Bring back the 196

[MARK-S]

I would like to start a PN effort to bring back the 196.
Reply to the thread so we can send it to Correct Craft.
Dont get me wrong, I love the 200. I just want the option to buy a smaller closed bow boat that can be used on small private lakes. The 196 is perfect for these lakes and it skis/drives like a dream.
Please bring it back.

[BrennanK]

I couldn't agree with you more.
If I had the money to buy a new Ski Nautique 200, I would still get a 196, used or not. Even though the 200 is a great boat, the 196 is a better option for many people.
I love the retro graphics and the clean lines on the 196 also, I was thoroughly disappointed to see them go. I just had a one of a kind look that is irreplaceable.
Just my opinion.

[swc5150]

If they build it, I will buy it - you have my promise Mr. Yeargin! The 200 is a great boat, but the 196 is just better suited to me. Let's start a group buy for 2011:-)

After finally getting some 200 wheeltime, it's very nice, but just not what I personally want in a boat. I love the small feel and nimbleness of the 196 - it just has a "fun" factor that I've never experienced in any other boat. If the 196 doesn't make a come back, at best, I'll find an '09 196 to replace my '07 someday. There just isn't another option for me available in marketplace at this time.

[ClemsonDave]

The 200 is only, what, 6" longer and a couple inches wider? I'm curious why that little bit makes difference for you. The 200 seams to accelerate just as fast and turn just as hard. Believe me, I was a die hard 196 guy and didn't like the styling of the 200 at first. Having owned one for a few months now, I would never go back. I know several people that own 200's (not just promo); not one of them wishes they still had a 196. It's not perfect, but it is easily the best boat out there - it's just expensive.

I'll agree that the 196 was less expensive, is about 3-4mph faster and turns less RPMs (not sure why that matters), but I don't think you will convince anyone in my area that the 196 drives or skis better(even the guys that own 196's). The 200 requires way less counter steer from the driver and has a much better view out front. I have pulled several less experienced skiers to PB's already this year just because the wake is smaller/softer. The only downside I have seen is the price. If you need the extra speed and it's not pulling 3 event tournaments, put on a different prop.

Maybe offer the 196 as a less expensive option. For the price, I'll agree it was 2nd to none. They would probably have to expand the plant though. They were sold out of 200's several months back.

[swc5150]

Dave and I share the same thought on price - bring back the 196 as an "entry level" CC? The 200 could still be the flagship. Kind of like MC did with the Sportstar 190 in 1998. They simply used the old PS190 hull.

I just don't know that the 200 would eventually grow on me either? Regardless, I'd have to buy Dave's promo, as I'm not dropping near $60k on a new one. So that's one less new unit CC would sell.

[2004196]

196 forever

5150 (one of my favorite albums by the way) I agree with offering the 196 as the entry level ski boat. Boarders have, ok, I don't even know how many options they have in a boat from CC but two would be reasonable for us hard core skiers.

I own an '04 and wouldn't give it up for anything, except possibly an '11 or '12 196. I am lucky enough to be able to afford a new 200 if I so choose but I don't like it, no offense to anyone but it's not for me. I love the lines of my boat and wish CC would consider bringing the 196 back to their line, even if only a custom order at a reasonable price. They would guarantee my repeat business. Until then, you couldn't pry this boat out of my cold riggored fingers.

[j2nh]

The 200 is only, what, 6" longer and a couple inches wider? I'm curious why that little bit makes difference for you. The 200 seams to accelerate just as fast and turn just as hard. Believe me, I was a die hard 196 guy and didn't like the styling of the 200 at first. Having owned one for a few months now, I would never go back. I know several people that own 200's (not just promo); not one of them wishes they still had a 196. It's not perfect, but it is easily the best boat out there - it's just expensive.

I'll agree that the 196 was less expensive, is about 3-4mph faster and turns less RPMs (not sure why that matters), but I don't think you will convince anyone in my area that the 196 drives or skis better(even the guys that own 196's). The 200 requires way less counter steer from the driver and has a much better view out front. I have pulled several less experienced skiers to PB's already this year just because the wake is smaller/softer. The only downside I have seen is the price. If you need the extra speed and it's not pulling 3 event tournaments, put on a different prop.

Maybe offer the 196 as a less expensive option. For the price, I'll agree it was 2nd to none. They would probably have to expand the plant though. They were sold out of 200's several months back.

Slower is important to me. We do everything behind our club 196's and that includes barefooting which is not going to happen with the 200, at least not with the 343.

You can't beat the 196 when it comes to teaching kids to ski on the boom both in terms of maneuverability and the fact that the windshield ends before the pylon allowing for either a straight or single contour boom. With the windshield extended back on the 200 it is going to take a double contour which puts the skier further away from the person instructing.

Instrument cluster, specifically the speedometer, is useless. Why put them in a location that they cannot be viewed without taking your eyes off where you are going?

Storage? Not everyone requires storage. We probably have 10 or so 196's in the "neighborhood" and if you look you are not going to find much in them other than required safety equipment and misc ski stuff. We are all dock skiers and don't need or want to haul gear.

Changing the prop to increase the top end would make already tepid acceleration worse.

PCM engines are the best in the business in my opinion, but having to run them constantly above 4 grand to maintain slalom speeds is an unknown in terms of longevity. Might make a difference, might not, who wants to spend their money to find out? There is also the question of cockpit noise which was mentioned in another thread.

Wasn't the availability of the 200 related to supplier issues, windshields I heard, rather than out right demand? My local dealer has one 200 and Whitelake has a couple.

