Sportique 16 Ski Wakeboard Boat

Very nice example of this now classic ski boat. They're an excellent choice if you want a proper ski boat but haven't got the space (or budget!) for a Mastercraft! The design is like a miniaturised version of an 80s Mastercraft. There were two versions of the 16, the one that looked like the 80s Mastercraft, and the one with the curved top and curved glass screen. This one, so I'm told, is the last of the old kind, so it has the newer hull, but still the old style top.

I bought this boat wanting to upgrade from an outboard runabout boat, but it turned out not to be in the best nick. After the 3rd trip out in it, the big end went, and so started the restoration project! So, it's had a replacement engine, fitted by Sam at Keeton Marine (son of the original builder). It's a 5l Mercruiser V8. Slightly less power but slightly better economy than the 5.7l.

I think it was on a closed cooled system in its original boat, so it's never been in the sea. Then I decided to update the interior a bit, which turned into a massive 3 month total strip down. Some of the floor turned out to be rotten, so that was cut out, replaced and fibreglassed, then it's had all new proper marine carpet. I made an under bow locker, which these didn't have originally. I replaced the wooden cover at the back and added flaps to get to the fuel and battery isolators.

We took the bathing platform off and sealed it on properly as it was leaking. I had the windscreen frame powder coated and replaced the perspex side windows. I've replaced all of the chrome fittings that I could find. Added a couple of cupholders in the dash. Then we got on to the upholstery!

This is all new in top quality marine vinyl. That bit was probably the biggest project I've ever taken on! But it looks quite fetching I think with the sparkly blue stripe. It's on a 4 wheel heavy duty trailer which I've painted and installed integral LED lights, so there's no removing of the lightboard needed to put it in the water. It also had a new winch.All in all, I spent a lot of time and money on the restoration!

Blood sweat and tears is no exaggeration! The only bit I didn't get round to doing was the cover. It's got a pretty old one on it, which does work, but has seen better days. I was using a generic cover on it, but that ripped when I tried to tighten it up at some point. Unfortunately, shortly after doing all this, we started skiing with someone who's got a much better boat than we could ever afford, so this one has sat unused.

Part of me wants to take it to Portugal and use it there, but I suspect it'll never happen. So better to sell it now than have it sitting unused for another year. The price is a little higher than these tend to go for, but you don't tend to find them in this condition. The interior is basically brand new. So I won't take any silly offers.

Any questions, let me know.