Buying a new Nautique & need advice.

[Conor]

I am currently looking to buy new Nautique and need some help deciding. I primarily wakeboard but need a boat that can also be used for recreational slalom as well. I have narrowed the search down to three possibilities a 2004 210air, 2004 216air, or a 2001 super air Vdrive. I have wake boarded behind a 2003 210TE but never the 216. The 2001 is a loaded boat with every option while if I purchased a new boat it would not be loaded. The dealer is recommending the 2001 super air but it has the 310hp engine with 150 hours on it. Any recommendations or comparisons of these three boats would greatly be appreciated.

[weaesq]

If you're dealing with Al at Pro Watersports, listen to him. He's a straight-shooter, plus I'm sure you'll save quite a bit of jack going with the 2001.

[NautiqueJeff]

The 216 will obviously be a better slalom boat since it is a direct drive, but if you primarily wakeboard and only slalom a little bit, I would go with a Super Air. I use my boat as it sounds like you'll use yours, and I am very happy with my choice. The slalom wake behind the 210 isn't too bad, and the 216 is on the big end for a slalom boat.

The 2001 sounds like it has low hours, and it would be good to have all of the options, but there is something to be said for the warranty on a newer boat. Also, with the newer boat you could customize it as YOU want to over time. Which engine is in the '04 210? If it has the ZR6 and the price is right, I would say that might be the one. The Excalibur is a great engine (I have it in my boat), but the ZR6 would be even better. In the end, it all comes down to which one you like better. Take them all out for a test ride, and make up your mind.

You might want to send Redelf75 a PM and ask him how he likes his '04 Air 216. He just recently took delivery, and might be able to tell you more about how the skiing is compared to boarding behind that particular boat. There are plenty of SAN owners here who might chime in as well.

[Luke]

You may want to check out this old thread:
http://www.planetnautique.com/index....230&highlight=

When RedElf75 was looking to purchase his new boat a very similar conversation took place.

[Socbum]

Conor,

I was going through the same thought process back in March. I'm a recreational skier and so are my brothers. At the time we shared an 87 American Skier (shared may be generous, but that is a different story).

One of the key attributes that I was looking for was space. My family was not interested in learning how to ski so I was not concerned about the wake. My kids had been snow boarding and I showed them wakeboarding so we started looking at the 210's. After I got a look at the boat I fell in love.

Just last week we learned how to wakeboard and we have found something that the family realy loves. As for the brothers and the skiing? They have skied behind the 210 and they are fine with the "bump" as they cross the wake. They are not serious skiers they just love to get a good pull behind a great boat.

Jeff gives some great advice about having the warranty and adding your own stuff on your own schedule.

Just my .02.

[Conor]

First thank you for all the replies. Pro watersports is the dealer that has the loaded 2001 superair for sale. My next questions is are there any diffrences other than warranty in a 2001 superair vs a 2004 210, manly in hull design. I have looked at both of these boats and I do not see much diffrence other than the tower.

[Laptom]

Does are the same boats, 210 = Super Air. CorrectCraft (CC) change the names in 2003 from SuperAir to 210. The hulls are the same but the inside of the boat changed a little bit in 2002, the gunnels are a bit smaller (so there is so more room inside). And the dashboard and standard engine changed in 2003.
I think if the price is right the 2001 seems good. But also think at warranty issues with a new boat.... It's a tough discission.
The 216 has the same hull as the 210 (and therefor the SuperAir), but it's a d-drive (engine in the middle). Therefor the layout of the interior is different. The 216 is a better slalom boat then the 210 (SAN). But the 210 is way easier to make a great wakeboard boat (or is standard a better wakeboard boat).

[TwinTip]

Conor,

You may want to read the articles that Waterski Magazine has on their web-site (http://www.waterskimag.com/article.jsp?ID=9466). They have a 2004 Buyers Guide and the boats you mention are included. They break down the pros and cons of each boat for the different types of activities. Good luck!!!

[skinautique]

Just FYI, the 216 does not share the same hull as the 210. The 216 has the same hull that the 196 and 206 have. It is just a longer boat and a little bit wider.

[AbunDiga909]

I think I may have to answer on behalf of Redelf75 being that I'm the one who slaloms behind it. Just to let you know in advance, no one has ever wakeboarded behind our boat, just hydrofoiled/skyski. None of us are really wakeboarders.

