196 owners Please give opinion

[RideButter]

It's a v-drive, but don't let that scare you. It's seriously not like any other crossover I have been in. Same hull design as the dd200 it can ski board, and surf very well.

Though nothing will do it all perfect. I have a 210 for the school with extra ballast for wakeboarding and surfing, and used to 3 event, always behind true direct drives with no rear seat.

[TRBenj]

I've seen people throw mobes off the wake of a sn 196 with no ballast. I personally have a 95 ski, and it is a great boat for everything.

Correct Craft did not start calling the Ski Nautique a "196" until 2003.

The TSC1 and TSC2 196 hulls are pretty lousy for wakeboarding- not just because the wakes are small (which they are) but because of their rounded, undefined shape. Great for slalom, not so great for catching air. I will need to pay closer attention to the TSC3 wake next time I'm out- the wake may be more defined at boarding speeds with the hydrogate up.

The No Wake Zone (1990-1996) Ski Nautique hull, on the other hand, is a great all around boat indeed. Decently small slalom wake, nice trick wake, and it has good definition at lower speeds- so with enough weight, it can make a decent wakeboard boat.

[mcbridek]

I have a 2006 196, love the boat, but it is a pure slalom/tournament boat which is allowed on a course. As my family migrated to slalom / course / trick, we moved this boat. If we were experimenting with wake boarding and did not need the pure slalom boat, I would have a 206 or prior direct drive hulls the Sport or Air made up through 2003. Not sure about the 216. I am ignoring the 200, which is the best option, but the prices level is out of site.

[jdarwin]

I had a 2007 196 that was my favorite boat. Moved to the 200. Now, I've "downsized" back into a 2007 196. The best boat IMO. As far a wakes, my daughter can flip on a trick ski behind it so I would assume the average weekend wally could get some air.

[DanielC]

I have a 1997 Ski Nautique closed bow, that happens to be 19 feet, 6 inches long, I have 2390 hours on it.
It is a great slalom ski boat, (three event) has enough speed for barefooting. I have put a training boom on it, and used it at various camps to teach many youth to waterski.

You can wakeboard behind it. Is it sensitive to side to side weight distribution, but having one passenger move will almost always balance the boat. It also responds well it adding a little ballast.
Having said that, I have seen many people do flips and spins behind my boat, in many cases without ballast, or a full load of people.
I have one sentence of advise for all you people who think you need a ton of ballast to do a single wake 180.

LEARN TO CUT!

I also use my boat for show skiing. it is a great boat for that. Very manoeuvrable, it can pull several people off the dock, and holds speed well.

[Panda cub]

Correct Craft did not start calling the Ski Nautique a "196" until 2003.

The TSC1 and TSC2 196 hulls are pretty lousy for wakeboarding- not just because the wakes are small (which they are) but because of their rounded, undefined shape. Great for slalom, not so great for catching air. I will need to pay closer attention to the TSC3 wake next time I'm out- the wake may be more defined at boarding speeds with the hydrogate up.

The No Wake Zone (1990-1996) Ski Nautique hull, on the other hand, is a great all around boat indeed. Decently small slalom wake, nice trick wake, and it has good definition at lower speeds- so with enough weight, it can make a decent wakeboard boat.

I know that nautique didn't call the boat a 196 until 03.

I disagree that the tsc1 is a terrible wakeboard hull, I can do 360s and 540s off of it with no weight added. No I don't get a ton of air, but it can be done. (FYI I do not own a tsc1, my father does, I own a 95)

the best way to wakeboard with a small wake is learn to trick ski; if you can do the tricks with a small board with no fins, it will be a lot easier to do them with a huge board with fins.

[Panda cub]

I had a 2007 196 that was my favorite boat. Moved to the 200. Now, I've "downsized" back into a 2007 196. The best boat IMO. As far a wakes, my daughter can flip on a trick ski behind it so I would assume the average weekend wally could get some air.

