@Notboatguy
First things first.....I want the backstory on how that boat got abandoned in the middle of the desert in Carlsbad. Best I can remember (lived in Roswell for a good stretch of my youth), there aren't many lakes out there. I learned to ski on Lake Van in Dexter, and it's only because it was shallow enough my stepdad could stand there and hold me up while the boat took off. So, I really really want to hear how that boat got there, there's gotta be a cool backstory to be had.
Next.....If I had unlimited time, and a decent budget; I would look into finding a crashed ski and use it as a donor. That looks like a fairly small boat, so any modern 1.8L or 1.3L Yamaha engine/pump setup would work well in terms of power and reliability. You're obviously going to have to do some fiberglass work to make it all fit and look proper. I'm more of a wrench turner than true craftsman, so doing stuff like body work, fiberglass and carpentry feel very difficult to me. If you're not afraid of those, then I suspect you'll be just fine.
I think you can make a PWC trailer work as well. Going to need to "reshape" it a bit. Likely move the axle back, and stretch the frame some for the added length. If you've got the chops to build a sand rail, you'll get this knocked out no problem.
Please start a build thread and keep us posted. Some of us are likely to add significantly to the knowledge you have/need to make this work. The rest of us (myself included) just like to live vicariously through others
![Big Grin :D :D](https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/joypixels/assets/8.0/png/unicode/64/1f600.png)
......Either way, welcome aboard!