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The Nautique (Correct Craft) Ski Nautique is a mid-size bowrider built in moulded fibreglass by Nautique (Correct Craft) of United States, a builder trading since 1925. On our measurements it works out at roughly 20 ft 6 in (6.25 m) of hull with a beam near 8 ft 10 in (2.69 m), which places it squarely in the trailerable family bowrider class: one vehicle, one trailer, one afternoon of prep, and the boat is in the water. The technology leader in surf and wake, with open-bow layouts that seat a crowd.
Layout is classic bowrider and that is the whole point of the boat. Twin lounges run forward of the windscreen with a walk-through to the anchor well, the helm and companion seats sit amidships behind a wrap screen, and a full-width lounge spans the transom for sunbathing and socialising. Around 10 people fit aboard comfortably in sheltered water. Cushions lift out, backrests fold and filler pads convert the cockpit from a conversation pit into one long sun bed in a couple of minutes.
The ride is what most owners talk about first. Deadrise through the forward sections knocks the top off bay chop, the running surface aft keeps the boat stable at rest, and the hull sits level when six people crowd one side to watch a skier. Inside the bay it feels planted and predictable, which is exactly what a family boat needs.
Power is a 150-225 hp inboard V-drive or direct drive package, and that suits both the hull and the way these boats are used. An inboard sits the engine amidships under the floor, which centres the weight, cleans up the transom and produces the shaped wake that wakeboarders and slalom skiers chase.
Watersports are well covered. A tow point is standard on almost every boat in this class, and Nautique (Correct Craft) owners regularly add a pylon or a folding tower for wakeboarding. With inboard power the wake is the boat's headline feature and rope work is its natural job. Skis, ropes and vests live in the under-floor and under-seat lockers so nothing sits underfoot while the boat is loaded.
Fishing is the quiet strength of this hull. Pull the bow cushions and the forward lounge becomes an open casting platform with clear access all the way around the bow, and the rear lounge lifts out to open up the transom and side gunwales. Ten minutes of work turns the family boat into a genuinely capable fishing boat, and ten minutes the other way turns it back again before anyone gets home.
Build and finish sit where you would expect for a luxury boat from United States. Nautique, built by Correct Craft since 1925, is the most technically advanced builder in the towboat world, and its open-bow models double as extremely capable family boats. Nautique Surf System wave shaping, LINC touchscreen control, electric ballast and now fully electric propulsion in the Super Air Nautique GS series put the brand at the front of the class for wave quality and drivability. Bow layouts are wide and deep, with wraparound seating that genuinely holds four adults, filler cushions and lockers sized for boards rather than an afterthought. The Ski Nautique remains a benchmark tournament slalom boat, while the G and GS models are the surf choice. Build quality is exceptional and so is the price: a new Nautique is among the most expensive trailerable boats you can buy, and used values reflect that with very slow depreciation. For families where wake surfing is a serious pursuit and budget allows, nothing else combines the same wave, finish and technology package.
Options worth having on the Ski Nautique are the practical ones: a bimini for shade, a decent bow and cockpit cover so the upholstery survives being stored outside, an upgraded sounder if you fish, and a stereo package that can be heard over the engine. On fibreglass, a ceramic coat or a good polish once a season keeps the gelcoat looking new and protects resale.
As a used buy, check the same things you would on any bowrider in this size band: transom firmness, stringer and floor soundness, hours and service history on the engine, steering and trim function, and the state of the upholstery seams, which are the first thing to fail on a boat that lives uncovered. Boats from this builder hold their money well, so a tidy example will not be cheap, and that is usually a sign you are buying the right one.
Our price guide for the Ski Nautique is US$106,000 - US$139,000 new, which moves with engine choice, trailer, tower and how recently the boat was refreshed. Judged as a whole, it does what people buy a bowrider for: cruise, tow, swim, fish and entertain in one boat, without asking the family to compromise on any of them. Nautique (Correct Craft) has been refining that formula since 1925, and the Ski Nautique is a straightforward, well-judged expression of it.
The world's best selling bowrider size, Light, simple and easy to tow.
US$38,000 - US$52,000 new
The refined mainstream benchmark: quiet, dry, and beautifully finished for the money.
US$72,000 - US$95,000 new
A premium 25-foot bowrider renowned for its deep seating, convertible lounges, refined ride and exceptional finish.
US$155,000 - US$210,000 new
Featured Boat of the Week
This week we are putting the Bayliner Bayliner DX2000 in the spotlight, and it earns the spot. At 20 ft 2 in (6.16 m) long on a 8 ft (2.44 m) beam, this is a bowrider that reads the water well and still feels roomy enough for a full day out. A 20-foot deck-boat-width bowrider with outboard power and a huge social cockpit. Power comes from 115-150 hp mercury fourstroke outboard through a outboard package, and the fibreglass hull keeps the ride settled when the afternoon breeze puts a chop on the surface.
Seating is rated for 8 people, so there is space for family, friends, towels, eskies and the tow rope without anyone climbing over gear. Owners tend to buy it for family, water ski, leisure — which is exactly where it shines. Fuel is 30 us gal (114 l), and on the second-hand and new market you should expect to land somewhere around US$42,000 - US$58,000 new depending on hours, trailer and options.
Our full deep dive covers the layout in detail: bow lounge comfort, helm ergonomics, the rear entertaining area, storage that actually swallows a weekend, plus standard features, popular options and honest notes on where the boat compromises. If the Bayliner DX2000 is on your shortlist, start there — and check back next week, because the featured boat changes every week as we complete more full model reviews.
Featured Bowrider Article
Buying Advice
At the top of the bowrider market, boats stop competing on price and start competing on craftsmanship. The differences are real and immediately obvious the moment you step aboard, and they show up in ride quality, longevity and resale as much as in appearance. Build integrity comes first: closed-cell foam or composite coring rather than plywood, hand-laid or infused laminates, fully bonded stringer grids, and finished, gelcoated surfaces inside lockers and under hatches where cheaper boats leave rough glass. Then finish. Deep, flaw-free gelcoat, tight moulding tolerances, stainless rather than chromed plastic, hand-stitched upholstery with padded contours, soft-close hatches on gas struts and hidden wiring in labelled looms. These details cost money to build and are exactly what survives fifteen years of use. Premium bowriders usually carry more deadrise, more weight and more carefully developed hull shapes, which is why they feel planted in a chop where cheaper boats slam. Sound insulation and heavier laminates make them noticeably quieter as well. Equipment moves ahead too: joystick docking, digital throttles, dynamic positioning, touchscreen displays with integrated boat control, submersible swim platforms, powered biminis, underwater lighting, premium audio, refrigeration, hot showers and even air conditioning on larger models. In the North American premium bowrider and sport-boat segment…
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