Nowadays there are several
boat brands in the market. With such a variety we could get confused
with what we really want and need.
The first question you should ask yourself is:
how much are you willing to spend?
A boat is a luxury article, they are not economical. Eighty percent of their
construction is handmade and this is why their price is quite high.
A good option is the second-hand market. Having good advisory you can make a
great purchase.
What you need to check on a second-hand boat
Was the boat
used on the ocean?
Since boats don’t have a radiator, they suck in water from the place where
they are being used at and salt-water ruins engines.
Was it used for rentals or for a skiing school?
Physical inspection.
Check if the engine has water inside. Humidity inside the engine compartment
ruins it.
Check for blows on the propeller, flecha, timon y hull.
Before you buy it, try it for a couple of hours.
Check that all the paperwork is in order. Imports are temporary (10 years), but
it has to be done properly.
Know if the price includes the tower
Check the number of hours. A thousand hours on a boat equals 100 thousand kilometers
on a car.
If you want to buy a brand new boat for skiing, there are 4 top brands: TIGE,
Mastercraft, Malibu, Ski Nautique
Which one is better?
No brand and no boat is better than the other. It would be like comparing a BMW
to a Mercedes. Some models fulfill our needs or we like better.
How to know which model you need?
If you are accompanied by 2 or 3 persons at the most when you go skiing, you
ski slalom, trick or ramp on a small lake, with slalom course on a semi professional
level, what you need is a 19 to 20 feet boat that makes the least waves possible.
TIGE has the SWITCH-i, the one that Jaime Butchensen (Slalom World Record, with
one buoy at 39off) uses.
If you go skiing with several persons at
the same time, some ski slalom and others wakeboard, what you need
is an open bow boat with central motor, tower and adjustable wake
gear.
TIGE has the 21i, an extremely versatile and family boat which as a result of
its TAPS system can adjust the wave for Slalom or Wakeboard. Its distribution
makes it a very comfortable boat, with an 8 person capacity and storage bins
to keep all the equipment.
If what you
are looking for is having the best
wave for wakeboarding and the most
comfort, then you need a V drive boat.
This means that you need a boat with
a back engine that helps make a bigger
wave because of its weight. TIGE has
the 20V, 22V and the 24V
If price is not a problem, then what
you need is a boat over 22 feet long. This boat will make huge waves
because of its size and you can take up to 10 people skiing. TIGE
has the 24 V that is easy to drive even though its huge size.
Which
accessories should you buy for a boat?
For wakeboarding you must have a tower. Its price
goes from $1000 to $2500 USD (installation included). There are many brands and
models available. The most important thing is that it is properly installed.
The Perfect Pass is
a common accessory needed for this sport. It is a computer that keeps
the speed of the boat stable, which will help you have a smooth ride.
There are several models, and it is important to know the difference between
them.
Pro Perfect Pass: This
one is intended for professional slalom, trick, ramp and wakeboard
skiers. It’s quite complicated to operate and it has several
accessories. It stabilizes the speed, times in the slalom and jump
course, it has a skier resistant sensor and it compensates the
weight of the passengers with the weight of the skier, the speed
of the wind, etc. I only recommend it if you ski professionally
and if you decide to buy it, be sure that you get a course on how
to operate it.
Wakeboard Cruise Control
is much easier to use, it only has two modes: Velocity and RPM.
This means that it can regulate the speed of the boat or the
speed of the engine. It’s important that the person who
sells or installs it explains you how to use it.
The price of the accessories goes from a thousand to two thousand
dollars (installation included) and they are worth it.
Ski Racks on the tower
This is a very practical accessory, since it gives you more space
inside the boat. There are several models that range from $650
to $1000 USD, but at TIGE the racks are included on the price
of the boat.
Most people like to leave the equipment on the boat racks all
day. It looks very cool, but I don’t recommend it, since
the sun damages the colors and it could damage the components
of the skis and the wakeboards.
Ballast Tanks.
This accessory was implemented less than 5 years ago and it is
designed to increase the size of the wave. Most boat brands use
them because their hull won’t make it on its own and this
accessory becomes necessary. There are several models, some use
plastic bags and others use fiberglass tanks.
It’s important to know the operation of this accessory
since the pumping engines could get burnt. The ballast tanks
range from $1500 to $2500 USD.
Canvas
The canvas must fit well to the boat because if you add a tower
to it, it could not adjust properly. The material must be waterproof
and the price varies between $600 and $800 USD.
Bikini Top.
It is one of the basic accessories that a boat must have since
it will give you the possibility of staying longer on the boat
without having direct sun exposure. There are lots of different
sizes and prices, but it is recommendable to buy a waterproof
fabric and to be aware that it fits your boat. If your boat has
a tower, the bikini top has to fit underneath of it.
The main goal of the bikini top is to provide some shadow, be alert
and even if it goes underneath the tower it should provide one.
Lights and sound
on the tower.
These are vanity accessories. If you have the money don’t doubt it. Your
boat will look and sound amazing.
The
Tow
There are lots of tow brands and you can ask for it with different accessories.
There are some with one axis and others with two axis. The two axis ones are
for boats of over 20 feet; they are more resistant and stable. You can ask for
it with brakes and with disc brakes, but this is only recommended if you travel
a lot with your boat.
Ocean
accessories
If you are going to use your boat in the ocean or somewhere with salt-water you
should contact your distributor and get a washing system or sweet water deposit
if possible.
If you have any questions or comments please write to: arturo@aqa.com.mx