New Guy: Few Questions

[514Lake]

Hi everyone! Brand new member. I joined because this is our first time owning a Nautique. We will be ordering a 2012 Nautique 200 OB this week at the Fort Wayne Boat Show(great show, btw.) I have a few questions for you guys:

1. We are getting the jump seat for it, is the slide-in air dam worth the money?

2. What brand of trailer should we get? We are looking at a RamLin or a Phoenix. We are used to the Mastercraft trailer. We love how well it lines up the boat.

Thanks in advance!

[BKinSoCal]

First off, I want to welcome you to the family. This is a great community of people with a wealth of knowledge to share.

In regards to your first question, I love my air dam. When it starts to get a little chilly (I see you're in Indiana), I close it and it makes a HUGE difference. I don't know if you're going to do this, but if you're going to have the snap-in bow cover, I don't know how much of a difference the air dam would make.

I cannot speak to your trailer question because my boat came with a Trail-Rite, which I despise. But I know there are others on the forum who can answer your question intelligently.

[wawasee]

Congrats on the new boat. I have had two nautiques and with then two Ramlin Trailers. Not one issue with them. We are on Lake Wawasee. What lake do boat on and who is your dealer?

[ffmedic74]

I would highly recommend the Ramlin trailer for your boat.

[jharris]

I would definitely recommend the slide in air dam. That along with the heater makes the cold morning sets much more bearable. Especially when you need to talk the significant other into an early morning set.

I have not seen a jump seat in a 200 OB. I had one behind the drivers seat in my BU and it was nice. You will have to share some pictures at delivery.

I have the Phoenix trailer and I think it is great. Tows well and my 200 OB fits and centers on it great. Mine has the swing away tongue with the hinge point behind the bow stop. With the trailer tongue swung away the trailer is shorter than the boat. Great for storing in a tight garage. Unfortunately, mine still doesn't fit by about 2 inches. I would definitely go with the Phoenix again. Best trailer I have had.

[Nautiquehunter]

Welcome to the family and congrats on the new 200. I am hoping to have one someday. Definitely get the air dam a must on early and late season outings. I also recommend the heater . When I got my 210 it already had one. I thought if I were to order a new boat I would never wast money on a heater. Let me tell you I will never own another boat without one . Combined with the air dam it makes a warm comfortable ride. What color will the new baby be?

[514Lake]

Thank you all for the kind advice. On the air dam, we don't usually go out if it's cold. So, I don't think it's necessary now. But I'm glad to know it works, just in case. My dad was the one who would want to go out early, but he can''t ski anymore. He is the one who's actually buying the boat.

As for the trailer, I think I'll wait for more responses.

The boat itself will have the white bottom and deck stripe and vapor blue sides and platform. The inside will have the gray theme, vapor blue interior stripe, masters blue piping, gray nonskid, and the black dash. Should be pretty neat. It will have the Team Package.

[514Lake]

Congrats on the new boat. I have had two nautiques and with then two Ramlin Trailers. Not one issue with them. We are on Lake Wawasee. What lake do boat on and who is your dealer?

We are on a small lake called Lake Pleasant. It's east of Orland, IN. Our dealer is Clear Lake Marina.

[scott resick]

I love my ramlin trailer, I believe most of them (mine does) have a swing away tongue which is awesome if you have a short garage or are paying for winter storage by the foot. I have a 196 so air **** is not an option, but friends of mine love theirs, keeps the girls warm and no circling back to pick up the beer cans that flew out.

[514Lake]

Well, I think that I will get the RamLin trailer. Sounds like most people like them. Will post pics on delivery(April) and maybe some from the boat show.

[DealsGapCobra]

My boat didn't come with the air dam. Last year I cut a piece of 1/4" white plastic, installed some edge trim and now have a great dam at nealy no cost. My crew is new to boating and not all that excited about cold weather but I will say that the dam (and heater) have been great on what I would call "cool" days or evenings...they seem to think they are cold. :-) Actually, they would be fine but I think it is pretty improtant to keep your driver happy.

[firefighter]

Phoenix trailers are made in the area. So getting parts for warranty should be easy. Ram-Lin is in Orlando so getting a part maybe tough or time consuming. Ram-Lin wont sell to you unless you are a dealer so they are VERY HARD TO DEAL WITH. You need to go through your dealer for anything Ram-Lin related. You can't go wrong with either one.

[shag]

I might be more inclined to go with a trailer manufacturer closer to where I live. I live about 10 miles from Ramlin's shop, so it makes more sense for me. I have had good luck with Ramlin.

[ccs]

514lake --

we too ordered a 2012 Nautique for the upcoming season - we, like many have posted on here have always had a ram-lin trailer, but decided to go with the Phoenixx trailer this time - researched the he!! out the Phoenixx and really liked everything we heard, read etc. etc. - - also took input from my dealer, who highly recommends the Phoenixx

If you talk to the guys at N3 boatworks (who usually have some of the sickest Nautiques and Nautique packages out there, they are big believers in the Phoenixx) - - that being said, I have nothing bad to say about ram-lin at all - I think you're likely to see a pretty even split on here of trailers we "Nautiquer's" own - - Im sure there are always a couple of unique bad experience stories, but I dont think you can go wrong with any of the major manufacturuers.

[AirTool]

I live about 10 miles from Ramlin's shop, so it makes more sense for me. I have had good luck with Ramlin.

but can you buy parts from them?