Smart man

[TRBenj]

I disagree that the tsc1 is a terrible wakeboard hull, I can do 360s and 540s off of it with no weight added. No I don't get a ton of air, but it can be done. (FYI I do not own a tsc1, my father does, I own a 95)

the best way to wakeboard with a small wake is learn to trick ski; if you can do the tricks with a small board with no fins, it will be a lot easier to do them with a huge board with fins.

I agree 100% that skill always trumps wake size. That being said, theres no getting around the fact that the TSC hull throws a lousy wakeboard wake. The 2 things that you need are size (large) and shape (defined lip). The TSC's wake is small and rounded... just a poor choice if you want big air.

I break out the wakeboard very rarely (always prefer to trick), by the way. Im a huge fan of the TSC hull!

[Blue Ski]

To comment on the original question, the '06 - '09 hull is fantastic, it was that hull that inspired me to finally sell my beloved '95 SN. Since you plan to ski and are the one paying the bill, I suggest you go for the 196. I have a son about the same age, he skis and occasionally wakeboards. Kids that age don't get radical air, nor are they willing to go cut full bore into a giant wake, so the 196 should be sufficient. You can always add a tower and fat sacs, but you can't shrink the wake of a big boat. Further, your son may also take strong interest in slalom skiing over wakeboarding, and then the 196 would best suit everyone. The kids at our lake rarely ask to get the wakeboard out, they always want to ski, so he may surprise you.

If you happen to find an '08 or '09 196, which have the same hull but also have Zero Off instead of Perfect Pass, it will be money well spent in both use and in the eventual resale.

[River Monsters]

Nice one here in Michigan:

http://annarbor.craigslist.org/boa/3046542075.html

[TRST]

I have a 2007 196 and love it as a family boat. When we don't have access to slalom course my kids like to wakeskate more than wakeboard. I looked hard at the 206 and decided to go with the 196. The 206 was fine at shortline but not so great for kids learning the course. If my kids were wakeboard only and I was the only slalom skier probably would have gone for a 206. Also a factor for me, the deals were significantly better on the 196 at the time.

[Panda cub]

I agree 100% that skill always trumps wake size. That being said, theres no getting around the fact that the TSC hull throws a lousy wakeboard wake. The 2 things that you need are size (large) and shape (defined lip). The TSC's wake is small and rounded... just a poor choice if you want big air.

I break out the wakeboard very rarely (always prefer to trick), by the way. Im a huge fan of the TSC hull!

Good to hear! Tsc1 is my favorite hull.

[tracyda]

Correct Craft did not start calling the Ski Nautique a "196" until 2003.

The TSC1 and TSC2 196 hulls are pretty lousy for wakeboarding- not just because the wakes are small (which they are) but because of their rounded, undefined shape. Great for slalom, not so great for catching air. I will need to pay closer attention to the TSC3 wake next time I'm out- the wake may be more defined at boarding speeds with the hydrogate up.

The No Wake Zone (1990-1996) Ski Nautique hull, on the other hand, is a great all around boat indeed. Decently small slalom wake, nice trick wake, and it has good definition at lower speeds- so with enough weight, it can make a decent wakeboard boat.

My 2002 was referred to as a 196 w/TSC1 hull. agree though, so very nice for slalom, but not for other activities.

[gmcraider]

Consider the 206 as well. I went from an older 196 to the 2006 206 to get more room. Its nice to be able to accommodate 2 families and it has a better wake than my old boat. Kids dig riding in the front as well. Hydrogate is nice, but it really doesn't increase the wake, just shapes it as noted above. I ski, so making the bigger wake is not my thing. My friends can do most tricks behind the boat on their boards. We tried a couple of fat sacs, but overall, it really wasn't worth it if you are going back and forth. You can put a fat sac in the rear hold as well and that would keep it out of the way. It was an option to have that factory or the hydrogate, but you could probably put both in.

[TRBenj]

My 2002 was referred to as a 196 w/TSC1 hull. agree though, so very nice for slalom, but not for other activities.

Sorry, but youre mistaken. Unless you had a SNOB (which used the TSC1 hull through 2002), the '02 would have been the TSC2. With the exception of the SNOB "Air 196" graphics package, it did not get the "196" moniker until the 2003 model year.

Check here:
2002 brochure

2003 brochure