Noob qustions......please help!

[kevfran99]

I'm looking into buying my first Nautique and have a few questions for you guys before I make this major purchse(because I don't want to make a mistake again!) I bought a Yamaha AR230 about two months ago. Once I added some wegith the wake got much better but it's still not to my standards. I also want to spend more time surfing(doesn't work too well behind a jet boat) It does get great gas mileage! It's also very hard to keep at a certain speed with no perfect pass(this causes too many arguments between me and my significant other :evil: ) I'm looking at an '06 226 Team. Is this the older version of the new SAN 230 or is it a crossover? Does it have the same hull as a SAN? It's fully loaded and in the color I like, but cost about 20 grand more than my AR230. Any advice on this boat? I want to stay with a longer boat because I don't want to get killed when it's rough out. I spend about 1/2 my time with only four people in the boat and the other 1/2 with 8-10 people.

Thanks for all your advice!

[Bullet]

RE: Noob qustions......please help!

my father in law has an AR 230---you will love the nautique 100x better in every category except smooth ride and top speed

the 226 does not have the same hull as a SAN---it is not an older version of a 230---it is a one of a kind boat---does lots of things well, just not for one sport

[SkiTower]

RE: Noob qustions......please help!

211, 216, 226, and 236 are considered cross-overs. 216 is a ski boat that can have tanks and comes with a tower. 211 is a V-drive that has a decent recreational ski wake, but not something you would use in a tournament (and I think a decent wakeboard and surf wake, but I do neither). 226 and 236 are really wakeboard boats with a crossover label.

So to answer your question, no, the 226 is not an older version of the 230. The 230 is still around. If you have no desire to ski, 226, 236, 210, 220, or 230 is fine. From your capacity description, 230 and 236 are probably a little big.

As for the 20 grand, one word: resale. Worth every bit of it. Not to mention the increased attention you'll get by having a Nautique over the Yahama.

As for the big answer to your real question, it's all a matter of personal preference and you should drive it and if possible get behind it.

[kevfran99]

Re: RE: Noob qustions......please help!

my father in law has an AR 230---you will love the nautique 100x better in every category except smooth ride and top speed

You are correct.....it's a smooth riding boat and I can smoke my friends 400hp X30!

I do like having the larger boat....the AR is 23' and I thought if I stayed with a 23' Nautique it would still ride nice on those choppy days.

So if I'm understanding correctly the crossover is more of a all around boat, but the SAN is more of a wakeboard and surf boat......correct?

[Bullet]

RE: Re: RE: Noob qustions......please help!

SAN is pure bred wakeboard---surf is good too

no ski boat will ride good compared to a Vbottom---but the newer boats are way better than the older ones

[NautiDave07]

RE: Re: RE: Noob qustions......please help!

To let you guys know the 236 is exactly the same hull as the 230 They called it a crossover in 07 but it is by far a hardcore wake machine. The way i optioned mine it is exactly the same boat as the 08 230 except for the prop.

[emagine]

RE: Re: RE: Noob qustions......please help!

I have an '05 226, and it does very well in choppy water. I would assume that is because of the hull design and additional weight from its size. It also performs well with the Excalibur 330 engine. However, I think I will look forward to a ZR6 upgrade someday. My wife and I love the boat because it does a lot of things well and has a great layout for a large group with room to move around. The ski wake is bearable, but the board and surf wakes are awesome especially with all three ballast tanks loaded down.