Rumors of Mastercraft Bare Bones Slalom Boat?

skibug

I heard, from my local Mastercraft Dealer, that they would be coming out with a very economical, bare bones tournament boat. Anyone else hear of this or confirm / dispell the rumor?

PT Mike

I've heard rumors of a new slalom tug, but nothing about a bare bones boat. Not sure if theres a market for such a boat. I would buy a new bare bones boat without all the bling if they could sell it for half the price of a new Prostar.

Horton

@skibug about 5 yrs I told a MC exec they should do the bare bones thing. He told me it was unrealistic and a bad idea. Hope they have changed their minds.

skihart

Okay can someone give me the rundown of what exactley defines a "bare bones slalom boat"??? What could you remove from the current boats that would make them so much cheaper to make, and therefore sell.

SM

Given that I like to spend my time behind the boat rather than in it, I would love the bare-bones boat as long as the ski ability of the boat wasn't compromised.

jdarwin

I believe what is being considered is the "modular" concept of boats. The promo boat can be ordered w/ no coaming pads, back seat and other items that can be added later should the new owner desire. By making the promo process a "cafeteria" type scenario, it lowers the price point with the option of adding items at a later date. Correct Craft did something similar in 1993 w/ the Standard Ski Nautique.

thager

Smaller narrower closed bow inboard hull 17'.6"-18' with tracking fins and pylon. Basic wind screen. Keep water temp. Add oil pressure. Tach is incorporated into speed control already as is display speed. Simple vinyl graphics. Small fuel tank (10 gallon). No storage. No glove box. No radio, 302-305 c.i. engine. Options: Heater, platform.

MattP

There will not be a "bare bones" from MC ever trust me. I worked for one of their team skiers this summer at a ski school and I have heard the direction they are going. I will divulge more when I am allowed to do so or the new model is debuted. I believe they are still testing and refining the new model.

Nick Sullivan

The current set up of the 197 is perfect. Its the only boat with a keyed ignition, rocker switches, a tach, and analoge guages. The current size of the 197 is 19'6" and its perfect. I hate the idea of any more bare bones. As much as people keep saying that they want a bare bones boat they never buy those boats.

The Centurion Carbon Pro is exactly what everyone describes and no one is buying it.

Nick Sullivan

I don't mean the performance of the 197 is perfect, obviously the wakes for long line slalom need to be imprved. I just really like the boat layout and function.

6balls

Again, bare bones means slim margin which means lots of units sold or it's a loser for the firm that produces it. There is not a big enough market for bare bones. Even it it could be sold for $30K...would most buy the bare bones or a gently used big 3 with features for the same price?

crashman

doesn't malibu still make a closed bow version of the response that is a "bare bones" model?

skibug

Yes, you can still order one based on the website last week.

Laz

A Moomba Outback is about $20 000 cheaper than other ski boats. It still is pretty good without all the flashy stuff. It's got the same engine, drivetrain and basic hull design as all the others.

Wish

MC did this in the late 90s with the MC Sportster. I believe it was the 92-94 hull with higher freeboard. My recollection is it skied better than their upscale MC. but those were bad yrs for MC. I would think in those yrs they learned if it was a sellable boat or not.

alex38

couple of my friends had Malibu Tantrums, we used to love its simplicity, we used to sit in it and say: "hull, engine, steering wheel, rudder, pylon, couple jumper seats. That's alll we need, lets ski." Was the hull of a Sportster with nohting in it but the essentials.

skihart

To be commercially viable, these companies can only afford to put out one "ski" boat. So...it's gotta be all about the options vs price.
So, all you promo guys, if you could order a stripped down "competition version" of a great new boat would you do it?
No carpet
No back seat
Minimal Upholstery(combing pads etc)
Minimal graphics
No heater
no radio
Basic gauge package, no speedo no tach no depth no clock, Just ZO
Cheaper basic fiberglass platform
basic generic steering wheel
No trunk/storage
Smaller gas tank
Cheaper basic windshield
No pop up cleats
One gas filler
No folding platform
Basic generic trailer
No rear tow eye
No rear grab handles
etc
I can guarantee it would be a much cheaper boat..............
it would ski great, better than the heavier loaded version but,
would anybody buy it when you were done with it??? That is the question.

Horton

Look at a 90s MC or early CC196. Smaller, basic and skis great.

6balls

...but would buyers today in significant enough numbers to make a profit buy one new? There is a reason they don't make them, or something similar today. They are in the biz to make money, and that means producing a product that sells.

Bulldog

General public want bling baby lots of bling, and they get a boat mortgage in order to buy it!

andyb

If bare bones meant stripped down, lighter, cheaper to buy but I would be more interested if it was cheaper to run then I would consider it at the price of fuel at the moment.

The_MS

@Sully. There are lots of people getting The Carbon Pros. The factory can not keep up with the demand at this point. That is why we are not seeing them at the boat shows.

h2oski

Doesn't MC still offer a 190?

Nick Sullivan

MS, Not at all what I have been told. Look at Ski It Again, the same promo boats have been for sale for a year.

Nick Sullivan

Yes, you can still get a 190 and it is 200lbs less than the 197. My dealer just sold a 190 this week, I can't wait to see it.

The_MS

Sully, Those are promos not new. There have been plenty sold as promos already also. JD bought his from Promo guy.

Nick Sullivan

When I spoke to them the lead time on a new CP was two weeks. That was a month ago.

Nick Sullivan

My main point is this....its not a bare bones boat we all want. Its an affordable boat that skis great. I need a seat heater, hot water shower, stereo. A heated stearing wheel would be nice too. I don't want any BS touch panel or fancy digital switches. I want ZO, Analog Guages and a small display that shows water/air temp.

We ski all year and I would be against buying any boat that did not have these options. The Prostar 190 of 94 and 95 had these options as well.

Inovation is what sells, not bare bones boats. Look at the 200, isn't this the top selling boat for Nautique?

dave2ball

Having a bare bones boat may be great if you are not going to resale the boat (non promo) and just use it on a private lake . Being on a promo team I have seen that when you resale the boat the majority of people are not tournament skiers. So a bare bones boat will not work for me and most likely 90% of all promo people. If you look at how the dealers order the boats pretty much loaded that should tell you how well a price point boat will work. Most of my resale the people want it loaded. all the bell and whistles. The Centurion Carbon Pro is exactly what everyone describes and no one is buying it says it all. The Carbon Pro is 40-41K. I don't think that is much of a price point for most people. 2 other issues that may be holding them back is that it is only available in a closed bow and it is listed as a 3 person boat.

crashman

The thing I'm finding in my current boat search is that most slalom guys take really great care of their boats. They go out, run the course, wipe it down and store it properly-most don't get drunk and run it into the boat ramp or rock piles. So if I'm looking to save $ (and I am) I'll by a well taken care of used boat. I'm finding several early 2000s Nautiques and Bus with fewer than 500 hrs that look new with the works- for slightly north of 15k.

Wish

Have a buddy that looked at a boat in semi ruff shape. Every time he asked the owner why something was the way it was in the boats condition the response always started with ..well, my buddies and I were drinking....... I guess you would have to be to light the carpet behind the motor box on fire. And not just a little patch. The entire removable section. Somthing about trying to dry it faster.