You couldn’t miss the boat when you entered the door to one of my favorite auction houses recently. It was stationed just to the right, not blocking your path but close enough so you wouldn’t miss it. Apparently, many people just ignored it, heading instead to the “Orientalia” items up for auction opposite the boat, to the left.
I don’t recall seeing many guys looking it over, something they normally do when motorcycles or cars are for sale. I love the idea of boats; I could imagine the thrill and freedom of being in one of these ski boats (but not being towed by one on skis). That’s a fantasy, because I know very little about boats, and since I never learned to swim – despite many lessons – I basically ignored it, too. But I was curious about how much it would sell for. (Click on photo above for a fuller view of the boat.)
This is how the auction house described the boat:
“1990 Ski Centurion Tru-Trac III Dyna Drive II carbon graphite 19′ boat & trailer. The boat is an SWSA approved official US Open Towboat. It is 19′, has a Ford 351 indmar inboard engine w/a Holley 4bbl. carburetor, new exhaust manifolds, newer fuel pump & exhaust hoses. This boat has a closed bow & seats 6. All safety items include life jackets, oars, emergency flare kit, fire extinguisher, side bumpers, anchor, tow rope, water skis & mounting orange flag.” (I believe that SWSA should actually be AWSA for the American Water Ski Association. According to a 2009 story on the Wakeboarding Magazine website, the Tru Trac became an official AWSA towboat in 1984.)
The boat was also being simultaneously auctioned on liveauctioneers.com, which carried this condition report:
“The hull is in very good condition for its age. There are a few scuff marks on the top sides & nose from docking. Nose has one small chip. The floor has a few small soft spots, driver’s seat could use a new mount & the interior is in overall good condition w/some sun fade & minor cracking of the vinyl starting. Trailer is in fair condition, could use new tires, has aluminum wheels.” (Photo above is from the liveauctioneer.com website.)
The boat was estimated to sell for $8,000 to $10,000, with bidding expected to start at $4,500.
From my Google research, that estimate wasn’t far off. Similar boats for sale on the web – including one being sold out of Ohio and kept turning up on various sites – were going for around $10,000.
This ski boat was made by Centurion Boats of Merced, Calif., a company that about 20 years ago found its niche making and selling ski boats (or by their other name, towboats – not the ones that push barges). In 2009, Wakeboarding Magazine interviewed the founder, who put himself through college racing speedboats. Although this boat at auction was pretty mundane, the company has custom wraps for boats that are blazing.
At the recent auction, fewer than six people stood around as the bidding got started. The auctioneer noted that the boat was in “good running condition.” Another staffer shouted from a distance that it was a $15,000 boat. The auctioneer repeated its worth. He also mentioned that the boat came with accessories (which were on a rack on a wall behind the boat): life jackets, oars, water skis and more. (Photo at left is from the liveauctioneer.com website.)
The bidding started at $3,500 and barely moved. The auctioneer was obviously exasperated. Finally, giving up, he accepted a bid of $3,950. Someone got a bargain.
