211VS 216 AIR

[noti_dad]

We are finally trading up from our 94 Sport this year and have narrowed the choice to these 2 boats. My wife skis, I still regularly ski the course & wakeboard. Our friends are split down the middle between skiing and boarding. We need something for both ends. Opinions are welcome.

[NautiqueJeff]

RE: 211VS 216 AIR

I would go with the Air SV-211 Team Edition. The Team Edition will come standard with the built-in ballast and the FCT.

The 211 will give you better boarding wakes than the 216, and the slalom wake should be about the same as the 216. The hydro-gate actually works, and makes this a true crossover boat. The nicer (in my opinion) layout of the interior in the 211 would seal the deal between those two boats for me.

[FatBoy]

RE: 211VS 216 AIR

We got the 2004 SV-211 for the exact same reasons you are talking about and we love the boat. I got the limited without tanks but we are trading this year for a 2005 Team Edition SV-211. After a year and 150 hours on the boat I have nothing but praise for it as you can tell by my getting another one.

[b2]

Definately the 211, The wake of the current 216 is very similar to your 94 for slaloming. I have skied behind a 93 sport and skied and boarded behind an 04 216 and 04 211. IMO the 211 is definately the boat of choice, as Jeff says opt for the team edition. Then if you really want the ultimate go for the ZR6. Superb engine with oodles of power, also seems to use less fuel than the excalibur.

[noti_dad]

The 211 we saw at the Seattle Boat show only had carpeting on the floor. None on the kick panel under the seats. Is that an option? If not how is it working? Also I was told only the 226 & 211 't comes with the new curved base FCT, however I've seen SANTE's with them. Does anyone know if it's an option on the 216 AIR?

[skinautique]

the curved tower bases are standard on the 211 and 226. They offered the curved base tower on the 210 in 2004 only. The 216 comes with the standard "more square" style tower.

There is carepeting on the main floor that is snap in/out and there is carpet in the floor area under all of the seats and the rear storage areas. Are you referring to carpet up the side of the seat bases? It doesn't come with carpet in that area. You weren't looking at the tige that had the carpet going up the sides of the seat bases were you?

[redelf75]

I have a 216 team and can't complain about the wakes. However, there are other factors that persueded me other than the wake. Driveability and overall classic design. Unfortunately, I never had the option to test drive the 211 before making the decision to buy the 216 but I hear it doesn;t compare to the 216 handling. Nonetheless, there a lot of features I like on the 211 and I'm guessing my next boat will probably be the 211 replacement. in fact, I'll bet CC drops the 216 within 5 years.

But either way, go with the Team.

[FatBoy]

Here is a really good picture of the gate.

[NautiqueJeff]

I think that's the best picture of the gate that we have on the site. Thanks Fatboy!

[FatBoy]

I found the picture here.

http://www.kneeboardplanet.com/

It was taken at the Minneapolis Boat Show this past weekend. The boat the picture came from looks a lot like the new one I will be getting the last week of this month.

[AirNautique211]

Team 211 for sure - I ski and the boys board. This boat goes both ways, just like Jeff said. Prior to the 211, I skied behind a MB Response and a Supra Comp II - I think the 211 puts out a better slalom wake at 34 mph. Everyone who has boarded behind our 211 says it's the best out there next the 210 for serious boarders. Also, as mentioned before, the layout is killer - 8-9 people (kids and adults) for real and lots more storage space.

The 211 changed the game for V drives!

[AbunDiga909]

I have a question for Jeff...

If the SV-211 came out right when you were getting your boat in '03, or, you were considering a boat in '04, would you have gotten the 211 instead? I remember you saying that you used to slalom and dropped it primarily becaues of your new boat. Do you think that if you got the 211, you would still be slaloming? I just think its interesting how many current 210 owners would switch to the 211--could be interesting...

Personally for me, I would only get a 210 if I had a 196 also, otherwise I would go with the 211.

[Hollywood]

Abun, I like your thinking!

[ag4ever]

I would love to talk the wife into getting a 196.

I would then have an SUV and sports boat.

But then again, I would have to have a house on the water, and since we (my dad) just sold our lakehouse, I don't see us getting two ski boats anytime soon. Unless he finds a house on the colorado river like he wants.

So for now it is just the lowly SANTE, until we change boats, and I just about have my wife convinced she will like the 216. I just don't like the way the 211 looks. Also I just can't see a 211 handling like a 216, and that is what I like the least about my SANTE, you always feel like you are dragging your arse around. It is just not quite as balanced as I wish. I have been told the 211 is more balanced though.

[NautiqueJeff]

I don't think I personally would have chosen the 211 over the 210 at the time. I am extremely happy with the boat I have. I did slalom more before I bought the SAN, and it can still be done behind the SAN. I would slalom more behind the SAN, but I am in desperate need of a new ski. Obviously there is quite a difference between my old Ski Nautique and the Super Air as far as the slalom wake goes, but my purchase was either going to be a 196 or a 210. I really wanted the most hardcore boat for the activity I intended to do. I decided that wakeboarding was more important to me at the time than slalom, so that's the boat I went with. We'll see what happens at the end of the season this coming year or the year after. I might be up for a different boat by then, although I don't think it'll be a 211. I love the interior layout of the 211, but I haven't gotten used to the softer lines of the exterior of the 211/226 yet. The elimination of the third stripe on those models doesn't sit too well with me either. Like Hollywood, I'd love to have both!