Eating 196 crow

[swc5150]

As a former, and loud 196 Kool-aid drinker, I have to eat some crow today. We broke in my brother's new 200 this weekend, and it is absolutely unbelievable. The new Linc is the coolest thing I've ever seen in a dash, and it's funtions are so well thought out. There are also creature comforts and bling features, almost too numerous to mention. As for skiing, wow!! It's soft pull behind a tracking freight train, with no wake or spray. It's the nicest -28 wake I've ever crossed. Also, one of the coolest things is the lack of bow rise on take off. The boat simply rises out of the water, which makes the view awesome. I could go on, but you get the point. Alright, let the roast begin!

[DanielC]

No roasting necessary. I believe the Ski Nautique is 200 absolutely the best boat for slalom currently available.

But it does have some differences from the 196. It is slower, with the same engine, and it is wider. I live close a town built around a lake, Lake Oswego. This is an older town, and has boat houses on the lake. A lot of the boat houses simply will not accommodate a wider beam boat.

The 196 was a boat that could be used for barefooting. Was it the best boat for barefooting, no, but it could do it. Due to its lower top speed, the 200 is not as good for barefooting, with the same engine, as the 196 was.

Here is my biggest gripe about the 200. Since it was designed as a boat that would have as good of a slalom wake in either a closed bow, or open bow configuration, the slalom wake is not as good as it could be, had the 200 been designed as a closed bow boat first, and then adapted to an open bow configuration. It is not the best Correct Craft could do.

I understand by designing a ski boat as a closed bow first would slightly compromise the open bow wake, but hear me on this.

Designing a ski boat as a closed bow first will result in a lighter boat. It will allow more freedom in locating the major components of the boat, the helm, the engine, basically the whole boat. A closed bow is a stronger design. A cross section through the boat, around the windshield is a closed box, not a open top "U". This results in less hull flex, and that means less actual materials have to be used for the same rigidity in the hull. Less weight, less water to displace, less drag.

Again, the Ski Nautique 200 is a better slalom boat that the 196 was. But it is not the best slalom boat that Correct Craft could produce had the original design been constrained by having to be an open bow boat.

[ClemsonDave]

It's only 4" wider.

Agree on the top speed, but that can be fixed with different prop or larger motor. Not ideal, but it works.

You and I will never agree about the wake. I bet it is half of the 196 and about 1/1000th of the 2012 MC I skied behind at this past weekend's tournament. I'm sure it could be better just like anything, but it is a HUGE step forward that has the other manufacturers rushing to keep up.

Your argument about flex is valid for a sports car, but I don't see the relevance in a boat of any sort. It will slide through the water before it flexes. It was designed to go in a straight line anyway. It does that far better than the 196.

Lighter is not always better. There is a new boat out there that is light. It's wake is close to the 200 (but not at longer lines), but it is very difficult to drive. The skier can pull it side to side very easily. Takes much more effort to drive. There are other ways, other than weight, to make a smaller wake. The 200 disperses the wake over a wider area and angles of the hull. This makes it more stable and smaller wake.

The argument of it 'could be better' can always said about everything ever produced. For what it was designed for (3 event), it is a gigantic leap forward.

Thanks Scott for posting. Other than 2-3 people on this forum, I have never run across anyone that prefers the 196 over the 200. We have 2 196's and my 200 at our lake and clearly the popular choice is the 200. Even the 196 owners prefer my boat.

[swc5150]

I totally agree with you on not being the best they could've done. It's just the nature of incorporating an open bow. My bro's is an OB, and after a weekend with it, I'd get one too. And I hated open bows before last weekend!

[ClemsonDave]

Let me try a different approach.

You say a lighter, narrower boat closed boat will have a smaller wake. Well, the 196 is narrower, lighter and closed bow. They designed three different hulls and the wake only changed minimally. They then went to a slightly wider boat and boom, the wake was way smaller (-28 and longer). Coincidence?

I'm an closed/open bow convert too. Never thought I would like an OB. However, I find it to be less maintenance (less to wax and less to get scratched) and it's great on a hot day to get some wind blowing the crew. It's also easier to walk to the front to hook the trailer.

[swc5150]

When not skiing, I found myself lounging in the bow. It's really comfy, and surprisingly roomy. Like Dave said, it makes it easy to load too. The Linc 2 is so baddddass, I can't put it into words. The way the saddle bags light up "Ski Nautique" at night is just killer! I know, silly bling, but still. It's an expensive boat, yes, but worth every penny. It may be slower than a 196, but to be honest, I only took my last 196 over 40mph once.

Anyone who feels like I did about the 200, should spent a weekend in one, versus just a test drive. It's just amazing that the best skiing boat out there can fit an entire family - in comfort!

[Quinner]

Scott,

The new 200's are awesome to drive, have not had a chance to ski one yet however, looking forward to it at some point.
What colors did your bro go with? I am really diggin that new Blue that is available, Masters Blue IIRC.

Post up some pics when you can.

[coosafooter]

How fast will the boat run w/ 5.7 - 6.0 ?

[cotton]

When neither of my kids had any interest in boating this past summer and my 2nd and youngest was about to go off to college, I sold the 206 and started looking for a 196. I even posted here in the boats wanted section, as you know swc5150. However, I ended up buying half interest in a 200 OB and don't know how I could be any happier.

Re-propped with a 422 gets the RPM's down, saves on gas and we can't tell any difference in the pull, which is phenomenal.

The 200 literally tracks like a sports car on rails; hands down better than any of the other 3 tournament boats and the 196 and 206. The wake is almost too good since it’s so flat one can get away without the ski being as on edge as it should be; which can become a problem when getting pulled by a MC!

The view from the driver’s seat can’t be beat and with the front air dam installed and the tournament seat it feels like the closed bow; especially on these cooler late season days (like this evening).

The open bow allows for comfortable air flow on hotter days, and additional passenger capacity for those who need to haul more folks to sand bars on rivers, etc. which obviously helps the re-sale significantly.

The side storage has spoiled me so much I have to watch what I say to my MC buddies, when their floor is cluttered up with skis.

It is more $$$, but well worth it in my opinion!

[swc5150]

Scott,

The new 200's are awesome to drive, have not had a chance to ski one yet however, looking forward to it at some point.
What colors did your bro go with? I am really diggin that new Blue that is available, Masters Blue IIRC.

Post up some pics when you can.

Navy/white. It's awesome dude, I have to get one for myself!

[wawasee]

Great looking boat!!!

[ClemsonDave]

Scott,

The new 200's are awesome to drive, have not had a chance to ski one yet however, looking forward to it at some point.
What colors did your bro go with? I am really diggin that new Blue that is available, Masters Blue IIRC.

Post up some pics when you can.

Quinner, mine is black and the Masters Blue you mentioned. Link in my signature.

Love the Navy/Black Scott! That interior is sweet!

[east tx skier]

I have always thought they were pretty cool boats. As for the lack bow rise, I have long described that to be sort of a 196 feature. At least, that's how my 98 Ski has always felt to me in comparison to other brands I have driven. Sounds like the 200 has taken that to another level though.

[MattieK27]

Here is my biggest gripe about the 200. Since it was designed as a boat that would have as good of a slalom wake in either a closed bow, or open bow configuration, the slalom wake is not as good as it could be, had the 200 been designed as a closed bow boat first, and then adapted to an open bow configuration. It is not the best Correct Craft could do.

Good lord not this argument again...

[swc5150]

The lack of bow rise actually feels weird at first, as the entire boat seems to lift out of the water. It makes the view spectacular! This 200 is also snappier out of the hole than our 196's were, but I guess that could just be a throttle thing?