Slalom Wake on 206

[cooperwoods]

Slalom wake on 206. My buddy has a Malibu Response LXI. I have a nautique 206. My buddy complains about the wake behind my boat and believes it to be completely inferior to his wake. I ski behind both and must confess that the 2Response wake is a pretty nice wake. What do others think. Does the 206 wake need to be re-tooled? Is it the best wake in the industry? Why do you like it over Mailibu or Mastercraft? I need some good intel to adequately put my friend in his place.

[Wakeslave]

IMO, I think alot of it comes down to personal preference. What boat you grew up behind, what you are use to, etc. Your friend might just be "bustin' your ba***" because he has something different than you. Both boats have a great wake, I've skied behind both.

[NCH2oSki]

The malibu's in general seem to have a softer wake, and their boats give more then a nautique does. I have a tsc 1 ski naut. and the wake is smaller then my friends malibu, but you can't pull my nautique around like you can the malibu. I hate to say it but I have my PB behind his malibu, but he had his PB behind my old MC.

[SGY]

Honestly, in this day in age, their is no such thing as an inferior ski wake. MC, Malibu and CC all make an awesome product. They wouldn't put it out if it didn't have a top notch wake. Wakeslave is right. It's a matter of personal preference and what you are used to. No wake is completely flat. They all have a bump. The Malibu wake is different than the 206 wake. Maybe your buddy skis more tentatively behind the 206 because the wake appears more turbulent. A flat ski will feel the bump much more than a edged ski.

I haven't skied behind a Malibu but I'm sure the wake is awesome. However, I've read comparisons by Tom Rutat on MBO of the LXI wake to the 97-01 TSC hull. His comments were that Malibu was close but still not quite as good as the TSC Nautiques. I think my 206 with the TSCII hull has a softer wake than my old 99 SN. Also, I've spoken with alot of promo guys that love the 206 and think it's better than a Bu. Again, its all about perspective.

I have skied behind a '04 Prostar 197 and I think my 206 wake is softer and smaller. There is absolutely nothing wrong with the wake behind the 206 and I would disagree with your buddy that the wake is inferior. I bet he is just bustin your chops a little bit.

Also, which boat do you think drives or tracks better? The 206 tracks flawlessly--maybe to the detriment of a smaller softer wake. Which boat is quieter? I bet the 206 has the Response beat in both of these catagories. Don't let your buddy ruin your new boating experience. You have a really nice boat--the best all around ski boat in my opinion.

Enjoy the boat.

[Edwin]

The RLXi / 206 debate is a tough one as both boats are outstanding and each have their advantages. SGY made a great point about the edged ski. I was quite impressed w/ the wakes of the 206 when I test drove / skiied it last season. No question the boat would not have been the limiting factor if I didn't ski well. That said, a non-edged ski was MUCH rougher across the wakes than a RLXi. Again, not an issue for me but possibly would be for my wife and kids. My brother just picked up a new RLXi last week, can't wait to get some sets behind it next weekend.

[MARK-S]

If you get the camras out at the ends of the course, watch the boat and yourself ski down the course. notice the boat path. The 206 will go straight down the course. the BU will bump close to the drive ball on the bouy your at. That is why you PB behind the BU. If you put a good quality tourny driver behind the BU, you may not notice the drift as much, but to the normal ski partner driving you, they will float/drift to the drive balls. 1/2 to 1 foot makes all the dif in the world when you are at short lines. That is why record tournys have all the camras.

[SGY]

Mark, as a shortline tourney skier, you ski behind all makes of ski boats. What is your impression of the 206 as compared to a Response or Prostar? I would think at shortline you don't notice much of a difference so I'm curious what you think of longer lines for women or kids. Do you hear any complaints relating to the 206 vis a vis the Response?

[MARK-S]

My wife skis 26 and 28 mph right now. My ski partner has a Response lx, I also have a LXI as the club boat at a lake we just bought a lot on. Trophy lakes 2 (pine island,Mn) she dosnt notice
much change from the 206 to the LX until there is 3 people in the boat. The 206 stays the same
when loaded down, but the LX wake changes with a load. The LXI is a barge. I like the LXI wake but hate driving it. But like they say, If you cant ski behind any of the big 3, but a Glastron with a 75hp moter and you will have a very small wake, just dont use my sl coures when you do it. Technique will get you through any wake.

[SGY]

Thanks Mark. I hope your summer is going well.

Mark hit upon a very good point. For me, the wake is only one half of the equation. I spend equally as much time driving my boat as I do skiing behind it--probably more. The 206 is a wonderful boat for skiing and driving.

[MARK-S]

Well said.

[lakecskier]

thought I would chime in since my ski partners and myself ski behind a 206 (mine) , SN 1997, SN 1998, 2 Malibu responses.
the best skier of the group has his personal best behind the 206, 2 off at 39 ...we always ski the 206 with the kx set at minus --that's probably more the power of the engine than anything.
other than that ....they all have great wakes and it's a matter of preference ...though all will admit that the 206 is much quieter and tracks better than the others. We take turns all the time and there is not much (if any) difference in our performances...
as was noted by others ...don't notice much difference unless the ski gets flat ...then it's trouble no matter what boat your behind.
I absolutely love my 206 ...which was a must because I have 4 young boys and need the room..I would have had to get a Malibu if CC didn't come out with the open bow tournament boat.

[cooperwoods]

What cause the ski to go flat across the wake?

[SGY]

Maybe someone who is a good skier can answer better. In general, you need to keep the handle low at your waste or your elbows touching your vest with back arm pressure. Compress your lower body to keep your ski out front and on edge.

I'm still working on it.

[MARK-S]

All at the same time. The mapple video is very good at explaining this. If you have DVD you can watch frame by frame. Its better than lessons form any pro. If you have the capibility to video your self, watch the mapple dvd and than watch yourself. Its a big plus.

[gatorgates]

I love my 206 for many reasons and at my rope length (32 and 35 off 34 mph) the wake is great even with the family in the boat. Nevertheless, I have to admit that at 22 off 34 mph, the wake sucks. The rooster tail is high and hard and launches you whether the ski is on edge or not. Everything else is so perfect, however, that I just don't care. When my son gets 15 off figured out, we may just skip to 28.

The Malibus that I ski behind (sunsetter lxi and response lx) have great wakes too but I am not crazy about the handling through the course and they seem significantly noisier and have more vibration at speed. I ski better behind my boat, my buddies ski better behind theirs. Surprise, surprise.