Prostar 205, Sunsport or Sun/Wakesetter
 

Greetings,

I'm looking at upgrading from my '79 Mastercraft Skier and am considering the following boats in a direct drive configuration:
1. '92 - '95 Mastercraft Prostar 205
2. '94 - '99 Supra Sunsport (love the older ones, but don't have time to deal with a floor / stringer replacement)
3. '96+ Malibu Sun/Wakesetter
4. '96+ Prostar 205

My budget is around $12-13k, which might put the later 90's models out of the equation, but I may save more and buy something next year instead. Haven't really given much thought to Correct Craft or Sanger as they are rare in the NE.

Considerations are:
1. Room for family and friends - 2 couples and 2-3 small kids and dog

2. Good ski wake (ski 75% and beginer / intermediate wakeboard 25% of the time)
- '92 - '95 Prostar 205 would likely win this

3. Good ride in a 2'+ chop - yes, I know they're ski boats, so they won't ride like a i/o deep vee, but anything better than my '79 would be an improvment)
- based on the drop keel, I'm thinking the Supra would have the upper hand here and the '92-'95 205 would come in last.

4. Handling - like the responsiveness of my '79, understand a bigger boat won't handle quite as crisply

5. Freeboard - really not interested in burying the bow and/or having kids / dogs jump/fall out
- I think the Supra would win in this category, but are the others okay? From what I've read, yes - basically depends on the driver / conditions, and they're all better than something like a Conbrio / Mariah, etc.

6. Quality - I know this gets kicked around a lot here, but maybe more than quality I'm thinking durability - i.e. stitching, upholstery resistance to cracking / bleaching, do the gauges still work after 15+ yrs, durability of floors (does the core material fail - even though they are all "non-wood" construction, do seats / hinges, etc get loose and/or are prone to having screws / bolts loosen / strip, etc

If different engine packages were available, what should I be looking for (ie. carb vs fuel injected in Prostar 205).

I'm leaning towards trying to find a clean '92 - '95 205, but like the look of the Supra and figured that the Sun/Wakesetter with Diamond hull and '96+ 205 might provide a better ride at the cost of a skiwake. Bonus with Supra and 'Bu would be HP, unless I went with LT1 in 205, but I'm in brackish water sometimes, so wasn't sure how well the aluminum would hold up.

What are your thoughts on playpen bow vs benches? What about L-shape seat like the Prostar vs bench like the Malibu?

Any feedback will really be appreciated - especially if you've ridden in 2 or more of these boats I'd love to hear from you so I can begin to get a better sense of how they compare. I'd go test drive them, but they are quite rare in Nova Scotia, so I think it will be a matter of choosing one and driving 10-12 hrs to Maine / Vermont / New Hampshire / New York to get one.

we got our 96 Sunsetter VLX for 15k 5 years ago. Just be patient and you can find one.

edit: nm saw you were wanting more for ski, you should be able to find an LX at a pretty good price as well.

You should be able to pick up a 99 Supra Launch which will meet all your needs (free board, semi-ok rough water, ski, board, room, etc) for about 14k. The Launch is the same as the Sunsport but has a tower and ballast.

It seems to me that if you 75% of your time skiing and want to keep skiing go with the 205. I left an old 190 for my Tige 22v. Great family boat and not to bad of a ski wake but I sure miss the Prostar 190. Now I would be looking for a crossover boat. Possibly a CC 211 but in you price range I think I would do the 205.

I haven't ridden in any of those boats, and I dunno about all the skiing you want to do ... so there's two strikes against my remarks here ... but, I too have always thought that the Sunsport is a nice looking boat. And, I like its size, it looks roomy, it looks comfortable. It's got a lot of things I find appealing.

I was in the same boat so to speak and I found a Sanger DLX and couldn't be happier!

I had a 2000 205, and loved it. It was bad in rough water though. I ski quite a bit, and use to more than I boarded.

Having said that, I upgraded from that boat to an Xstar(X1) and with a driver and passenger, the wake wasn't much different than the 205 at 15@36.

205. 96-98 is better, but the older ones will actually have a better slalom wake. None of those will take rough water that well, except a v-drive

Saw this ad and thought of you. It is a little higher than what you posted in your price range, but maybe you could talk them down.

http://wichita.craigslist.org/boa/1713595194.html

I have 97 Sunsport and love it. I have around 2200 lbs of ballast installed in mine and it is all hidden. I am really happy with the wake with this setup. I am the only person in my crew who ever gets a ski out and I would say that the ski wake is just ok. It stays pretty big even when you speed the boat up but we usually have at least 6 people and the wake plate pulled all the way up for boarding so that doesnt help. I am currently working on an adjustable plate setup that will hopefully solve that last issue. The only other boat I have any experience with is the 205. If I had to guess I would say the 205 has a similar wakeboard wake and a better ski wake than the Sunsport. The tradeoff is that it feels a lot smaller and there are less places to conceal ballast if that is a concern for you.

