Should I join the American Skier life?! (New Pics)

[KillerMike]

Hey guys, first post. I am currently looking at purchasing a 1984 American Skier. I want to hear what you guys think about the boat. I have a few family members who have owned Nautiques and Mastercrafts but I have never personally owned a comp. ski boat nevermind a American Skier.
I am moving to a small lake up here in MA thats 15-20mins west of Boston. I have always liked ski boats, the power, the looks, towing etc. but never found it worth it to make a purchase. Now that I am going to be living on a lake I feel it is a nessesity!

The boat is a 1984 18' American Skier with a 351W. The owner does not know a WHOLE lot about the history but seems to know a descent amount about boats based on seeing a couple of older boats he owns/restored.
The hull is in really great shape, it has sat outside for a few years but even through that I could still see some shine on the exterior. I could only imagine how it would look after it was hit with the wheel and some wax.

The motor looks really good and supposedly runs very well. (He is going to let me hear it run this weekend after our little spring snow storm tomorrow). He had it running last year then winterized it this winter. The boat itself has 1092 Hours on it. I don't know if that is what the engine has on it but like I said it looks really good. All the engine accessories have been sandblasted or powder coated ( The pulleys, the valve covers, intake manifold etc.) It has some sort of aftermarket exhaust manifolds on it. Im sure it sounds nice.

The interior needs help, he took the floor out of it already. As of right now there is no floor but depending on the price we work out he is willing to have the floor done. The interior is all there but the seats could definitely use new upholstery although they are not too bad. He has an extra brand new carburetor with it, brand new factory gauges in a box and some other odds and ends.

The boat will cost me somewhere around $2k with the original factory trailer. What do you guys think?

Anyone have any more info on the boat? All I know is that its a 1984 American Skier 18' with a 351. Any info you guys have for me would be appreciated, you guys know the boat better then I do even with all the info I'm trying to dig up online.

Thanks guys! Sorry for the long post.

Here's a couple terrible pictures from my phone. I know you guys can't see much with pics of a covered boat but its all I have at the moment. The boat really doesn't look good in these pictures but believe me when I say it, the boat is in really good shape for the year considering all things.

[phil]

Welcome!

Hell yeah. Bring that baby alive! A bit of elbow grease and you'll have one of the nicest inboards around. Sand down and re-oil(teak) that swim deck and she'll shine like new.



2k sounds pretty good considering the floor needs to be done. If you have that done professionally it won't be cheap. Actually, here's a post from RonT with some prices.

I generally advise the following when the floor seems pretty good but has worn carpet, tired upholstery, & is 20+ yrs old:
A) Use the boat as is while putting away $$ for a complete overhaul
B) Use the boat as is until you get too embarrased to run her & then sell at a discounted price to a DIYer
Additional thoughts: A new ski boat costs 40K+ A good used 10yr old ski boat costs 20K+ A worn out tired 20-30yr old ski boat is worth 2-4K+/-
To justify the cost of rebuilding as a DIY project & maybe some professional help is pretty easy to make the numbers work, in this manner you could spend 3-5K and come out with a really nice boat that will last for decades
To a pay a professional to do all the work becomes very hard to justify unless there is additional sentimental value to the owner.
Here are some rough estimates for professional work: Closed bow ski boat

Remove deck, motor box, engine  (500-700)
Remove carpet, cut out flooring, remove foam  (700-900)
Replace stringers IF NEEDED  (rare on A/S boats) (900-1500)
Replace flooring w/composites, replace carpet  (800-1000)
Engine/trans work (depends on hrs, cond.)
Replace wiring harness (same dash)   (200-400)
Replace fuel hoses (all)    (100-200)
Replace upholstery    (1000-3000)
Return deck to hull, motorbox, engine, new rubrail, (600-900)
Above does not include any exterior finishing or trailer work.
 
PS I am always looking for the "B" boats above   

I would encourage you to go for it. American Skiers are fantastic ski boats.

[56mulberry]

Hey KillerMike!!!  welcome to the addiction...I have a 1980 in Tangerine and cream which I have done most of all the above to with the exception of seperating the deck and replacing the wiring harness....I have spent a grand total of $450 so far--lots of late nights and gradual work--am getting to the best part on Fri--reinstalling floor!!!  Plus am improving some very small things I see as function/design issues in the boat...(no offense please  Ron!!!)

Mine has never been in the water since I owned it (Feb 2008) but should be in by Memorial Day this year.  I paid 3000 for mine and had to do all that so I say go for it!  Enjoy and stay in touch on this forum--these guys/gals are geniuses and Ron is the bomb....D

[Joel]

I'm a boat lover and former CG inspector, but I am not a BOAT fixer-upper so I gotta add a bit of skeptism here...  Without really knowing what your getting yourself into you can get stuck with a $2K lawn ornament - especially if you dont have the ability to Do It Yourself...  AM Skiers are great boats to start a DIY project, but you have to have the tools, TIME, space, another couple grand $$, etc...  Expertise, experience & advice you can get on here FOR FREE... parts are a little extra!   

