Newbie-What to look for

[Yeager]

Hello, new to the site.....going to look at a Sanger Flatbottom for sale, and would like to know what things I should be looking for. (stress cracks)

Also, any V-Drive units I should avoid? This will be a family boat :D, not for competitive racing.

Any input is appreciated!

Thanks

[coltmodel70]

this a four seat boat? how big is "family" ?

[Yeager]

Its a 4 seater. I know its not an ideal family boat, but it needs to have some space for them if they want a ride. I think its 19'-6". It will sit my wife and two grade school kids.

More than likely it will be me and a buddy......

So where should I be looking for damage?


Thanks

[boatguy222]

I learned to ski behind a Sanger some 40+ years ago, they are a good ski boat in flat water. Jack started to make them pretty light around 1970 or 71, and the did have some stress cracks in then.
A couple of things to look for is discolored wood on the floor or stringers, also milky glass (glass with air in it looks milky)
in or around the stringer is a sign or problems to come.
Check the rudder, grab it and see if it moves side to side, tight is good! loses is bad, do the same thing with the propshaft. What does the prop look like? it is a good measure of how the boats been used and maintained. If the prop is dinged up and rusty, plan on replacing alot of parts.
If you have some pictures post them!
Good luck,
Marc

[RiverRacer]

Its a 4 seater. I know its not an ideal family boat, but it needs to have some space for them if they want a ride. I think its 19'-6". It will sit my wife and two grade school kids.

More than likely it will be me and a buddy......

So where should I be looking for damage?


Thanks

Sounds like a typical Sanger setup as a ski boat, and if you're in an area that has good water you'll enjoy it, if you have a lot of big scows tearing up the water all the time then it's not a practical boat, they weren't made for that kind of water!.. I pulled the kids for 10 years in a flat and had a blast, but back then didn't have all these puke wave maker boats either!..

[gfinishline]

I would like to add: aluminum exhaust manifolds VS headers, 3 blade prop VS 2, Velvet drive (or trans ?) VS in & out, foot controled cavitation WITH lock out handle, and last but not least, fully covered padded drive line (like a big auto console) over the drive line and the shaft and log. (toes and towels VS propshafts) "Ski all day on 20 gallons of gas"

[RiverRacer]

This is the old ski boat, seems like I put 20,000 miles on it on the strip all thru the 80's,lol. I would go all day Sat and Sun till noon and still have an 1/8 of a tank left out of 20gals!..

http://img144.imageshack.us/img144/2818/skiboatmr4.jpg

[SonnyGlide]

Racer, 20 gal. all day sounds great! at 6$ for 118, might not brake me

[RiverRacer]

Yeah, as long as you run at 2500 all day long, LOL..

[poncho]

Art,very nice i like the boat too.Yeager heres a pic of a friend of mines 77 Sanger bubbledeck with 4 seats we splashed from one of the original sanger buckets,boat was bbf with a c-6 tranny when he said this was his plan i was like no way all that would fit i was wrong and it was actually pretty comfortable so the man got his hot rod and wife and two sons were happy,we did a hell of alot of skiing,inner tubing etc. with this boat.Hey Sonny can you send me a couple hundred gallons of 116 at $6.00 a gallon if i could get it around here its like $9.00 gal

[Norcal_73]

Have had my 1973 ski sanger flat for 18 years. Been a great boat. Does it have the forward, rearward seats in it? Are the water cooled exhaust logs still there? Easy to get burnt if they changed the exhaust to a header set-up for the rearward passengers. Pics would be great.

[poncho]

(Sonny) drive line cover haha,had a good friend with a hondo built bbc and a cover over the drive line,open on the ends i folded a beach towel and sat on this holding the backs of their seats while he decides to open it up,boat ran in the low 90`s at the drags the towel was soaked and when it got wrapped up it became a very serious weapon that sliced my back open and threw me on to the dash,the cover was painted to match the boat and that towel stripped the paint and polished the area it was hitting,locked up the drive line thank god he had a whirl away,i was elected to lay on the bottom and cut that towel away with a three inch dull pocketknife,not fun.I refuse to ride in a flat bottom that doesn't have a full cover things could have gone a lot worse that day,still shake thinking about it,thought the motor had come apart and was ripping me up.Saw a guys kneecap at a boat launch one day that had come in contact with u-joint on a v-drive,these two things left a hell of an impression

[Yeager]

Thank for the replys. The boat has a bench in front and 2 rear facing seats. It does have headers.. (wet) That are chrome. I wonder if a jet-hot type coating would be better on the headers. I may go look at it today. BTW, It's a 72.

This is a short term family boat (a year or two) We will by a newer ski boat when I can afford it. (and keep the flatbottom)

Thanks for the input!
Mark

[Terrible toy]

Hello, new to the site.....going to look at a Sanger Flatbottom for sale, and would like to know what things I should be looking for. (stress cracks)

Also, any V-Drive units I should avoid? This will be a family boat :D, not for competitive racing.

Any input is appreciated!

