1992 Supra Esprit

[rossp]

Hey guys I'm looking for some guidance. I've been looking at a 92 Esprit on craiglist that looks like it's in pretty good shape. Main purpose for the boat will be wakeboarding with the family. Wondering what you know about this model to lookout for, how is the wake and how cramped will it be with 6-8 people in it... I've also been seeing alot of posts with certain model boats being prone to submarine. Thanks for the help!
http://pensacola.craigslist.org/boa/2571431559.html

[rossp]

Here is a link to some pics
http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/824/img0545af.jpg/

[Blackntan90]

I hope the 6-8 people are good friends! It will be tight w/8- but we had 5 people and 5 dogs on our Mariah this summer, and it was not too bad. You do have to watch for rollers coming over the bow, but steer into them and give a little throttle to get the nose up. For all around fun it is a good boat- not too big, not too small. The wake is average as well(w/o sacs or lead). Hope this helps!

[rossp]

Thanks for the quick reply. I posted a link to the pics and the description that's on craigslist. Sound like a good deal?

[tomelenbaas]

I have an '88 Mariah which is very similar. It will comfortably seat 8 or more people. But the boat (at least the Mariah) is only rated about 1,200 pounds, so I'd hesitate to put too much ballast in it. I put a 300 lb. sack in the back along with a couple of riders and we get a pretty good wake - or so the boarders tell me. I can't speak from experience since I don't board - only slalom ski, and for that the wake is very good for a boat this size.

Board storage is very limited on these older boats - they were made before wakeboards. I think this one has a ski locker under the playpen in front (where mine has a cooler) which may give it a bit more room.

Looking at the ad on Craig's list, I'd have two questions. Why was it necessary to replace the prop and shaft, and why was it necessary to rebuild an engine with only 270 hours? I consider both of those to be red flags.

[tomelenbaas]

By way of clarification to my last post, although the boat will comfortably seat 8 or 9 people for general cruising, I don't usually take more than 6 out to ski or board. If you have too many people in the boat you end up playing musical chairs as riders get in and out. Also, as Blackntan said, it's easy to swamp the boat so you've got to be really watchful for rollers - especially if you have a couple of people in the bow.

[rossp]

Thanks guys I'll have to check into the reason for the prop and shaft replacement. Something about the thought of rollers coming over the bow scares me...

[rossp]

Well this is the response I got about the work that was done.

First, my father-in-law dinged the prop on a rock in 2006 I think it was. He replaced the prop at that time even though it only seemed to have minor damage. However the bearing in the prop shaft stabilizing strut wore lopsidedly over the next season until the shaft sheared from friction and cross-forces in 2007. We only discovered that (by deduction) when replacing the prop shaft when we noticed the abnormal wear pattern on the inner bearing of the strut. So we actually replaced that stabilizing strut as well at the same time, not knowing whether the shaft or the strut was out of true. We changed out the stuffing box at the same time, so thats relatively new also.

Early in 2009, one of the exhaust manifolds (cast iron) corroded enough while we were out that the engine hydrolocked and we couldn't get it started back up. Unfortunately we were beached on the lagoon side of Johnson beach at the time. And we weren't the owners of the boat yet (my father-in-law sold it to us later for the cost of repairs) so we didn't have SeaTow yet. So, it took a few days before we could get it out and get te money to get it to a mechanic so the engine had seized and had to be rebuilt. We took it out again that summer and the next and it ran like a charm.

[jet]

Man, she is clean. Good starter boat, also Its easy to store and use. It will fit in the garage, throws a pretty good wake and you can ski behind it. You will never dip the nose once you know how to drive her just NEVER let off of the throttle FAST! Or it will dip the nose..if you see a $85000 wakeboarding boat go by, turn the your boat sideways and your fine. If Its just you and your buddies, load her up to 1600lbs!! or just a 300-400 lbs in the rear. Looks like a really clean boat. Have fun!!

[michael hunter]

That is an open bow comp ski boat. If wake boarding is your main goal you should buy a different boat. The bow is very low and in rough water it will probably take water. Looking at the windshield it probably has wood stringers make sure you check it thoroughly before you buy.

[haugy]

Yes, Michael is right. THAT IS NOT A MARIAH OR EVEN CLOSE!!!!

That is essentially a Conbrio. Me personally, I would look for something else. The guy is already stretching his descriptions trying to make it more than it is. A good clean comp like that would easily go for $6,000. Which leads me to believe there is more wrong with it than he is letting on. It will be a wood stringer boat, so check the floors and stringers well.

Check the driveshaft for wobble or movement. Get under the boat and turn the prop, it will be hard, but you can do it.

Compared to the rest of the Supra line, this is the least favorable for wakeboarding. It's the smallest old school Supra out there. If the boat is in perfect shape, go for it. But take it for a lake test. I can't stress this enough, especially with it's history. You have to make sure it's running right, and smooth. If you can't, walk away right then and there. No hesitation.

Keep posting and we'll try to help you out. But just know, THAT IS NOT A MARIAH. I owned and restored a 1990 Mariah for 7 years. I know those old girls in and out. THAT IS NOT ONE, no matter what he says.

