Most reliable motor and drive - Advice

[jo-e90]

From 1989 Ski Nautique2001 to the 1995 Correct Craft Sport Nautique.


Also, is EFI always better?

[Mikeski]

Both the GT-40 and the older PCM's are great motors. In some regards I actually prefer a carb but only when they are in great shape. The simplicity of a carb is very tough to beat. My slalom boat has a carbed PCM and it runs fantastic. I think it responds better to throttle input and is easier to hold speed if forced to pull slalom without perfect pass. The GT-40 EFI is a great motor, 1995 was the first year and it is not quite as refined as some later year GT40's. My 1995 GT40 was slow to return to idle, really bothered me until I got used to it. Starting without ever touching the throttle is the biggest advantage in my opinion. A well tuned carbed 1989 will run nearly as well as the 1995 GT40. Neither have reliability issues. Avoid the throttle body EFI and pro-tec ignition systems, they are the most problematic systems, neither were available on the years you are looking at.

[gilbertaznautique]

What years did they have the Throttle body EFI in the Sport Nautique?

[mf01]

I have TBI in my 94. I'm not sure if it's other years. The TBI is fine, it's the pro-tec that many have problems with.

[Mikeski]

I believe the TBI was only offered in 1994, due to issues with them. Feedback on the 94 TBI is about 75% positive and about 25% horrible. The bad ones were horribly bad, but the good ones performed nearly as well as the GT40. mf01, glad to hear you have one of the good ones. The system is based on the Edelbrock aftermarket fuel injection unit.

[laddski]

The Pro-Tec ignition is on the 93 HO motors and although there are many complaints about them, I had a 93 Sport that I ran for 13 years and not a single problem. I also just purchased another 93 Sport that runs perfect and has the Pro-Tec. When the Pro-Tec goes, you spend the $500 and put in the replacement distributor setup from skidim.com and keep going.

I'm with Mikeski, I love the simplicity of the carbed motors and unless you are at elevation, you won't notice a power difference between the 5.8HO and the GT40 since they both have the GT40 heads.

[TRBenj]

TBI was offered in '94-95, in both standard (Pro-Ski) and HO (Pro Boss) versions.

The Pro-Tec ignition system was offered from '91-95 and will be present on all PCM engines in that era, save for the base motor and GT40 MPEFI ('95 only). You'll have a hard time finding a '91-94 engine without it, unless a previous owner converted it.

I wouldnt necessarily rule out a boat with either system if it ran good and checked out otherwise. I would try and get the seller to discount the boat based on the replacement cost of each system, should it fail though. To convert a TBI motor, youre replacing the ignition and fuel systems (carb, fuel pump, distributor, etc) to the tune of ~$1k. To convert a carb'd Pro Tec motor, it'll run about half that.

[swc5150]

We noticed what seemed to be a substantial fuel savings when purchasing an EFI boat in '95 (Prostar). To be honest, the first EFI PCM's were kind of a scramble to keep up with Indmar/GM, which MC took the industry by storm. The Gen I TBI Indmar wasn't a masterpiece either though. With all that said, I personally would never go back to a carb'd engine. No starting tricks to them, just turn the key. I'm not a pro mechanic or engine tuner, I just want to turn the key and go. Of course, I'm also a fan of Linc technology, so...

[Nowakepc]

Have owned a 1991 sn since new. PCM replaced Pro-tec ign pack when boat was 5 yrs old. (no charge). Boat has 796 hrs and have never had a problem with ign. Thumped a new 2009 330 sn at an inwater boat show by 2 boat lengths in a hole shot a couple of years ago. Only change-4 blade prop.