Thanks

SANGER! you couda had a Hondo.;)

Just kidding. However, I have to pick up on what Art said, that it's getting harder, in this world of jet skis and off shore wannabes, to find decent water. You didn't mention how old the Sanger is, so I'm assuming it's a low profile 70s or later. Odds are it will have a split case Casale, which is what you want. The condition of flats, delamination, cracks, especially in the transom area, rust, bottom damage and general abuse and broken parts are easy to see in an open boat. The engine and drive line need a closer look. For a family boat an engine with huge overlap, compression and induction are a pain. Dry headers and kids don't mix well either. The big thing for me is the gel coat condition. If that's in good shape you are money and headaches ahead.

Take a cruise through the photo section here and check out some of the fantastic boats in there. The 21 ft. mini day cruisers, GN types and the older flats with mucho more freeboard are options that make sense in rough water conditions, and they have a bunch more room.

If you have to have a racy looking flat...I totally understand, I love em.

[Yeager]

Well I took the dive..... I'm now the proud owner of a 19'-6" 1972 Sanger, with a blown 454 in it. Needs some TLC but should have it out on a month or so. The hull looks to be in good shape, rudder & shaft has very little play, stringers look good. Thanks for everyones imput.

I'm sure I will be on this site asking tons of questions real soon.

Thanks!
Mark

[BradP]

Well I took the dive..... I'm now the proud owner of a 19'-6" 1972 Sanger, with a blown 454 in it. Needs some TLC but should have it out on a month or so. The hull looks to be in good shape, rudder & shaft has very little play, stringers look good. Thanks for everyones imput.

I'm sure I will be on this site asking tons of questions real soon.

Thanks!
Mark

PICTURES DAMNIT! PICTURES!:mad::D

[Norcal_73]

Congrats. Get those pics taken. Love to see 1972 compared to my 1973.

[poncho]

congrads,pics man pics

[flatbroke]

In '86 we bought a '80 version of the Sanger Skier. It has back to back seating for 4 and a full center console that can sit somone small, aka kid. At that time my kids were 3 and 6. We live 20 minutes from the lake and had a small houseboat, we skied once or twice during the week and spent every weekend at the lake for the next 15 years. At that time the boat had water manifolds and a single carb on a 396 with a Powerglide trans and 3 blade prop. We could give everyone 2 ski runs on 5 gallons of fuel. It was a great ski boat and now that the kids are older and we have picked up a Ski Centurion to complement the Sanger, more room, the kids still prefer to ski behind the Sanger. It now has a 427 with rect. heads and changes configuration between a tunnel ram as pictured below and an Edelebrock Air gap, headers and water manifols, 2 and 3 blade props. It doesn't take much to change it around but greatly changes the "Attitude" of the boat.
You will love your new Sanger, we love ours.

http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c375/flatbroke-1/dadkids.jpg

[poncho]

Flatbroke nice boat,when i was younger i was really into slalom skiing so i went out and bought a Malibu Skier which was hot at the time,official towboat of the AWSA,my parents old v-drive was a better tow almost no wake compared to mine

[Roaddogg 4040]

Nothing like skiing behind a flatbottom V-Drive... I can still remember that, even at my age...:D

Steve

[poncho]

with a good driver an absolutely perfect tow,you are gonna so dig youre new ride enjoy!

[hm66Howard]

In '86 we bought a '80 version of the Sanger Skier. It has back to back seating for 4 and a full center console that can sit somone small, aka kid. At that time my kids were 3 and 6. We live 20 minutes from the lake and had a small houseboat, we skied once or twice during the week and spent every weekend at the lake for the next 15 years. At that time the boat had water manifolds and a single carb on a 396 with a Powerglide trans and 3 blade prop. We could give everyone 2 ski runs on 5 gallons of fuel. It was a great ski boat and now that the kids are older and we have picked up a Ski Centurion to complement the Sanger, more room, the kids still prefer to ski behind the Sanger. It now has a 427 with rect. heads and changes configuration between a tunnel ram as pictured below and an Edelebrock Air gap, headers and water manifols, 2 and 3 blade props. It doesn't take much to change it around but greatly changes the "Attitude" of the boat.
You will love your new Sanger, we love ours.

http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c375/flatbroke-1/dadkids.jpg flatbroke, that's a nice lookin ride! Oh so shiny! :cool:

[poncho]

more proof that hot v-drives pull the chics

[FC-Pilot]

I don't know how you guys do it. I am just as ugly as you guys, but I never have girls like that hanging around my boat.:confused: What is the secret?

Paul

[poncho]

fc same here twenty years ago i could just idle up to the sandbar and fill the boat in minutes usually taking the day well into the evening or even next morning,ah the good old days,i get lots of conversation but thats about it

[flatbroke]

I don't know how you guys do it. I am just as ugly as you guys, but I never have girls like that hanging around my boat.:confused: What is the secret?

Paul

Carefull Paul, thats my daughters you are drooling on. Raising them is the only way I get girls like that to hang with me.