That boat has been "available" for quite some time, or else the person who recently bought it is already selling it. That's a very steep price, and could be brought down significantly

^ IT HAS A WAKE TANK!!!!!
Thats worth it right there, its "vintage"

How do you know? I agree on the price being way too high. I sold my 2000 in 2002 for 26K. I saw that wake tank. Those are hilarious.

because I looked at it a ways back. Pretty sure Marine World had it on consignment

Gotcha.

owned them both
 

had a prostar 205 with the vette motor now i own a malibu lvs23 and love it. dont get me wrong the 205 can turn better and a littler easier to maneuver but by far the bu ride some much smother i love it. Much more room and you dont have the engine in the center that you have to stumble around all the time. I wanted a open bow for the extra people as the family grew we need the room.

So you're comparing the ride of a 23' boat to a 20'6" boat. The ride is always going to be better. I also never get the great desire to get rid of the engine in the middle, now people will walk, crawl, and throw their boards all over the back pad, as well as everyone's legs are now in the middle. IMO crazy opinion I prefer DD as it seems to spread the boat out more. OP is also looking for a good ski wake.

MC 205 hands down.

I had a 94 205 for a number of years. I had about 800 lbs of ballast hidden in it & the wake was well defined, nice ramp & medium size. Seating was OK, 3 across the front (I made a walkthru seat for it), 2 or 3 in back, and a couple in the bow. A tower really improved that because we could get some of the gear off the floor & up on racks. You can get jump seats for the boat for a couple more seats by the engine too.
The only complaint I had about it was the freeboard. Weighted with people &/or ballast the boat sits pretty low in the water. If you had kids on it, they might be easily tossed or even able to reach over. The newer Prostars have a bit higher freeboard.
It's a pretty flat bottom boat too (V in front, flat in back) so it rode pretty rough in the chop.

95-98 MC 205. I think '99 Master Crafts had very crappy vinyl and little padding, but I might be wrong. I'm a big dd fan myself, just don't get the V-Drive appeal.

It makes those that are coming from I/O's feel more at home

Thanks for the info. I'm still undecided, but leaning towards Prostar for the ski wake / handling. Really like the roominess of the Sunsports though. Definitely want to stay direct drive and I love the way my '79 Mastercraft has zero bow rise when you get on gas. Schooledrider, definitely agree with you - I don't see the appeal of a v-drive either unless you strictly want to surf or wakeboard.

As all of those boats are quite rare in Nova Scotia, I think I'm going to post a "Do you have a 205, Sunsport / Sun/Wakesetter? If so, I'd love to see it and/or give you some gas money to go for a ride and/or set" ad on kijiji and see what kind of response I get. I figure most people love to talk about their boat and/or show it to someone, so it might work. I know I'd happily take someone for a ride / set in my boat if someone was interested in seeing how to handled / pulled, etc.

If you have any other thoughts or comments I'd love to hear them.

I'd go with the 205.....but that's just me :D

http://www.mastercraft.com/photopost/data/500/m1.jpg

MC 205! best boat for the money, i love my 1998.

1992 prostar 205.Feel free to pm me with any questions about the boat.
Wakeboard wake(rider in the black and blue wetsuit )
http://vimeo.com/11138786

Ski wake

Rear view from a 205 cruising Az
http://i298.photobucket.com/albums/m...zaz/009-22.jpg

Sounds like you need my boat. Its the best ski boat ever made and a fun wakeboarding boat. but lacks on extra space. Jet :D

http://www.supraboats.com/bbs/album.php?albumid=86

Hey guys,

Thanks for the info.

Jeff,
Wakeboard wake looks good - more than sufficient for my level of skill. Cool video. Ski wake looks very similar to my '79 Mastercraft.

Coz, I suspect you're probably running 26-28mph in the photo, correct? If so, any pics around the 34mph range? Based on your photos on tmcowners I know you love to take pics... surely you have one! ;) haha What year is your 205? It looks good.

For anyone, any idea of the difference in beam and freeboard btwn the '92-'95 205 and the '96-'98 205?

85in and 87 in. 2002ish 205V is 90in

1996+ mc 205