Go With Air 216 or Pro Air???

[tpaleologos]

Here's my deal. Low key wakeboarder for 5-6 years now riding behind '86 nautique 2001 with 500 lbs. lead in seat...only jump wake and do a few 180's and 360's when feeling frisky, nothing more and too old to try. With wife that skis and two boys, we are ready for open bow and ability to add/remove wait with ease so everyone's happy. I'm looking at '00-'03 airs, pro airs, and super airs, all in the 22-29k range. My wife thinks the quiet and room with a v-drive is desireable, but I hear that although a v-drive has awesome wake for wakeboarding, it would suck for skiing, so I am leaning to the airs and pro airs. Any thoughts???

[NCH2oSki]

RE: Go With Air 216 or Pro Air???

If you want to ski, stick with the air 216, no pro, no super air. Some great deals out there now.

[AuMDLST]

RE: Go With Air 216 or Pro Air???

http://planetnautique.com/index.php?...ht=air+pro+air

Not sure what you are looking at that is a "air" in the 00-03 years that is not a vdrive - maybe a 206 with a tower?

[HS]

RE: Go With Air 216 or Pro Air???

Suggest she test ride (ski) behind an SV 211 -- you both might be happy (don't know about the price range though).

[AuMDLST]

RE: Go With Air 216 or Pro Air???

Should have read a little better - NCH2oSki is right - no pro air if you want to ski - stick with the air 216 although you will need some extra ballast to go past beginner/light intermediate wakeboarding.

[tpaleologos]

RE: Go With Air 216 or Pro Air???

Ah, the link is helpful. I guess I'm just trying to choose a good crossover boat. I'd prefer the interior of a v-drive boat, but if they produce a pretty big wake without ballast, skiing would be lame. Would the pro air be bad also for skiing. I think its a direct drive. I'm looking at an air 216 with rear and center ballasts. Sounds like that would be good for mid-level wakeboarding and skiing.

[tpaleologos]

RE: Go With Air 216 or Pro Air???

thanks aumdlst. I see your last post. Clearly, the 216 is what you suggest. I will get a good wake?

[sodbuster88]

RE: Go With Air 216 or Pro Air???

Go 216 or 211. 216 if you want to lean towards skiing, 211 if you lean toward wakeboarding and wrap-around seating.

[SkiTundra]

RE: Go With Air 216 or Pro Air???

Agree w/ sodbuster. Between those 2 my wife had a very strong preference for the interior, storage, and quiet of the 211 so that's our current boat and we're pretty happy. Personally I'd prefer a 196, kids a 210, wife a Chapparel 280. Alas, only one boat for us.

[DanielC]

RE: Go With Air 216 or Pro Air???

I think you are in a position where you need to do a test drive of the boats in question. In 2003, the Sport Nautique was discontinued, and it was replaced with the 216, and the 206. The 206 was more of a replacement for the SNOB, that was discontinued in 2003.
In 2000, the digital dash was introduced, a huge step backwards in my opinion. Given two boats with equal wear, I would willingly choose a 1999 Sport Nautique rather than a 2000 year model, with the newer gauges.
Mid 2002, the GT-40 engine was no longer available. That would be my first engine choice.
Check out this thread for more info:
http://www.planetnautique.com/index....ighlight=super
Thanks you to all that added to the thread to help sort out differences!

[Miljack]

I'll chime in w/my $0.02. I have a 99 Pro Air and have ridden/skied behind a 216, but not a SS/SAN, also skied/ridden behind a 211.

The Pro air will be a decent crossover, but will be more suited for wakeboarding than skiing. On my boat, if you ski at 32 mph+ and short line (22' or more off), the wake is ok. Wakeboarding wake (no ballast) is better than the 216 w/factory ballast (400+). Wakesurfing is difficult to achieve on the 216, we had factory port tank filled, ~350# of people plus driver and couldn't really get a wave to free ride. You could probably get it there, but would require a sack on the floor or trunk.

216 ski wake much better at all speeds than the Pro Air.

211 is about the same ski wake as Pro Air except that you can ski it slower, wakeboard wake is good stock, better with some extra ballast, vdrive room and quiet a big plus.

I have seen the price for the early 211's dipping into the high 30's now, but will still be about $10k more than an '03 216. You could get the '02 and earlier Airs (sport nautique) for good prices ($18k-25k) now depending on condition.

Hope this helps.

[SkiTower]

If you're not hard core skier, the 211 is a GREAT family boat that skis good. It doesn't quite compare with a direct drive, but if you're used to a 2001, it's still a step up. WHATEVER you do, don't let your wife ski a 196. Nothing else will satisfy if she gets a taste of that.

As for your price range, as Miljack stated 211's aren't quite low enough yet. I'd shoot for the 206 or 216 with a tower. Here's one in your price range that's caught my eye: http://www.whitelake.com/detail.asp?id=106 . Haven't seen it in person, but would like to.

[tpaleologos]

Man! You guys are great. I appreciate all the advice and hope to test drive a few boats this weekend. It's tough to find used boats in the area. I found a 2002 216 to drive and can check out the others at the dealer. They will be new, but at least I will get an idea.
Thanks again!

[DanielC]

To me, the 196 from 1997 on, is still the boat of choice. Nothing else skis like it, turns like it, accelerates like it, or tracks like it. If you pack the bow section of it carefully, you can pack a lot of stuff in one. I have also emptied the bow area, and slept in there, but I am single.
Because of the narrow beam, the 196 does respond well to a little weight being added. I think in 2002. or 2003 you could get 196's with trick tanks in them.
A 196 does compromise a lot of things, as far as a lot of extra space, but the performance is so wonderful.
Again, I say you need to test drive, and ski, or board behind the boats in question.
If you need to go to a dealer, and tell them you would like to test a boat, but be honest. Do not tell them you are interested in buying unless you really are. Many dealers will allow a test drive anyway, knowing the good will generated may result in a future boat sale, or at least a service relationship with whatever boat you have.
Post on this forum, looking for owners of a boat like to one you are considering, in the area you live. Offer them gas money, and maybe dinner in exchange. Bring your boat so they can experience your model 2001.

[xlair]

One other thing to remember is that people here tend to use the term "216" too loosely. The Sport/Air 216 is the current hull that CC uses that has been made from 2003-2009. Its sister boat is the 206, which is a foot shorter.

From 1998-2002 CC made the Sport/Air Nautique. This boat was the predecessor to the 216 but was actually only 21' long. It is an entirely different boat.

The Pro Air was based off the Sport/Air from 99-02 but was a completely different hull that obviously leaned in favor of wakeboarding.

In my experience, the '98-02 Spn/Air has a better wakeboard wake than the current 216. This is because this hull is essentially the same as the Super Air 210 that we all know and love. It will just take some weight to get there.

The current 216 will have a better ski wake, no doubt. However, the wakeboard wake is not quite as good.