[flatbroke]

flatbroke, that's a nice lookin ride! Oh so shiny! :cool:

Actuall that is still the original paint and gel coat. The red is paint, it came out of the mold as black gel then the seam was filled and then the stripes put on, by Sanger. Since then all it has seen is maintenance. They used good stuff, now you can't even buy it.

[warpt71]

Black boats look bitchen but they get scalding hot in the sun!!!

Dads Sanger
http://www.performanceboats.com/html/youBoat/data/500/medium/100_2023.JPG
Grew up sking behind it too! There are some old pictures of me in it when I was a younger punk lol

[poncho]

always enjoy seeing new peeps get in my boat on a hot day (its black) most people set down next to the seat and then swing in thats a pretty sensitive area that makes contact with the boat

[warpt71]

YEP!!! I have always tried to splash some cold river water up there befor I try to get in.

[hm66Howard]

Actuall that is still the original paint and gel coat. The red is paint, it came out of the mold as black gel then the seam was filled and then the stripes put on, by Sanger. Since then all it has seen is maintenance. They used good stuff, now you can't even buy it.WOW! Nice work on the upkeep!!! :D

[hm66Howard]

(Sonny) drive line cover haha,had a good friend with a hondo built bbc and a cover over the drive line,open on the ends i folded a beach towel and sat on this holding the backs of their seats while he decides to open it up,boat ran in the low 90`s at the drags the towel was soaked and when it got wrapped up it became a very serious weapon that sliced my back open and threw me on to the dash,the cover was painted to match the boat and that towel stripped the paint and polished the area it was hitting,locked up the drive line thank god he had a whirl away,i was elected to lay on the bottom and cut that towel away with a three inch dull pocketknife,not fun.I refuse to ride in a flat bottom that doesn't have a full cover things could have gone a lot worse that day,still shake thinking about it,thought the motor had come apart and was ripping me up.Saw a guys kneecap at a boat launch one day that had come in contact with u-joint on a v-drive,these two things left a hell of an impressionDude, that's HARSH!! Please tell me we don't still have people with exposed driveshafts out there! :eek:

[dry]

Those are some nice Sanger pics, but that was a horrible story about the towel whipping luckily someone didn't get seriously hurt!!

[FC-Pilot]

Carefull Paul, thats my daughters you are drooling on. Raising them is the only way I get girls like that to hang with me.

I sure have a special way of putting my foot in my mouth don't I? I hope you don't mind me saying that they are cute girls, but I did not think I was drooling as I did not make any tasteless comments. I have not been lucky enough to start a family of my own, but if I do some day I can only hope that I am as fortunate as you and Art and can have my family enjoy the lake and my hobby together. I have a feeling no boat or amount of money could help to land me some amazing bikini babe, so I just hope to find someone that likes me for who I am. Until that happens I am just going to continue enjoying life.

O.K. back to the topic, those are some great looking boats. We always did our seats with light colors being that we are in AZ. If they are dark they will burn pretty badly. The same goes for the deck of the boat, but I am sure you guys know that already. If I ever have another dark colored boat I will have to make a work cover for it so I don't get burned just laying over the side of the boat to work on the boat in the sun.

[poncho]

66howard,that was a long time ago and havent seen an open one in a long time,used to see half covers open on the bottom alot whenever i did i would tell my story and convince them to change it even offering to help the less mechanically inclined

[RiverRacer]

Dude, that's HARSH!! Please tell me we don't still have people with exposed driveshafts out there! :eek:

You'd be surprised!.:eek:

[RiverRacer]

always enjoy seeing new peeps get in my boat on a hot day (its black) most people set down next to the seat and then swing in thats a pretty sensitive area that makes contact with the boat

I had one all black boat, I'll never have another one no matter how good they look, I have the burn marks to remind me, it can be about as bad as hot headers!.:(

[Yeager]

Im Back,

Been in Tahoe with the Family. I'll post some pictures soon. It needs a bunch of cleaning and polishing, and a paint job, but I think its going to be a sweet ride. I heard the boat was in Carcraft magazine back in the 80's with a matching vega racecar.....so it was super clean at one time. Now its super dirty......

But thats OK, I cant wait to dig in!

Thanks!

Mark

[poncho]

Excellent,hope you had a good time,how was the boat?

[Yeager]

Excellent,hope you had a good time,how was the boat?

No boat outings yet. Had to get some snow action in first. Now it game on!

[poncho]

brain fart,Tahoe and winter yep

[hm66Howard]

No boat outings yet. Had to get some snow action in first. Now it game on!Hey Mark, are you in Tahoe?

[RiverRacer]

brain fart,Tahoe and winter yep

LMAO!.....:D

[Yeager]

Hey Mark, are you in Tahoe?

I was this weekend. Inlaws have a cabin in Meyers. I live in Hollister,CA.

Mark

[hm66Howard]

Yeah, right on. If any of you come up to Tahoe this summer, let me know so we can hook-up. ;)

[Norcal_73]

I run through Tahoe from time-to-time on my way to Minden, NV. To my Sisters place.