To each his own but after driving the 200 and skiing behind it even without taking price into account I would not want one. Correct Craft has built a boat that has a world class wake with the mandatory open bow in an attempt to tap into the open bow market that is currently led by MC and Malibu. Their boat, their choice, but they made compromises in doing so and will probably sacrifice some existing customers in the hope of gaining more. If the 200 did everything the 196 does I would order one tomorrow. It doesn't so I won't.

My two cents.

[hourglass]

i say we also petition to have the old 210 as an "entry level" boat. they could make them exactly the same as they used to and just have them bare bones except with zero off on the 196 and a tower+z.o. for the 210. allow people to pick all their options like 1 board rack, stereo is optional, no ballast, etc. make a single axel trailer standard with an upgrade option or rebate if you already have a trailer. IMO, bringing back both of these boats for entry level would expand cc's market share. and as crowded as my river has become i'd rather see cc's instead of supra/moombas.

[swc5150]

[QUOTE=2004196;139639]5150 (one of my favorite albums by the way)

Not too many get 5150! swcFairWarning was too long:-) The mighty VH!

[swc5150]

J2 brings up a question that I was pondering as well. How many 200's were sold and/or produced versus the '09 196's, hence was there an actual demand increase over the 196? Going further, what was the CB to OB ratio?

[88mars2001]

Bring them back as the standard 196

[MattieK27]

If this is a wish list to CC, I would love to see a smaller boat that can be used for skiing and wake boarding. Almost like the old 196, but with the ability to create at least a decent wakeboarding wake when needed. All the decent wakeboarding boats (at least in the CC line) are too big for the storage space I have.

Honestly though, if CC had enough orders to do a run of 20 or so 196's, it would be silly not to. Unless, of course, they have already discarded the molds...

[hourglass]

i can't comment on the boat's performance or characteristics since i have not seen one in person, but if cc made a boat somewhat like the standard boat company, but with some cc design it would be very cool. it's definitely possible to get a great wakeboard wake from an open bow direct drive. i think it was a mc 197 model. im not sure, but weighted heavily with 4 folks the wake was very very nice.

[ClemsonDave]

J2 brings up a question that I was pondering as well. How many 200's were sold and/or produced versus the '09 196's, hence was there an actual demand increase over the 196? Going further, what was the CB to OB ratio?

They were sold out of production of the 200 by March of this year. I don't know the ratio of O/CB.

Slower is important to me. We do everything behind our club 196's and that includes barefooting which is not going to happen with the 200, at least not with the 343.

You can't beat the 196 when it comes to teaching kids to ski on the boom both in terms of maneuverability and the fact that the windshield ends before the pylon allowing for either a straight or single contour boom. With the windshield extended back on the 200 it is going to take a double contour which puts the skier further away from the person instructing.

Instrument cluster, specifically the speedometer, is useless. Why put them in a location that they cannot be viewed without taking your eyes off where you are going?

Storage? Not everyone requires storage. We probably have 10 or so 196's in the "neighborhood" and if you look you are not going to find much in them other than required safety equipment and misc ski stuff. We are all dock skiers and don't need or want to haul gear.

Changing the prop to increase the top end would make already tepid acceleration worse.

PCM engines are the best in the business in my opinion, but having to run them constantly above 4 grand to maintain slalom speeds is an unknown in terms of longevity. Might make a difference, might not, who wants to spend their money to find out? There is also the question of cockpit noise which was mentioned in another thread.

Wasn't the availability of the 200 related to supplier issues, windshields I heard, rather than out right demand? My local dealer has one 200 and Whitelake has a couple.

To each his own but after driving the 200 and skiing behind it even without taking price into account I would not want one. Correct Craft has built a boat that has a world class wake with the mandatory open bow in an attempt to tap into the open bow market that is currently led by MC and Malibu. Their boat, their choice, but they made compromises in doing so and will probably sacrifice some existing customers in the hope of gaining more. If the 200 did everything the 196 does I would order one tomorrow. It doesn't so I won't.

My two cents.

Why is the speedometer useless? It is about 4" to the right of where it was on the 196. Is that a lot?

That's awesome that your club starts from the dock. That's not the case in a lot of places. I can't tell you how many times we had to climb over tons of gear when 3-4 of us went skiing. Even worse in the winter time. Now, you can store all that equipment with no ill side effects. I mean the boat is only inches bigger. It is just laid out way better. In my group, we have about 5 196's, but we would only take one out at a time.

Can't speak to the boom since I don't have one for this boat. If there is a bend to get around the windshield, it would only move the skier by, what, a foot? How about the benefit of almost no spray for the boom? The 196 pelted me with spray when I footed off the boom.

Tepid acceleration? Wow, hope you never get a Bu or MC. It takes my 200 less than 1/2 throttle to pull up our biggest skier. I'll see if I can 'race' the '08 196 to see what the difference is. Can't be much.

There were delays due to suppliers, but that didn't change the fact that they sold the number they wanted to very early on.

I was a die hard closed bow guy. Nothing was going to change my mind. Now that I own an open bow, I see no reason to have a closed bow. I used to have to climb over the front of my 196's to get off the trailer. Now, I just walk to the front. On closed days, you block it off. On hot days, it's like having air conditioning! Toss in a hot babe and everyone's happy!

Again, I had some of these same concerns when I bought one. However, after spending some time with it, I would never go back. The benefits far out weigh the couple things the 196 did better. I agree that it would be a good idea to offer both at different price breaks, but not sure I agree with your assessment of the 200 other than the 3-4mph speed difference.

Around here, everyone of those 196 owners loves my boat.

I doubt we will change each other's mind, so we'll just have to agree to disagree. If you're ever is this area, let's hook up and ski!

[hourglass]

i bet the 200 open has a sick wakeskate wake at about 70'