As far as the "wakeboarding" wake goes... to be honost, I am not a reliable source for that info. I've only skyskied at 24 MPH w/ 400 lb. of factory ballast filled. At that speed and w/ that waight, (practially empty boat people wise) the wake isn't big, but has a nice shape to it, plentiful for what I do on it. I'm assuming you wakeboard at speeds no more than 20 MPH and at that speed the wake is definately bigger, definately enough to pull a roll off, (according to dealer, knows from experience) and definately suitable for any wakeboarder up to intermetiate level I would have to say. The thing about the DD is that at the speed of about 20 MPH, the boat starts to level off and starts to go into "slalom mode" where the wake starts to become like a "slalom wake." This doesn't happen in a V-Drive, there is no "slalom wake" and no "slalom mode," the wake just gets slightly smaller. As you would guess for the 210 the wakeboarding wake is comp. level.

As far as the slaloming wake goes, I'm again assuming you ski at no more than 15' off since you said you ski recreationally and at 15' off is right where the rooster tail ends on the 216. The double rooster on the 216 can be a pain to go through, but you shouldn't have to worry about that at our length off. The slalom wake is definately BETTER SHAPED, not smaller! It may be slightly smaller just because the 216 will be in "slalom mode," where the 210 wont. But this size difference is nothing compared to the shape difference. Also, the rooster tail is significantly less noticible on the DD. Let me put it this way, cutting through the 216 is like the wake and rooster being a "hump" in the road, where the wake and rooster on the 210 is more of a real "bump." The difference btw a hump and a bump is the hump is more rounded, slightly smaller, and a lot softer.

Unfortunately thats all I have to say regarding the wakes. I'm just curious, are you basing your purchase 100% on wake? Is there anything else like layout, interior, handling, lines, etc... that would be easier to help you with? I was in the same position you are now when I wrote the thread that Luke gave the link two. We made our decision to go with the 216 but it wasn't totally because of the wake. We just loved the lines, looks, and almost most importantly, the handling is better on the 216 cuz its a DD. We don't regret our decions one bit for once and I love the slalom wake, I go at 30 MPH at 15' off, and I also love the HYDROFOILING wake... remember, I don't wakeboard... If I did I would answer many people's questions... :lol:

Sorry this was so long... and in the end, there is no wrong decision... they are both Nautiques--It's a win/win situation! I know you've probably heard this already, but not only do you have to test drive them... but you must slalom and wakeboard behind both boats!!! That can't be stressed enough and that will make the final decision for your purchase! Good Luck!

P.S. It feels real good once you made a choice! :wink:

[Conor]

Okay I have just wakeboarded behin a 2003 210TE with both rear ballast full, 1200 pounds of fat sacksin the front and 8 people on board. WOW!! I do have a few questions regarding this boat that the owner was unable to answer.
1. behind this boat the best wake with this setup was at 24 - 25 mph, this is a little faster than I normally wakeboard. If the boat slowed down below this the wake just washed out and had no shape. Does the 216 need to be run this fast or does the wake form at a slower speed. I normally wake board at around 22 mph and wakeskate around 18 Mph. I had difficulty not having the board ripped out from under me at this speed.
2. This boat had digital gagues that bounced alot. Were the old ananalog gauges available (guages that have needles not digital readout)? I liked the old needles much better than the digital gauges.
I am trying to get a ride behind a 216 but there seem to be very few in my area. Currently my local dealer does not have one. I will post as soon as I get a ride. Thank everyone for the great responses.

[AbunDiga909]

Will you be putting that much fat sacks in your new boat? Or just stick w/ factory ballast?

As for the 216, I may have to say that the slower you go, (withen reason and regarding the speeds in the above post) the better the wake. At around 24 and a couple MPH below, the wake starts to flatten out. It should be ideal around 16-21. I'll have to take a closer look next time at those speeds.

[Deuce]

The more weight you put in, the faster you are going to have to go to clean up the wake and usually the further back you will ride.... I assume with what you described, the boat was pulling the equal to 3 K in ballast.

E.J.

[Nautiqueman]

You must try the SV-211 if you are going to get a new boat. I have been extremely pleased with the boat in the past 23 days of ownership. Kool wakes and awesome response from the Escalibur engine.

[DougPhillips]

We are using a 2003 216 and the speeds mentioned above seem right. Above 21 the wake flattens out. My kid boards and my wife skiis. The cost between a 2001 216 and a new boat is huge. Buy the best you can afford (warranty is worth $) and if you are considering new get a ride in a SV-211.

What is he asking for the 2001 216? I know of a boat up here for sale. The exchange rate may be worth the trip. It is a 2000 216 Air with a $3k stereo upgrade. It has a single axle Egle trailer. All for about $44 Canadian or US$32. It is in great shape with about 180 hours.