206 with hydro gate and without

[NCH2oSki]

I've been looking at a few 206's and found an 07' with the hydro gate, and an 05' without it. Whats going to be the difference in the slalom wake? Both have tsc 2 hull decals. I'm confused...same hull with and without gate.

[jmo]

For slalom skiing you don't use it, you only engage the gate to alter the wake for trick and wakeboarding. I have one on my 196 and I've haven't engaged it yet as all i do is slalom.

JMO

[NCH2oSki]

Well now it makes more sense! Thanks JMO

[pzthk6]

The moveable hydrogate was an option on the 196 and 206. During the last couple of years the boats could be ordered with the adjustable plate as an upgrade, or with a static plate (simulating the gate in the done position).

[jmo]

Well now it makes more sense! Thanks JMO

No problem - it's confusing as the forward position on the lever is labeled as "Slalom" but it really means the hydro gate isn't engaged. When you pull back on the lever to put it into trick mode it pushes the top of the plate out to alter the wake dynamic.

[TRBenj]

No problem - it's confusing as the forward position on the lever is labeled as "Slalom" but it really means the hydro gate isn't engaged. When you pull back on the lever to put it into trick mode it pushes the top of the plate out to alter the wake dynamic.

You have it backwards.


Slalom mode = gate down (engaged)

Trick mode = gate up (not engaged)


The 06+ boats that did not get the hydrogate option got a fixed plate instead. This has the same effect as the gate when it is engaged.

The 02-05 196/206 had a fiberglass lip at the trailing edge of the keel. This lip was ground off in '06, and the gate or fixed metal plate was added. Therefore, the boats all performed the same for slalom, whether they were configured with the fiberglass lip, fixed plate, or hydrogate (when its down in "slalom" mode).

The boats with the hydrogate will have a better trick wake and a higher top speed with the gate in the up (trick/cruise) position.

[swc5150]

I did not have the gate on any of my 196's, since all I do is slalom ski. You can have it installed at you dealer, if you really want one. My dealer would do it for around $300, at least back when I asked about it.

[scott resick]

on my '06, you pull the lever back for trick/jump. Its supposed to effect the table, not so much the wake from what I understand. I dont use it since I really cant notice much of a difference. When engaged, it does pick the nose up a bit. But no real difference in the wake.

[scott resick]

Also, People tend to think this is Nautiques versoin of the wedge on wakesetters. That was for wake. Hydrogate is for the table......I beleive.

[Quinner]

Timmy is absolutely correct!!

[jmo]

You have it backwards.


Slalom mode = gate down (engaged)

Trick mode = gate up (not engaged)


The 06+ boats that did not get the hydrogate option got a fixed plate instead. This has the same effect as the gate when it is engaged.

The 02-05 196/206 had a fiberglass lip at the trailing edge of the keel. This lip was ground off in '06, and the gate or fixed metal plate was added. Therefore, the boats all performed the same for slalom, whether they were configured with the fiberglass lip, fixed plate, or hydrogate (when its down in "slalom" mode).

The boats with the hydrogate will have a better trick wake and a higher top speed with the gate in the up (trick/cruise) position.

Hey TRBenj - interesting as my plate is folded up flush against the transom in the slalom mode, and then in trick mode the push rod pushes the plate out at the top so its on an angle, but never extends below the lip of the hull? My observation was with the plate flush it won't affect the wake? I guess that's not the case?

[scott resick]

Thats right JMO. I have the same boat. Slalom=gate up/not enguaged

[AirTool]

On my 206, the gate doesn't seem to change the wake at all at slalom speeds. You can feel the nose angle of attack change some but at those speeds it doesn't matter. It does change the rooster spray some but not dramatically. At high speeds, not much of the hull is in the water. I can feel some drag/speed change when I toggle the gate up and down.

At wake/slow speeds, there is a much more dramatic affect. It is less noticeable if you go from wake to slalom...it takes a while for the stern to rise. But if you are at a steady speed and go from slalom to wake, the stern drops immediately and you can see a big difference in the lips depending on the speed.

[TRBenj]

Hey TRBenj - interesting as my plate is folded up flush against the transom in the slalom mode, and then in trick mode the push rod pushes the plate out at the top so its on an angle, but never extends below the lip of the hull? My observation was with the plate flush it won't affect the wake? I guess that's not the case?

What you are calling the plate is really only the mechanism that moves the plate. The piece youre describing (at an angle vs. flush) has no effect on the wake whatsoever. It is nowhere near the water when the boat is on plane. The functional piece is the plate that slides up and down about 1/2" (or less). It is always flush to the transom, and either acts as a lip/hook at the trailing edge of the hull (slalom mode) or it gets out of the way (trick/jump).

This picture shows what Im talking about. Obviously closed=up and open=down.



Gate down, as viewed from the front:



On dad's '09 196, the effect of the gate at skiing speeds is quite obvious. Try changing the position of the gate at 30+mph. The change in the shape of the rooster is the most obvious visual change- it goes from a defined 3-pronged shape (gate up in trick/jump) to a mushy mess (gate down in slalom mode). It also changes the attitude (running angle) of the boat significantly. The location of where the spray breaks at the chine moves almost 3' aft when you pull the gate up. Both of these things (gate down) improve the slalom wake by 1)knocking the rooster tail down and 2)spreading the weight of the boat over a greater surface area. The latter will make the wake smaller.

[jmo]

Thanks TRBenj - I get it it now, I never noticed the plate itself subtlety moving up and down when I was playing with Hydrogate out of the water.