if they might be able to provide one.

Here's a couple of pics!

Randy

 

[superpop]

Re: Buying a used tournament boat

Nice looking boat, looks like it was very well cared for.

 

[sickwilly]

Re: Buying a used tournament boat

Sweet looking boat

 

[rocketman47]

Re: Buying a used tournament boat

Thanks! Not that the boat needs it right away, but does anyone have any suggestions for the best pollish to use on gelcoat?

Randy

 

[JimMH]

Re: Buying a used tournament boat

Mothers makes a whole line of marine waxes and protectants.

 

[rocketman47]

Re: Buying a used tournament boat

Yep! Thats what I used. Looks like new boat now!

Randy