need help optimizing slalom wake on a 2007 SN206

[davemac]

Hey guys...need some suggestions on how to get the best skiing wake out of this boat...2007 206 w/ Excalibur, factory tower, Acme 422 prop (4 blade, 12.5 diameter). The boat is used almost solely for skiing, and the wake characteristics do not approach that of a 196.
I'm sure there will be suggestions to remove the tower (which is being considered)... but curious just how much of a difference this will make.
Thanks, in advance.

[2004196]

I'm curious, if you use it mainly for slalom, why didn't you just get a 196? Considered selling the 206 or possibly looking for a trade w/ someone for a 196?
Anyway, to your question, removing the tower will help, run only around 1/4 tank of gas if you can, weight the front w/ 150 or so ibs and limit the passengers to one or none besides you, again if you can. Keep excess junk out of the rear trunk, the weight adds up. The 206 actually doesn't have too bad a wake for the course but as you state, it ain't a 196.

[davemac]

Full disclosure is that it is my buddy's boat the inquiry deals with (I love my boat). The timing is not good for him to be thinking trade at this point. I'm just trying to help him out as he is frustrated by his wakes versus the other boats in our group.

[DanielC]

The obvious has already been stated. Lighten the weight in the back of the boat. Empty the trunk.
if you want to take that to the extreme, remove the rear seat, remove the carpet panels in the trunk.

I have skied regularly behind my 1997 Ski Nautique, with no tower, and a 1998 Ski Nautique with a tower, and I believe the tower does make a noticeable difference. Not only does it add weight, but the air drag on the tower adds a pitching force, that pushes the stern down, and lifts the bow higher, just from the air hitting it at 34, or 36 MPH.

[TRST]

When I was in the market I strongly considered the 206 before purchasing an 07 196. I received conflicting feedback on the 206. Some would say as good as a 196 from 28 off shorter but not so good at longer slower speeds. Other short line skiers did not like it. The irony is that the "family" slalom boat was not reported to have "family" friendly wakes. The 200 and 200 sport solved this problem for those with the funds to buy new or late model (not me). I am still curious to hear what 206 owners have done to improve the wake of the family ski boat.

[Quinner]

The additional 12" of TSC hull is quite a bit to overcome when comparing a 206 to a 196, very much the same case when comparing the 206 wake to a 216 wake.

As mentioned, weight is key, keep minimal fuel in the tank and don't put anything in the boat that does not need to be there. Have tried putting the observer in the bow while slaloming and it did make a minor difference IMO.

There is quite a noticeable difference in the wake with each additional body in the boat while slaloming and not in a good way.

[davemac]

.... I received conflicting feedback on the 206. Some would say as good as a 196 from 28 off shorter but not so good at longer slower speeds. Other short line skiers did not like it....

Yeah, it seems odd to have such conflicting opinions, almost makes you wonder if some of the molds were better or worse than others.

[ScotFree]

I also have a 2007 206 with a tower. Prior to that I had a 2007 196 and a 2002 196. We went to the 206 knowing the slalom wake wouldn't be as good, but we wanted the room, tower and we mostly open ski.

For a slalom wake the 206 felt like going back to the 2002 196; still very skiable, but a "compromise". To me the 206 is designed as more of a multi purpose but favoring the slalom skier. We have been very happy with ours but understand the ski wake will not be equal to a 196 same model year.

[TRBenj]

For a slalom wake the 206 felt like going back to the 2002 196; still very skiable, but a "compromise".

The slalom wake should not have changed at all from 2002-2009 on the 196, FYI.

[Quinner]

The slalom wake should not have changed at all from 2002-2009 on the 196, FYI.

How about some clarification Timmy, 02 thru 05 was the TSC2 and 06 thru 09 was the TSC3, was the only difference between those 2 hulls the Hydro Gate?

Is 02' really a 196 or simply a Ski Nautique?? Same hull and deck but I did not think CC used the 196 (other then the "Air") tag until 03' when the 206 & 216 where introduced??

[DanielC]

In 2002, the Ski Nautique got the TSC 2 hull. The TSC 1 hull was used on the SNOB.
In 2003, the SNOB was discontinued, and the 206 was added in it's place.

The Ski Nautique did not use the 196 designation until 2003.

[TRBenj]

How about some clarification Timmy, 02 thru 05 was the TSC2 and 06 thru 09 was the TSC3, was the only difference between those 2 hulls the Hydro Gate?

Is 02' really a 196 or simply a Ski Nautique?? Same hull and deck but I did not think CC used the 196 (other then the "Air") tag until 03' when the 206 & 216 where introduced??

DanC has it covered, and I know you already know the answer to your question, but Ill play along.

The SNOB used the TSC1 through '02. The TSC2 hull was run from '02-05 on the closed bow boats. The "Ski Nautique" moniker was used through '02, and "196" was used starting in '03 (to differentiate it from the 206, which replaced the SNOB). The TSC3 196 hull ran from '06-'09.

There were 2 differences that I know of between the TSC2 and TSC3 hulls. 1)CC removed some of the lifting strakes on the back half of the hull and 2)the lip in the center of the padded keel on the TSC2 boats was removed. On non-hydrogate TSC3's, the lip was replaced by a fixed metal plate, which performed the same exact function. On hydrogate boats, the plate was able to move up and down... in the down position, it performed exactly like the fixed plate (and the glass lip on the TSC2). Therefore, the slalom performance remained the same on all 3 versions (TSC2, gated and non-gated TSC3). The purpose of both modifications- removal of the lifting strakes and the ability to put the gate up- were both targeted at improving the trick wake.