I'm thinking of upgrading the old boat. Other that my pontoon boat, I have a 1990 MC Prostar 190. Simple 351 Ford power with an Indmar marine conversion and a Velvet drive transmission. Runs like a champ, and does what it needs to do so very well, which is pull me around on a ski.

However, kids now want just the opposite. A huge wake, and a boat where the whole crew can go out instead of just a driver+spotter. Perhaps I'm just getting too old, but I hate the idea of having catalytic converters on my boat. Does anybody know about when they started showing up on sport boats? I'm looking at a 2004 MasterCraft X30 with a 350. It doesn't have CATS, and I can probably get it for 25-27K. It should do the job nicely. I've also seen some decent early 2000 X-Stars that would fit the bill.

Are CATS G-T-G, or should I go older and simpler? BTW, I'm a MasterCraft man (or perhaps a Correct Craft or Malibu). That is the type of boat I want. No digital crap, just analog dials and a big hole shot. What are your experiences with the newer sport boats?

No real help, just seems like ton of money for a boat of that type and vintage. I am more into fishing than that sort of thing so I am probably just not up to speed on those jobbies

Your boat sounds nice. I would tell t he kids they have two choices. Use the current boat and be happy or they can all get summer jobs that will leave almost no time for fun at the lake but you will leave the porch light on so when they get home from work they can see what they are paying for in the drive way.

How much is your boat worth just out of curiousity.

Are you asking about Caterpillar diesel engines??? ie CATS?

“Perhaps I'm just getting too old, but I hate the idea of having catalytic converters on my boat.”


Bet he’s talking about catalytic converters, Jimmy

Edited for clarity

This message has been edited. Last edited by: arfmel,

quote:

I have a 1990 MC Prostar 190. Simple 351 Ford power with an Indmar marine conversion and a Velvet drive transmission. Runs like a champ, and does what it needs to do so very well, which is pull me around on a ski.

===================================

If it works don't fix it.

If you do "fix it" - I say hell no to the catalytic converter.

https://www.utahboatrental.com/timeshare/

Lists several Mastercraft rentals / timeshare options.

Regarding catcons, we do a lot of engine testing at my lab. With fuel injected engines, we have no issues with catcons. I think the item could be replaced quite easily, and some people have special diagnostic exhaust pipes that allow you to judge if the catcon is plugged; these fit in place of the catcon directly.

I’ve not had any issues on my Malibu VLX with them.

The x30 is a nice boat. A buddy used to have one a while ago. Depending on what you want to do (surf/board) you will probably have to add weight on top of the factory ballast. If you surf, definitely look into a Wake shaping device. They range from homemade and cheap to expensive and permanently installed on the boat. I made mine for about $30 and it works great


I’d personally by the nicest biggest boat you could afford. I’ve never had too much room in my boat. Stay away from the early xstars/205V’s. They are great boats (I had one for 10 years)but they are really small on the inside and you’ll always be on top of each other. I also hated that the drivers seat didn’t swivel

quote:

Originally posted by old rugged cross:
No real help, just seems like ton of money for a boat of that type and vintage. I am more into fishing than that sort of thing so I am probably just not up to speed on those jobbies

Your boat sounds nice. I would tell t he kids they have two choices. Use the current boat and be happy or they can all get summer jobs that will leave almost no time for fun at the lake but you will leave the porch light on so when they get home from work they can see what they are paying for in the drive way.

How much is your boat worth just out of curiousity.

Prostar 190 of my vintage goes for $6-8,000, depending on condition. Mine has a powerslot transmission 1.51:1, four props, and a Monster tower and bimini, which adds to the values. Mastercraft holds value well.

quote:

Originally posted by arfmel:
Bet he’s talking about catalytic converters, Jimmy

I'm in the marine industry and own a yacht management business, but many yacht owners also own small boats. Aside from the wakeboard/ski boat market, gas inboards are dead and every manufacturer has swapped to outboards, so I haven't come across any gas inboards with catalytic converters (new to me), but from all of my experiences of dealing with gas inboards I despise them. BUT the EPA mandated changes are here to stay, so while cats are new they won't be going away unfortunately.

One of my yacht customers owns 2 new boat dealerships that are Bentley, chaparel dealers and another manufacturer, and both locations are 5 star Mercury platinum dealers. I'll ask him his opinion of them.

His comments on the CATS "They've been doing it for years in the inboard ski boat market and mercury and volvo penta switched quite a while ago with no issues yet. Depending on your manufacturer in the EPA requirements, they may not have to have them so you can save some money. You can tell that it does burn the fuel off cleaner because you don't get the exhaust smell."

In the marine industry when anyone ever mentions Cats, they're referring to caterpillar diesels. LOL

Also look at Moomba/Supra (Made by Skiers Choice). They are a little bit cheaper than MC or Malibu (Moomba more so than Supra), but are still quality boats. I bought a 98 Moomba Mobius last fall. It was a fixer upper, but I got a really good deal on it at $3k. I'll put about $1,500 in it this year, all parts. I do all my own labor.

As far as prices go, they have skyrocketed the last 8 - 10 years. New Mastercraft's are into the $100,000 range. It's nuts.

Surfing is definitely the big thing now. Probably bigger than wakeboarding and skiing combined! When I get rid of my 98 in a few years I'll probably look at early to mid 2000's Moomba LSV.

Here's a Moomba forum in case you wanted to look at them.
https://forum.moomba.com/forum...y.php?3-Moomba-Boats

A LSV thread.
https://forum.moomba.com/showt...-LSV!&highlight=love

My 98

quote:

Originally posted by 1967Goat:
Also look at Moomba/Supra (Made by Skiers Choice). They are a little bit cheaper than MC or Malibu (Moomba more so than Supra), but are still quality boats. I bought a 98 Moomba Mobius last fall. It was a fixer upper, but I got a really good deal on it at $3k. I'll put about $1,500 in it this year, all parts. I do all my own labor.

