196 closed bow "misses the boat" on better resale

[djbartholomew]

Cotton thats funny, but a good place for boys with wondering hands.

[bkhallpass]

You have good point cotton. BKH

[SkiTower]

I wish ya'll would explain the danger of kids (5+) in the bow? I like mine up there because they get up there and SIT and I can keep an eye on them. If they are in the back they tend to want to get up and move around. Also, they have a grab rail that they tend to hang on to.

Just curious if there's something I don't see. My boat doesn't bounce enough to throw someone sitting out (unless they are a teenage boy after my daughter Yellow_Flash_Colorz: , then it's amazing how bumpy those boats can be)

[MyWakeIsBigger]

Just curious if there's something I don't see. My boat doesn't bounce enough to throw someone sitting out (unless they are a teenage boy after my daughter Yellow_Flash_Colorz: , then it's amazing how bumpy those boats can be)[/quote]

TRUE DAT

[bkhallpass]

Whether you believe so or not, the bow of the boat is the bumpiest area of the boat. The stern area is the least likely to bounce. If thrown from boat, bow ejection is the most likely to be hit, or pushed under the boat. If the kids are jumping around, you might have a chance to get a hand on them in the main seating area - in front of the windshield, you have little chance of getting a hand on them. The bow area is the most likely to to take a swamping. It also doesn't take a collision. Running aground, or hitting a sandbar will do the trick.

If you've ever seen a boating collision ( I have seen many) I can tell you that those in the bow are the most likely to be ejected, and the most likely to be badly injured. I first saw this in 1971 when I was only 8 years old. Open bows were a pretty new thing at the time, and pretty much only available on I/Os. Neighbors had six kids. Someone turned in front of them, and they Tboned another boat. Only the 3 kids in the bow were hurt significantly.

To each his own. As far as I'm concerned, the best place to control my young child is sitting within arm's length of me. BKH

[AirTool]

I let my kids ride up front in the 206 but we are on glassy water with no other boats. My biggest concern for my case is the knocking one on the head with the walk through window....so I usually keep that closed and locked. They are small enough to crawl under.

[lffish133]

I've gotta say I love this thread, I'm a wakeboarder and I have read all the posts, I too love that Nautique has kept to the roots of skiing with the closed bow 196, every year I fear it will be phased out. The one thing that really surprises me is how much you guys care about an open bow! I have been ridding behind 210's for over 10 years, and the open bow has always been the same, covered by the snap on cover. I never use that thing, it's uncomfortable and the wind is always in your face, and you can't really watch the person who is riding/skiing behind the boat. When it comes down to it the wake and handling of the boat is the most important aspect, that's why I chose a 210. Cotton I would get the 196, its the most solid performer for what you like to do.

[SkiTower]

lffish133, one major difference you didn't note is line location. For wakeboarding, it's attached to the tower on a V-drive. For skiing, it's attached to the pylon in front of the motor. This somewhat negates the use of the rear bench seat, turning a DD into a two seater.

[skiinxs]

Actually there is plenty of seating, three plus the skier have seats when skiing. If you want to abuse yourself with too much weight in the boat while you ski, you can always add two more passengers, one sitting on the floor behind the drivers seat and one in front of the observers seat, but for me, I don't want the extra weight.
Dave

[cotton]

We bought a 206 this weekend and hopefully will find it was the right move for us. The daughters have already started arguing over who will get to layout in the open bow.

At private lakes the 196 would have been fine since we will only have 2 in the boat while running the course anyway. But we also have access, a few minutes from where we live, to a 33,000 acre reservoir and the river that feeds it. The open bow will come in handy on the journey up river and while on the big water.

The search for a boat started about one month ago and I learned quickly that Nautique owners, along with Mastercraft and Malibu as well, are some of the nicest folks in the world; and we very much appreciate all of the comments and help we received!

[Nautiqueman]

Congrats Cotton,
show us what you bought!

[SNMike]

I've gotta say I love this thread, I'm a wakeboarder and I have read all the posts, I too love that Nautique has kept to the roots of skiing with the closed bow 196, every year I fear it will be phased out.

Trust me when I tell you my friend, it WON'T be phased out. Yellow_Flash_Colorz:

Congrats Cotton!!! Enjoy in good health you and your's!!!

Mike

[cotton]

Congrats Cotton,
show us what you bought!

Thanks. I will get some pics when we get it out of the garage and try to post them.

[cotton]

I've gotta say I love this thread, I'm a wakeboarder and I have read all the posts, I too love that Nautique has kept to the roots of skiing with the closed bow 196, every year I fear it will be phased out.

Trust me when I tell you my friend, it WON'T be phased out. Yellow_Flash_Colorz:

Congrats Cotton!!! Enjoy in good health you and your's!!!

Mike

Much obliged! And the best to you and yours as well!

[zapada]

Way to go! I think the 206 is great! We would all love to see a picture.