SN 206 vs. Response LXi

**teamseal** · 01-27-2010, 06:22 PM

Hi,
I ski Alot with my Ski partners 07 206, I am a 28-35 off skier and also own a 09 196 ZR-6 Ski Nautique. My partners 206 is fully equipped with a tower and big speakers. The boat tracks as well as my 196 but at 22 off has a bigger bump. Keep in mind that the 206 still has strakes on the bottom where as the 196 does not so the boat has a little more bow rise then the 196. Overall the 206 IMHP is a great slalom boat get one with out the tower and it will ski nearly as well as a 196. My partner is considering pulling his tower and speakers because they are useless to him.

**gschmieler** · 01-27-2010, 10:24 PM

I concur with the comment about the wake behind the 206. Skis do not fit in the trunk. I can put a lot off equipment back there but skis aren't included. I have the larger observer seat and love this boat.

**teamseal** · 01-28-2010, 10:50 AM

The 206 shares the same back end as the 196 and one can get a 65" ski in the trunk for sure maybe a 66" but not a 67" ski. The trunk space is acctually massive but just not wide enough.
I think maybe the overall storage thru out the 206 may be more than a Response.
A properly prepared 206 will definatly ride,drive and track better then a Response.
Re-sale??? that will depend on two things: What the market will bare, and how well the Ski 200 is excepted over the next couple of years.

**gatorgates** · 01-28-2010, 01:32 PM

If your only issue is slalom wake at 22 and 28 off, 34mph, I reluctantly admit that the malibu may be the better choice. The 206 has a noticable hard bump at 22 off. The bump is nearly gone at 28 off. Both the 206 and the lxi throw no wakes at shorter line lengths and I see no differences on up the rope. However, I would much rather ride and drive the 206. It tracks better, is quieter and has less vibration. For some reason, the visability is better. It definitely has a better trick wake. While this is personal preference, I like the looks of the 206 a lot better. I think (hope) the 206 holds its value in the face of the sn200. From what I have seen of the 200, it is different enough from the 206 that they fit different market niches.

**mlange** · 01-28-2010, 01:45 PM

Thanks for the input so far guys. It would be a **** of a lot easier choice if it were April and I could drive/ski the two back-to-back. Although not being about to get a 67" in the trunk is a problem for me.

My dilemma is that the deal on the 206 is as close to a steal as it could be and I'm confident saying it won't still be available come April.

Mike

**AirTool** · 01-28-2010, 03:31 PM

Originally posted by mlange View Post

Thanks for the input so far guys. It would be a **** of a lot easier choice if it were April and I could drive/ski the two back-to-back. Although not being about to get a 67" in the trunk is a problem for me.

My dilemma is that the deal on the 206 is as close to a steal as it could be and I'm confident saying it won't still be available come April.

Mike

I have a 206 and we store long skis on the tower just like boards.

**wetfoot** · 01-28-2010, 05:07 PM

Here is a pic of our 216 with a Titan Ski Rack on the tower.

Works great!

Attached Files

**M3Fan** · 01-28-2010, 05:19 PM

Here we go- let me drag out the flame suit. The 03-06 RLXi is as close to perfection in a slalom-boat-with-plenty-of-room as it gets in my opinion. Drives great, handles great, tracks great, and has as good a wakes as you could ever want with plenty of storage. I think you're going to be disappointed with the move from an objective performance standpoint. I think CC builds a more solid boat with better fit and finish, and I bleed AME 5000, but Malibu really hit it out of the park with that generation RLXi. It will also out-perform the 206 in basically every category- holeshot, top speed, turning radius, low speed handling, slalom wake, trick wake, etc. I'd probably still end up with the 206 because of my love for CC and how they build things if I needed more room in a boat, but I'd take a hard look at the 03-06 RLXi. I also agree that the visibility in the RLXi is worse, and I'm not a huge fan of the giant spaceship windshields that Malibu loves using so much.

**AirTool** · 01-28-2010, 07:54 PM

Originally posted by M3Fan View Post

Here we go- let me drag out the flame suit. The 03-06 RLXi is as close to perfection in a slalom-boat-with-plenty-of-room as it gets in my opinion. Drives great, handles great, tracks great, and has as good a wakes as you could ever want with plenty of storage. I think you're going to be disappointed with the move from an objective performance standpoint. I think CC builds a more solid boat with better fit and finish, and I bleed AME 5000, but Malibu really hit it out of the park with that generation RLXi. It will also out-perform the 206 in basically every category- holeshot, top speed, turning radius, low speed handling, slalom wake, trick wake, etc. I'd probably still end up with the 206 because of my love for CC and how they build things if I needed more room in a boat, but I'd take a hard look at the 03-06 RLXi. I also agree that the visibility in the RLXi is worse, and I'm not a huge fan of the giant spaceship windshields that Malibu loves using so much.