[firstdogriver]

After Supra stopped making the Conbrio (1989-1991) they came out with the Esprit. The Conbrio was the open bow version of the Ts6m which was Supra's famous competition ski boat hull. I'm not sure if the Esprit has the same hull or if it is similar. I own a 1989 Conbrio and I mainly use it for skiing and a little wake-boarding. Many people on this site weigh down their Ts6m(s) with fat sac sacs and say they can make a pretty good wake. Regardless of your intentions Supra makes a great boat and you'll really enjoy it.

Hope this was helpful.

[mapleleaf]

I own a '90 Conbrio, bought it with blinder's on and luckily enough have made it work, It's a ski boat, a great one at that, I don't go out boarding with more than 3 buddies ( it's a small boat as mentioned). It's my first inboard and I may just keep it forever, but I'd keep looking if you want a wake boat.
Don't get me wrong I've weighed my boat down and loved every minute of it, but there's a learning curve to keeping the water out and you'll never get 8 people on board, correction I did it in aug this yr, and 4 of them were under 5!!!!

[haugy]

Note. I'm not dogging on the boats, but compared to other Supra's bases my opinions. I've also owned a comp, and had some of the best times of my life behind it.

[DAFF]

Nice looking boat but 8 people will sink her...... 3 adults and 5 kids under ten might be OK. The nose will scoop water from time to time but if the lakes you ride in are mostly inland then you will be fine.

Look at the seat bottoms and watch out for black or wet looking seat frames and soggy cushions... Cracks in the fibreglass near the engine mounts/ missing engine mount lag bolts are warning of weak or soft rotten stringers. Soft parts in the floor are also bad news. I too love my old comp but as a wake boarding boat the Sunsport or Saltare much wiser choices.

[Jetlink]

I echo what everyone else has said so far. With that minimal amount of freeboard on the hull, you do sit real close to the water. I weigh my boat down for wake boarding and it is a pretty decent wake for a ski boat hull. We have gotten pretty good at driving with big waves but again, you have to pay attention as you WILL SCOOP WATER over the bow. Case in point, we were set up to idle into a channel and this major @$$ hole was coming out in a fountain and he decides that he can't wait an additional 5 seconds to add power and start getting on plane, would have swamped my stern if I wasn't ready for the dick move.

[rossp]

Wow I'm really blown away at how much you guys have stepped up to give me advice. Seeing that my soon to be a teen son will be driving some I think I should get a boat with less sinking characteristics so that we don't have any scares. I just don't want to step off in a big payment for my first boat. We love the water and would be in lakes and rivers for the use of the boat in lower Alabama. Really need something that we can get our family of 4 and another family on. I would really prefer a boat that has fiberglass floors and stringers so thats just one less thing to worry about.

[stinky_1]

The fiberglass floors are nice, but there is a significant price increase to get into those boats. Start thinking of the $10,000 mark on the cheap side. Realistically closer to $15,000. As winter starts in most of the world these prices will come down, but you also will not be able to lake test them.

The conbrio is a capable boat, and it is a wet ride, but its still useable. There are sunsports out there in the $5000 range as well which has more of what your son will be looking for. Wood floors or not, $5000 for a boat that runs and can be wakeboarded behind is a deal as far as I am concerned. I am in canada though, and our boats tend to cost more money up here. If it was me, I would keep looking for a sunsport in that price range. It wont be "mint" by any means, but it will be workable. And as a first boat you dont want to have a lot invested. Once you know you will use it, and you know it fits your lifestyle you can always sell this for close to what you bought it for and then get your fiberglass stringer and floor boat for more money

[michael hunter]

In no way did I want to bash the Esprit it is a great ski boat it was designed for 3 people driver, spotter and skier. I think you will be far more comfortable in a Sunsport or larger boat. If you are ever near Lake Lanier GA. give me a shout and you can test out my Sunsport.

[rossp]

One nice thing about lower Alabama is I can pretty much test drive a boat all year, but you're right about the prices coming down during the winter months. I'll be able to spend up to $15,000 for a cash purchase after the first of the year, but was thinking that the esprit was quite affordable. I don't want to rush a purchase and then not enjoy our time on the water. Thing is we've spent time on boats like 23' Nautiques that will leave me wanting if I don't get a boat of equal size and ability like a Supra, Nautique, MasterCrafts...etc. Doesn't have to be new just nice and able to have loads of fun on. Thanks again for all the advice and input.

[rossp]

Well I see another one to look into, what are your thoughts and with a 454 can I afford to drive it?:D
http://bham.craigslist.org/boa/2542999694.html

[rossp]

Well I think that one might be a scam.

[mapleleaf]

To clarify, I had been searching for 3 yrs for an inboard boat to board behind...Without researching and looking into useability, I based my choice on appearance.Being in Canada I thought I'd fulfill my dream to own a boat by making a road trip down south. A week after i explained to my brother that I had narrowed my search to a Supra Conbrio, I wanted an open bow, and loved the low profile( for some reason not considering its disadvantages on open water). A clinging to life camp owned Conbrio appeared on Craigslist 20 min north of my home. I didn't water test, check for stringer condition or anything mech, I snapped it up thinking it was a rarity to find a Supra up here....
It has been an amazing experience restoring this boat and enjoying it, with a fair share of rookie mistakes. Looking back now had I known this forum existed (I found it by accident one night looking up Supra Boats!) I would have been much more educated on each boats purpose instead of its price and availability. I'll never forget what my first boat has taught me and may keep it if it's resale isnt worth it, but to do your homework with the 100+ yrs of combined Supra owner's advice here is priceless. These guys know there stuff!!