My boats pricing sheet

[Mike Harry]

On the original write up pricing sheet for my boat under model:

19' Advance $18,958 base price

I have the Chevy 350 circled as an option for $470.00, then under that there is a high performance Chevy option for $1200.00....... what is the high performance option? What is the difference between the high performance and the standard upgrade?

Barefoot Package is also circled for $500

Teak Platform is $95

Trick Release (which did not come with the boat to me) $120.00

and those were the options chosen. According to my calculations thats $20,144 which is a heafty penny in 1986 Im guessing. (I was seven years old and wouldnt really know) WOW! Lucky Im only into her for around $3500 to $4000

[phil]

I can't speak to the options but I can say that I know American Skier was considered a bit pricey in it's day. Then again, there's always a premium for a top of the line item. Regardless, expensive.

[chrisheile]

I am going to make a guess here on the "high performance" option.  In the 80's the compression on standard v8's as I seem to recall was significantly lower than those of the 60's and 70's.  It probably had better heads and cam than the standard v8

[phil]

Maybe you have that Hardin Chevy that Dan T. has mentioned before??

[Mike Harry]

Its an Indmar 350. Still had the valve covers (stamped Holley) with the Indmar logo on them.

If it is heads and a cam I would sure like to know what cam. I plan on putting some aluminum Turbo swirl heads on it in the future anyway.

[RonT]

During that year Indmar engines were the flavor of choice, sometimes it was PCM, (both had distributors in Fl.) Ford being the "Std." engine & the Chevy an optional up-charge. (back then Ford was trying to control the marine engine market, they later gave up & quit selling to marinizers altogether) The HP Chevy was marinized by another vendor usually Hardin, and the cost covered added shipping cost, Alum. exh. Alum intake, 4 bolt mains, chrome valve covers, and was painted black, had a crank driven water pump. This motor was rated at 290 HP vs 260 HP for the std. Chevy.

[Mike Harry]

Well the only one of those things mine didn't have was a aluminum intake, and she does now!

[Mike Harry]

Ron, what was the ice chest option on this sheet? Obviously its an ice chest, but was it made into the boat somewhere? or was it just a chest with the AMSkier logo on it?

Also, the build sheet lists the primary use as Tournament instead of recreational or barefoot........ what does that mean? My boat was possibly used as a actual tournament boat?

[RonT]

The ice chest option dropped into the dash behind the observer, it replaced the jewelery tray. I was never fond of it, the jewelry tray was useful, and the ice chest protruded into the ski locker opening when the seat back was opened up & they had a really stiff lid to open. Your boat was probably used as a "promo boat" bought by a tournament skier, with obligations to bring the boat to tournaments & used as a towboat. A large percentage of ski boats from all the builders during the 70's & early 80's were sold as "promo boats". Will be happy to explain this in detail at the reunion.

[Pelvic Woo]

I believe that mine was a "promo-boat."  It has the ice chest that does make it hard to access the bow storage...but it sure does get used a lot.  The guy who I bought the boat from said it was a demo used by some pro skier - I'm gonna try and find out who that might have been.  The boat also came with a very nice custom looking cover that snaps tight under the rub rail - was wondering if this was standard or an option.

[RonT]

American Skier never offered a cover that used snaps to hold in place, only draw string & loops, or eyelets, yours sounds like a custom cover made locally.

[Joel]

Mine has them too - the cover snaps down in a couple of locations on each side and on the stern.  They are pretty handy for a quick & easy way to put the cover on (in a hurry or just to keep dust & debris out), but I WISH the previous owners wouldnt have installed them.  The snaps are screwed into the gelcoat/fiberglass below the rubrail which is a great place to start a leak     Keep them snug & tight...

[John Doerfler]

Hey guys,
     I have the "High Performance" Hardin Chevy in my boat.  It a 83 Skier.  I recently restored the engine to its original condition with the exception of the valve covers I put on.  I have some pictures of her in my album.
John Doerfler