196 to Air / 216 Opinion

[toddrswenson]

I have a 1997 Ski 196 that I've had for 10 years and absolutely love. I also now have a wife and 3 kids. Space is an issue now. Would I toatally regret moving to a larger direct drive open bow such as a 2000-2002 Air / Pro Air. I know the slalom wake won't be as good. I use to be on the course often, but now it's mostly open water. I don't want to spend a ton on a later model. I like the older models preferably with the GT-40. Just trying to get some input from people who have skied behind the Air.

[Hlymons]

RE: 196 to Air / 216 Opinion

I have a 2000 Air/sport and ski the course 15 @ 34 and have no problem with the wake. Also I have a group of friends I ski with at the private ski lake that I belong to and we rotate boats, the only skiers that ever complain about my boat are the 29 mph skiers.
Funniest thing happened the other day when my friend who ski's @36 28 off had a choice between my boat and a 2001 ps190 and wanted to be pulled by my boat. He claims the wake behind the ps is smaller but hard and on hard pulls he can feel it slowdown and with my boat its a more predictable pull.
As for open rough water no other DD that I know of compares to the ride of the sport/Air.

[CradGen2]

RE: 196 to Air / 216 Opinion

I agree with HLYmons. The only thing is the Pro Air is a completely different boat hull and would not be good for skiing.

I had a 1999 Ski, Same hull as yours and 2000 Sport/Air (same boat). Unless you are SUPER picky it will be extremely hard to tell. It is all in what we get use too.

I see your GT-40 comment. I too was a Ford person, but after owning GM's in the last 3 boats I have converted. At the end of the day it is still a PCM. Bullet proof

If you move to a 2003-2009 216 which has a different hull from the 1998-2002 sprot/Air direct drive the wake gets better. I love mine, lots of room, storage for all day at the lake. Just have to give up the GT-40, which I wouldn't worry about.

[sodbuster88]

RE: 196 to Air / 216 Opinion

I went the other way. Started in tournament boats then started to have kids....went to an'03 216 to find a good compromise. Agree with cradsv21104 -- fantastic boat. Then went back to the tournament boat. We are old school and I'm a bit more of purist when it comes to the slalom performance. The kids love it as well. We just have to plan our trips to the lake more carefully.

[NCH2oSki]

RE: 196 to Air / 216 Opinion

Go for it, pick up a nice sport or 216. We went from a 99 ski to a 99 sport, and it fits the family much better. I dont think you can tell a big difference between the wakes after 30-32 mph. My 99 is the same weight as a new MC 197, and I think that really helps on the wake. The newer boats get a little heavier.

We take out anything extra when its my weekend to pull the slalom course it helps for the couple of guys that ski at 28mph. One end of our course is a tight turn, and the first time I drove thru it I was a little nervous. You will notice it does drive like a larger boat, but that is also nice for big water on the weekends after the course time.

I also like the mechanical airguide guages and gt-40 in my 99....keep it simple, easy to service, and very dependable.

[toddrswenson]

RE: 196 to Air / 216 Opinion

Thanks for everyones input. Now I just need find some good boats to take a look at. I really like the 98-02 Air / Pro Air. Finding a good one might be a task. Of course even harder would be selling my 196.

[Chexi]

As noted above, if you are a skier, you want the Air/Sport not the Pro Air.

[toddrswenson]

I have looked at the specs for the Sport, Air, and Pro-Air in a 2000 brochure. They are identical. If the Sport / Air is a different hull than the Pro-Air it is a little odd that the specs are identical. The only difference I see is in the standard equipment. (Towers, pylon, ballast tanks etc...). Let me know what I am missing.

LOA 21' 1.75"
LOA w/ platform 22' 6.75"
Lifting Ring Centers 19' 8.5"
Fuel Tank Capacity 30 gal.
Draft 24"
Approx. lbs. 2700 lb.
Beam 91"

[Quinner]

Pro Air is a different Hull at the wetted surface, Pro is a TWC hull = Total Wake control while the sport/Air is a TSC hull = Total Surface Control, same as a Ski/196. Dimensionally the same other then that. Check the 99' brochure on CCFan, believe there is an explanation with pic's of each hull.

[Quinner]

http://www.correctcraftfan.com/refer...ex.asp?page=04

[krs0394]

216 's RULE for family fun and space!!!

[toddrswenson]

I would love a 216 if I could convince my wife that we NEED it and not WANT it. Something about wants and needs she can't comprehend.

[NCH2oSki]

Sell the ski nautique, then you will NEED a 216 to replace the ski nautique.

[CD]

I am picking up my new 216 tomorrow and hope to ski behind it in the next week or so, I will let you know how it is. My previous boat was a 1990 MC Prostar 190 which had a fantastic ski wake but we needed more space with kids now and they like to wakeboard. From my own research this seemed like the best boat for skiing, wakeboarding, storage, and the space to have 2 families aboard. My dealer keeps telling i will not be disappointed, they are avid skiers and have skied behind everything. Keep posted...

[toddrswenson]

Post some pics of the new boat as well. I would love to here what you think. If you've never had a Correct Craft before, your dealer is right, your won't be disappointed.