You may want to look around a bit more.  If you have a budget of approx $5K - $7K you can find some really nice AM Skier boats that will need some TLC but almost ALL of the major problems have been addressed - a turn key & go boat with a nice trailer to boot.  As an example the pics posted of my 91 Advance were taken the day I bought it - I paid $7K... maybe a little high priced, but the boat didnt NEED any work.  I've spent another $1K on trailer bearings, new rudder, SS prop, elec ignition, intake & exhaust hoses and other odds & ends since then...

If your confident you can DIY - I'd say go for it, BUT, get someone who KNOWS inboard boats & how to inspect them.  You gotta make sure you dont have major mechanical (engine / transmission / throttle / steering) issues right off the bat...  If so - walk away.  Have them do a bow to stern, port to stbd, keel to windshield inspection and run the boat OFF THE TRAILER AND IN THE WATER on a lake... not on a hose.  If you dont do anything else, make sure you get a compression & leak down test of the engine.

You can fix UGLY with a lot of elbow grease & a little $$.  Major mechanical & structural issues can get pricey real FAST!!!  Whatever you decide to do I hope you seriously consider an AM Skier, if not this one..  They are great boats and the people on this site will help you in anyway they can!   

Joel

[KillerMike]

Thanks for the advice guys. I went and saw the boat again today. I could actually check out the boat this time though, it was inside, and I could really figure out what the boat needs. The floors are mostly all out already, the motor looks good. The hull is clean and the trailer looks new. For $2k Im not sure I can beat it, I just need to do the floor and get the upholstery re-done but all the cushions are there. Even comes with brand new factory gauges. Any information on this motor? Looks to be converted to electronic ignition and seems to have aftermarket exhaust manifolds.
Heres some new pics:

[phil]

Looks good. That motor is a Ford 351 Windsor maranized by commander. Stock they were 240hp. I think most came with the Holley 4160 4 barrel carb. That boat has the walnut throttle knob on too which are impossible to come by today.  Those manifolds are stock.

[Mike Harry]

Im going to say          FIND!!!

[Joel]

Sounds like your gonna go for it!       The stringers look good and so does the engine.  You dont need seats, engine cover, etc, to test it in a lake...  See if the owner can get the engine in running condition so you can take it out & run it in idle, forward / reverse & WOT for a few minutes (at least)...  If the motor runs well & doesnt overheat, the steering is good and the rudder & shaft arent vibrating... then I'd say go for it.  If its mechanically sound - or at a minimum you know what it needs mechanically - then it could be a fun project...   

Good luck!   And, remember the guys on here are THE BEST when it comes to questions asked & answered (parts too!)

Joel

[RonT]

Quick observations:
1) If you pass on this let me know I'll figure out how to get her back home!
2) Has a Correct Craft rubrail
3) Someone added the trailer side guides
4) Appears to be an original A/S trailer w/ galvanized option
5) Motor looks to be original with the optional STAINLESS STEEL EXHAUST

Good Luck, BUY< BUY< BUY

[Joel]

Sooooo....  what happened???  Did you buy it???

[56mulberry]

Gee---wish my motor looked that good!   

Is is very interesting to note a few changes between close years of the same model of boat. My '80 DOES NOT have the "foam stops" between the stringers that yours has just fore of the fuel tank and about 2/3's way up also--wished it did just to make foam compartmentalizing simpler.  Prob why they were added by '84. 

Also you have the access hole behind your L-seat--another great asset.

 ANd oddly, I notice that the little rope loops (whats the right name---"stern eyes"?) on your transom are about 6" lower than mine are and set at a 45 degree angle--mine are about 2" below rubrail and sit horizontal.

ANd when your floor was removed they avoided the dreaded "L-seat" underfloor----impossible to get out without option #1-splitting deck from hull or option #2-which uis what I did and that is to very carefully cut the factory seam where L-seat was glassed to deck about 6" down (you can see the seam if look close)  Make sure the floor under there is not rotted too--if it is you need to do opt #1 or opt #2--neither are fun--could be your floor there is fine.  I am replacing mine--it looks just like yours minus the engine and L-seat have been removed in mine.  Floor is truly a time-consuming b--ch to do but looks good when done right--esp when doing it yourself on weekends and evenings a couple hours at a time....rewarding though when done.

I used 3/4" marine ply for floors which is overkill but I like the feels of it a lot better already and have not yet foamed it--that is next!!!

Enjoy the obsession!  these guys rock on here--Doug

[RonT]

It took me awhile to figure out what everyone was calling "foam stops" in boat builder language we would call those bulkheads, truth be told this is where the plywood floors were seamed, and gave support for the floor. It actually made pouring foam a bit more difficult dealing with the "foam stops"  Later model one-piece floors have no bulkheads.

[John Doerfler]

I say get the boat man.  She looks great and I can tell you from experience that its a LOVE relationship man!
John Doerfler

[Joel]

Sooooo....  what happened???  Did you buy it???

Where'd he go?!?!   

[Gonzo]

That motor looks pretty, Grab that and bring her back to life! Then join us at the reunion

What does the rudder look like?