As far as prices go, they have skyrocketed the last 8 - 10 years. New Mastercraft's are into the $100,000 range. It's nuts.

Surfing is definitely the big thing now. Probably bigger than wakeboarding and skiing combined! When I get rid of my 98 in a few years I'll probably look at early to mid 2000's Moomba LSV.

Here's a Moomba forum in case you wanted to look at them.
https://forum.moomba.com/forum...y.php?3-Moomba-Boats

A LSV thread.
https://forum.moomba.com/showt...-LSV!&highlight=love

My 98

Just my opinion, but if you’ve ever owned a big 3 (master craft/nautique/Malibu) boat, you will not be happy going to a price point boat. I’ve had a 94 prostar 205, a 99 prostar 205V, and now an 08 Malibu VLX. I have been in many Moombas ( 04 LSV, an outback, and two fairly new Mojo’s) and I can say that the build quality on all of my boats has been way ahead of Moomba, even the new ones ( the new ones are very pretty though). Supras are considered a premium boat and are much more comfortable, but they are made on the exact same line as the Moombas in TN.

quote:

Originally posted by jimmy123x:
Are you asking about Caterpillar diesel engines??? ie CATS?

That’s what got my attention Jimmy

quote:

Originally posted by KDR:
Just my opinion, but if you’ve ever owned a big 3 (master craft/nautique/Malibu) boat, you will not be happy going to a price point boat. I’ve had a 94 prostar 205, a 99 prostar 205V, and now an 08 Malibu VLX. I have been in many Moombas ( 04 LSV, an outback, and two fairly new Mojo’s) and I can say that the build quality on all of my boats has been way ahead of Moomba, even the new ones ( the new ones are very pretty though). Supras are considered a premium boat and are much more comfortable, but they are made on the exact same line as the Moombas in TN.

Agree 100%. The Big 3 are Mercedes/Audi/Lexus level and Moomba is more of a Chevy level, LOL. I would love a Big 3 boat, but i highly doubt it will ever happen...unless the economy tanks and folks are looking to unload their boat when they can't make the payment! The boat market ($$) is unreal at this point in time.

Slight drift, but there's a guy on that Moomba forum that bought a 98 Mobius exactly like mine as a leftover in 99 or 2000. He paid $16k for it back then. He sold it last Spring for $16k! It was immaculate and very well taken care of, but $16k for a 20 year old boat??? Insane.

Grab your wallet and cough!

quote:

Slight drift, but there's a guy on that Moomba forum that bought a 98 Mobius exactly like mine as a leftover in 99 or 2000. He paid $16k for it back then. He sold it last Spring for $16k! It was immaculate and very well taken care of, but $16k for a 20 year old boat??? Insane.

Grab your wallet and cough!

Saw a 200k plus nautique G25 at the boat show this year.


I bought my 94 205 for 10k sold it for 14k

My 205v cost me about $130 a year to own and operate (except fuel).

I’ve had to replace the engine last year in my vlx since I didn’t properly winterize it, so this boat is costing a bit more to own

Thanks for the responses. It does look like having a catalyst isn’t much of a problem, so I don’t think I’ll let that deter me. Renting is out. X30’s rent for $1200/day at Lake Powell. Considering I go out more than two dozen times a year, buying used is cheaper.

quote:

Originally posted by 1967Goat:

quote:

Originally posted by KDR:
Just my opinion, but if you’ve ever owned a big 3 (master craft/nautique/Malibu) boat, you will not be happy going to a price point boat. I’ve had a 94 prostar 205, a 99 prostar 205V, and now an 08 Malibu VLX. I have been in many Moombas ( 04 LSV, an outback, and two fairly new Mojo’s) and I can say that the build quality on all of my boats has been way ahead of Moomba, even the new ones ( the new ones are very pretty though). Supras are considered a premium boat and are much more comfortable, but they are made on the exact same line as the Moombas in TN.

Agree 100%. The Big 3 are Mercedes/Audi/Lexus level and Moomba is more of a Chevy level, LOL. I would love a Big 3 boat, but i highly doubt it will ever happen...unless the economy tanks and folks are looking to unload their boat when they can't make the payment! The boat market ($$) is unreal at this point in time.

Slight drift, but there's a guy on that Moomba forum that bought a 98 Mobius exactly like mine as a leftover in 99 or 2000. He paid $16k for it back then. He sold it last Spring for $16k! It was immaculate and very well taken care of, but $16k for a 20 year old boat??? Insane.

Grab your wallet and cough!

That's because the new boat prices have increased so dramatically in the past 5 years. Almost doubling in cost, so the used boats are holding more money and kind of trending upwards in resale price like the new boats are, as the cost difference between new and used are so drastic. It's happening in the yachting industry as well.

My first real ski boat was a Correct Craft Ski Tique and then I/we graduated to a Ski Nautique. Neither boat had a back seat and at low speeds threw up a nasty wake.

I have not owned a ski boat in a long time and was shocked when i stopped by a dealer to look at some of the new wake/surf boats and the 6 figure price tags!

It is the economy. Boats are toys, just like airplanes. When the economy is booming, everybody wants one. When the economy takes a header, everyone still needs to drive so car prices may soften, but they won’t crater like planes and boats. Toys though, their prices fall off the face of the earth.

Mastercraft introduces the NXT a few years ago as a budget friendly entry level boat. The marketing tag line was “50k all day”. That was supposed to get you the boat, trailer, tower, and ballast out the door. That’s not exactly budget friendly in my opinion ( I won’t finance a toy). Funny thing is they had this great big sign with this ad at the boat show with a 67k sticker on the exact same boat as the ad.