Ski Wake Loaded

[SkiTower]

As I sit here patiently waiting for the turning of the sun and having completed my winter boat projects, A thought popped into my head. While my 211 ski wake is 'decent' at best and no way compares to a 200DD or any other direct drive (or the 200V), I wonder how they all compare with a boatload full of people? Does anybody have any ski wake experience across many boats (211, 200, etc)? I'm referring to those trips that you have 5-6 going out (so no CB's) and everybody is skiing (but not running the course) and no dock to patiently wait on. I know a lot of boats are very sensitive to weight shifts so I guess my ultimate question is loaded up how does the 211 compare to something like a 216DD or 200DD OB? Has anybody loaded up the new 200 Sport with 5-6 and skiied? Feel free to reasonably distribute the passengers as you think beneficial (bow vs stern). And for the sake of the argument, at least 4 should be full size adults (say an average of 150 lbs per passenger). Don't want to cheat and load up with a bunch of kids.

[swc5150]

We've had 5 in the 200 while skiing (2 in the bow). It seemed like the wake increased a little, and the hole shot took a tad more throttle, but that's about it. It's way less finicky about weight distro than a 196 (our frame of reference), where you need to be sure to get your heavy hitter in the middle seat. It must be the amount of running surface, but you'd have to put a lot of weight on one side to get it out of balance. This was actually the first thing I noticed on day 1 with the 200, as we had the entire family out in it (6). Put 4 people in a 196, and it loses performance rapidly - of course it wasn't intended to be a family boat either, so I'm not bashing it, rather just pointing out the difference.

[Sullivan]

swc5150 sounds exactly right. From what I can tell from the skiing I have done behind the 200 in tournaments its the least sensitive to extra weight. I really cringe when I see three big guys crawl in the boat, however not when its the 200.

[SkiTower]

assuming you guys are not talking about the Sport but instead the DD, right? Sorry for splitting hairs but trying to remove all assumptions.

[81nautique]

I am the only one that skis our 200 sport and we've had several trips out with 5-6 people. I try to get everyone forward even a few up in the bow and although I usually go out first for the nice water when we're loaded like that I let everybody else run a set to burn off a little gas. The wake is still not that bad as long as you're 28 off. Shorter than that and you gotta ski it hard because it's a handful.

[Quinner]

206 is very much like the 196, increaded weight = increased wake.

[swc5150]

assuming you guys are not talking about the Sport but instead the DD, right? Sorry for splitting hairs but trying to remove all assumptions.

Yes, sorry... DD

[sodbuster88]

Difficult, but good question. I will watch your thread as i've had similar questions. Typical trips to the lake for us in our 216 was w/ 4 large dudes doing everything (boarding, skating, skiing and footing)...which is what that boat does very well. The 200v I would classify as being very similar. i'm still learning about the 200v but seems to have a better ski wake that is less sensitive to weight in the boat compared to the 216 and certainly the 196, especially at 28-off and longer. some other observations I have had: 1) the 216 has the TSC hull that does a good job of softening...maybe someone could verify, but I've been told the older sport nautiques had a bigger, harder bump; 2) Although the 200v's ski wake doesn't seem too sensitive to weight changes in the boat, it seems also true that no matter how light you try to make it, the ski wake still didn't seem to change much; 3) the 200v handled nine (4 adults 5 small to med kids) better than the 216 handled 10 (4 adults and 6 med kids)....and we skied off the pylon in both cases...ugh..!

[NCH2oSki]

I've skied with 3 full size adults and one smaller adult/full size 14 year old boy in our 206 and a friends 98' ski, it was noticeable, but still managed to ski/attempt 6 passes through the course. Everyone rotated and skied their passes and it was everything from 15' off at 30mph to 32 off at 34 mph and no one really skied any worse than usual.

That being said I'm all about empty trunk, 1/4 tank of fuel, my ski partner that only weighs 145lbs, and 50lbs of ballast on the observer side in hopes of my zen set for the week.

Nice to hear the 200 isn't as weight sensitive as the older tsc hulls.