Thinking about a new boat...what to get?

[KD7000Guy]

I currently have a 2000 pro air, I thought I would get into wakeboarding or surfing more when I bought this boat 2 years ago, but it hasn't happened and I have actually gotten more into slalom. I even took the tower off (pain in the butt putting it up and down going in and out of the garage and it wasnt getting any use while on the boat). I also put a acme 422 on the boat thinking it would help the wake some..not sure if it did but my hole shot is better and more smooth with it. I am thinking about a 206 or maybe a sport but haven't ski'd them. I have heard they are both better than my current boat. I am looking to continue to ski more and improve but do like the size of my boat. At 15 off my wake is decent,there is a rooster tail just in front of me when skiing which can be distracting, at 22 off the wake is pretty hard and at 28 off it gets a little better again. Any insight on the wake of the 206, sport, and Pro air would be appreciated....Thanks

[brodie]

The Sport/Air will be a little better than your Pro, still somewhat hard @22 off, better really nice at 28 off. The 206 will be much better at all line lengths and speeds vs the Sport or Pro air. Interior wise, the sport is the essentially the same as the Pro-Air. The 206 has the full size spotter seat which I like much better than the 3 cheek seat in the Sport. The rear trunk on the 206 is quite a bit smaller than the Sport, and the bow is slightly smaller, but otherwise the two are not that far apart in size. With the 216, you gain a little more interior room(width) and slightly better slalom wake vs the sport/air.

Edit: BTW, speed makes a big difference with the sport wake. I ski at 34 and it is pretty good, but at 30 it is a whole different ballgame.

[KD7000Guy]

Thanks brodie, currently I ski at about 34 on my pro air, at 15 off, down to about 30 at 28 off. More often than not im also free skiing with access to a course only sometimes. my brother has a sport, which I havent ski'd yet (he's in NC im in MN). However, he has ski'd my pro air and basically said his wake is a little better than mine but I didnt get the feeling that would be worth switching to a sport or air, if I am going to switch. Sounds like a 206 would be the best bet? How much different is the 216 wake vs. the 206?

[BigBald]

I'm a big fan of the 216. Love the smidge bit of extra room...but really love the larger trunk. But, I am not aggresive enough slaloming to need the little bit of difference between the 206 and 216. Probably also depends on how many are in the boat. But, I also like the more options with the 216...can wakeboard...can surf with the right set-up...etc...

[tmb]

I ski 32 mph @ 15' off on my Air216 and I think the wake is great. It also throws a good wakeboarding wake and with a few sacs you can surf.

[JMS]

tmb,

What's your setup for surfing? I haven't found the right setup on our 216.

KD7000Guy,

If you need the additional room for people/gear, as I do, the 216 is a great boat with a good slalom wake (I ski 34mph @ 15 off). With added weight it can also thow a nice wakeboard wake. If you don't need the added storage etc. the 206 will have a better slalom wake and may be a good option for you.

[brijulia]

we are trying to decide between the 206 and the 216 as well! we have two young kids that are getting into wakeboarding and we all like to surf and my husband and I both love to ski. We are currently looking at a 206 that acutally has the hydrogate option, does anyone know if you can surf behind the 206 or 216 the way to go and how much wake to you sacrifice with the 216? Help!

[helenewbold]

we are trying to decide between the 206 and the 216 as well! we have two young kids that are getting into wakeboarding and we all like to surf and my husband and I both love to ski. We are currently looking at a 206 that acutally has the hydrogate option, does anyone know if you can surf behind the 206 or 216 the way to go and how much wake to you sacrifice with the 216? Help!

Would probably go with the 206 for the following reasons:

1. The 206 will have the superior ski wake...and enough wakeboard wake for the kids.
2. Either boat will need to have a similar amount of extra weight/ballast added to create a reasonable wakeboard wake...even more so for a surf wake.
3. Consider a v-drive (211) if you don't want to have to fumble around with extra fat sacs/lead etc for wakeboarding and surfing.

Good Luck!

[SkiTower]

If a picture is worth a thousand words, a couple of test rides is worth considerably more...I would test ride. A friend sold his 216 and I went with him on a test ride of a 206. He didn't see any difference, but mentioned the added room of the 216. He now has a 196.

I would also look at the 211. If the ski wake is good enough for you, the added benefits are worth it. It all boils down to personal preference.

[Kevin_B]

Thanks brodie, currently I ski at about 34 on my pro air, at 15 off, down to about 30 at 28 off. More often than not im also free skiing with access to a course only sometimes. my brother has a sport, which I havent ski'd yet (he's in NC im in MN). However, he has ski'd my pro air and basically said his wake is a little better than mine but I didnt get the feeling that would be worth switching to a sport or air, if I am going to switch. Sounds like a 206 would be the best bet? How much different is the 216 wake vs. the 206?

this really doesn't help answer the main question but if your are confident skiing 34mph @15 off you should really be able to handle 34 mph @28 off. I have a 1990 sport and imo that is the only line length on that boat worth skiing. I would try to work up to that speed before buying a new boat.

[KD7000Guy]

Thanks again for the feedback everyone....Kevin_b, we are on the same page, I decided to hold off for now on a 206. I am going to work on getting faster at 28 off. That length sure seems like it will be better than 22 and 15 off. Plus the interior space in our boat is pretty much the same as a 206 and my friends that wakeboard do like our boat for that.