Any boaters out there?

[redwings0921]

So I am considering buying a used 1999 Mastercraft X-Star with a new engine. Check out the auction- 1999 Mastercraft X Star Wakeboarding w/ New Motor | eBay. The guy lives about 1hr from me, and I found the boat on craigslist, so I was able to talk with him directly. He is asking 19.5k. I'll be taking it out on the water Wednesday.

When I go to look at this boat, what specifically should I look for? Is it priced right?

 

[roclafamilia]

Where do you plan to use it?

There's not many good wake boarding spots in NJ. Most bays are too shallow to produce a good wake, plus you'll be at risk of running aground and bending the drive shaft.

 

[BigWill]

Do you wake board currently? If not id just buy a cheaper io with a tower while you learn. By the time you get good wake to wakes where the in board realy maters the boat will be worth a lot less

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[galacon]

Do you wake board currently? If not id just buy a cheaper io with a tower while you learn. By the time you get good wake to wakes where the in board realy maters the boat will be worth a lot less

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Wisdom.

Learn first- but if you already know it pretty well, then a MC in that shape and in this market should prolly go out the door closer to 16,500. Fuckin boats are a drug on the market right now, and you can get nice shit screaming cheap.

Just ask for all the paper on the engine change, and make sure the shop that did it is certified and stands behind the work. Should be a warranty on the rebuild too.

Fwiw, I've been an amateur competition barefooter and jumper almost my entire life, and I've always skied Mc's or Nautiques

 

[Spades]

Not into watersports but I've owned a couple boats down here in Florida. I would suggest having at least the fuel system checked out. I've had nothing but issues because they didn't replace their fuel-water separators.

Then again I'm not one to talk, I sold my boat and joined a boat club. Boats might be cheap as shit right now but if you wanna be out constantly buy it new or join a club.

 

[JustFU]

Find a friend with a boat!

I love boats. I grew up with them, and bought my own first boat when I was 18 years old. last year, I got a new Boston Whaler, and if there is one thing that I can tell you, THEY ARE FUCKING MONEY PITS!

Every single time that bitch goes in the water, I'd say it probably costs me about $300, between the gas, oil, washing the bitch afterwards, the beer for the trip, food, etc.

If you end up paying 19,500 for that boat, you'll probably have to hold onto it for 4 or 5 years at least to get your moneys worth out of it if you decide to sell it. I agree with an earlier poster that said, somewhere in the ballpark of 16,000 is a little more realistic.

i also agree to ask for some sort of verification and warranty on the motor rebuild. Every retard with a boat for sale says that the motor has been either rebuilt or replaced, when it reality, most of the time, they havn't.

Boats can be a lot of fun, but it's extremely easy to get fucked HARD on a private party sale, so make sure you try to get as much documentation as you possibly can. Even then it might not hurt to let the auction run its course and throw out a real low ball offer of somewhere around 12K just to see what he says.

 

[bauss]

Price is high imo... unless that's some sort of Bentley in the bow rider class

 

[eliquid]

b.o.a.t = bust out another thousand.

I've owned a couple. Have the motor checked out by a pro for sure. Generally, its the most important thing to go wrong on a boat, the rest is just meh. make sure you get a good fucking trailer.

Unless your keeping it in a marina, have something sturdy that can pull that thing in and out of the boat ramp or else your gonna have a bunch of fucking rednecks heckle you while your going in and out.

The Mastercraft is a nice damn boat though, very solid. Id prob ask him why its got a new motor in it though. One of my boats is a 95 and still has the orig motor and it works fine.

 

[thesanchez]

So I am considering buying a used 1999 Mastercraft X-Star with a new engine. Check out the auction- 1999 Mastercraft X Star Wakeboarding w/ New Motor | eBay. The guy lives about 1hr from me, and I found the boat on craigslist, so I was able to talk with him directly. He is asking 19.5k. I'll be taking it out on the water Wednesday.

When I go to look at this boat, what specifically should I look for? Is it priced right?

As others have said, make sure you have it checked out thoroughly. Keep in mind that you can probably find a x-star half that age for just a bit more. As far as the boat goes, I have a X-45 and absolutely love it (second boat I've owned). Although if you don't have a lot of experience with V-drives, they can be pretty miserable to drive in tight spaces.

 

[b_sun]

Mastercraft is one of the top 3 wakeboat manufacturers, and the Xstar is their flagship wake boat. With that said, 1999 is ancient for a wake boat and you can get alot more for 20k. Like something much newer with alot better features and hull shape.

Check onlyinboards.com as well for boat listings, and check forums like wakeboarder.com for real advice.

 

[Jizzlobber]

The boat will never hit the reserve. Offer him something in the middle of the closing price and his asking price.

Spend some time with at boaters safety book and peruse the rules of the road. Also, 90% of the problems you will have with starting/running will be fuel related. Reformulated gasoline sucks - especially if left sitting for any length of time. Consult a marina in your area for appropriate fuel stabilizers/additives.

 

[Flash4Ever]

So I am considering buying a used 1999 Mastercraft X-Star with a new engine. Check out the auction- 1999 Mastercraft X Star Wakeboarding w/ New Motor | eBay. The guy lives about 1hr from me, and I found the boat on craigslist, so I was able to talk with him directly. He is asking 19.5k. I'll be taking it out on the water Wednesday.

When I go to look at this boat, what specifically should I look for? Is it priced right?

Check carefully the engine (most important part of a boat deal). Is it new or refurbished?
If the motor is really brand new it's a good deal.

 

[DocApocalypto]

Where do you plan to use it?

There's not many good wake boarding spots in NJ. Most bays are too shallow to produce a good wake, plus you'll be at risk of running aground and bending the drive shaft.

you'll shoot your eye out, kid

 

[DocApocalypto]

#1. I think that 19k is too much for this boat. I just bought a boat and offered about 5-6k below asking.

#2. Don't listen to anyone say that you shouldn't get a decent wakeboarding boat until you are more experienced, blah bah. that is nonsense. i took my 15 year old neighbor wakeboarding this weekend and he went from "whats wakeboarding?" to jumping the wake in 1 day. don't let anyone tell you that holding onto a rope and being dragged around is rocket science. they are clearly too impressed with themselves. "by the time you get good enough to care about the wake" will be probably 3 days.

#3. get a compression test done. in fact, have the guy take it to a mechanic of YOUR choice and get the whole thing checked out. it will cost you about $50 bucks.

#4. the listing doesn't mention if this motor is a 2 stroke or a 4. a 4 stroke is a great luxury to have because its MUCH quieter and you don't have to deal with the oil like you do with a 2 stroke. this is a great way to burn up your motor, forgetting, doing it wrong.

#5. everyone knows that boats are expensive. so are airplanes and submarines. i seriously doubt that a guy thinking about shelling out 19k for a toy has missed this point.

#6. being on a boat is scientifically proven to be 1000 times better than being on land. its worth it if you can afford it. i would say you need to budget about 2k a year for boat maintenance, esp if you are in salt water. you may not use your budget up every year, but you should have it on hand.