Oh my word! ...you did everything but curse our mothers.

Don't hold back! ....tell us how you really feel.

**teamseal** · 01-28-2010, 08:11 PM

Originally posted by AirTool View Post

Oh my word! ...you did everything but curse our mothers.

Don't hold back! ....tell us how you really feel.

Yea! All that from a guy who owns a 2000 Ski Nautique and skis Fifteen off!!! Hmm!

I drove the US National championships in WPB last year and the Malibu was the worst boat I have ever driven in a tournament. I pulled one out of Girls 2 jump event because it drove so bad and would not control speed ,well! The Chief judge said get in what ever works! it was not a Malibu!
I drove the Men 3 Top seed slalom group with Malibu!! What a Joke! I feel bad for the guys that Had to ski with that boat and me driving.
Where do I get my experiance??? OH Yea! I drove Two World records last year! one in a MC the other in a 09 196!!!

Buy the 206 you will never regret it!!!

**cooperwoods** · 01-28-2010, 09:01 PM

I have an '06 206 limited w/tower and my ski partner has an 04 LXI. Both are grreat boats. The wake behind each boat is definitely different at longer line lengths. I love my boat and my friend loves his boat. When I drive, we store our skii's behind the driver seat w/o a problem. I can store my ski under the passenger seat if necessary. I have the tournamnent seat extension which is worth it. If given the choice, I prefer to ski, drive etc. my boat and he feels the same about his. I'm a CC fan - he is a BU fan. Behind my boat, as long as you keep your ski on edge, the wake is fine at any length. Advantage of 206: quality, quality, quality. My boat starts every time, drives like a dream and the fit and finish is excellent. My firend has had some reliability issues (engine work. electronics, vinyl worn, paint faded etc.) and I suspect his resale value is a little worse. Good luck.

**cotton** · 01-28-2010, 10:21 PM

Originally posted by cooperwoods View Post

I can store my ski under the passenger seat if necessary. Behind my boat, as long as you keep your ski on edge, the wake is fine at any length. Advantage of 206: quality, quality, quality. My boat starts every time, drives like a dream and the fit and finish is excellent.

I have an 09 206 Team and agree with cooperwoods' comments above. Good luck!.

**SpiderMan** · 01-28-2010, 11:10 PM

Originally posted by teamseal View Post

Yea! All that from a guy who owns a 2000 Ski Nautique and skis Fifteen off!!! Hmm!

Ouch dude, don't get personal or anything...

Congratulations for being an excellent driver and involved in the sport at a level that many of us will never reach. Taking exception with a man's opinion on a boat is one thing, and certainly you have the right to do so. But deriding someone else's boat and abilties is, quite frankly, below the belt.

Since when did owning a brand new boat and being a world class skier become a prerequisite for an opinion? If that were the case few, if any, of us would be able to say anything on this board. Remember, there is always someone better than you... Please try to keep your elitist attitude in check.

I would also like to point out that the boat under discussion here is a 2004 RXLi, which M3 was assessing against a late model 206. I do not know what year RXLi you drove in the tournament (and know nothing of RXLi hull/generation history) but is seems that you may not even be talking about the same boat.

Best,

SM

**Quinner** · 01-29-2010, 07:57 AM

Own an 05' 206 and have skied behind many Responses. My 206 is "heavy" as it has tower, trick tank and whatnot.

The 206 is very weight sensitive IMO, my wake changes quite a bit with a full tank of gas. There is no comparison in the handling, most every response I have ever driven has been really loose and sloppy, the 206 is substantially better, the same could be said for the fit and finish. Like someone else mentioned my ski is on the floor or rack behind the drivers seat, ski's will also store on the tower flight clips if they are spaced accordingly. Overall the storage is comparable between the boats. My "heavy" 206 wake is not as small and soft as the responses I have skied behind, I would imagine a standard 206 w/o tower, tanks, etc. would have a very comparable wake.

PS, The Bu will turn much tighter at idle speeds, not something that makes it better IMO, just an observation.

SN 206 vs. Response LXi

SN 206 vs. Response LXi

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