Ski nautique (2001 196 CB) vs 2013 200V comparison

[Pjoachim]

Ok just got some time to sit down and write this post about skiing comparisons.

First off I am still a little biased towards the DD ski. That gt40 engine is like a Sherman tank and pulled me great for 13 years. So I have a ton more sets behind that boat than the 200.

Hole shot / overall torque:

Both boats do an excellent job pulling skiers out of the water. However one thing I have noticed when I hook up all the kids on the tubes usually 5 tubes. The gt40 wins out in this area. The older ski never even batted an eyelash at slowing down or showing any sluggish signs that there tubes even behind the boat. Can't wait till later this year to do the family waterski the record we had in the past was 14 skiers from a dock start.

Ski wake:

initially I loved my ski's wake. Mainly being used to it for so many years. But after tweaking settings I have gotten the wake almost better on the 200v. One thing I will say is that at 32 off the 200v has a horrible wake wash and almost dumped me while getting up and I will never ski at that length every behind this boat. Greater than 32 off great and less than 32 off are perfect. The other great item on the 200v is the perfect pass. Now my driver, aka my wife, can focus on driving the boat not my speed. This version of the perfect pass is much improved even in turns.

Wake boarding / wake surfing:

hands down the 200v wins here. The ski doesn't even compete in this area.

Overall:

the 200v is a great all around boat. I will miss my old ski, but love my new 200v.

Let me know if you have any questions. I can try to answer them.

[High altitude]

I had heard the 15 off ski wake wasn't very good. Is that true? What speed are you skiing at? I tow people down my course from 26-36 mph. The 196 (well the '99 that I have isn't technically a 196, but...) throws a beautiful wake at all those speeds. Granted the 26 mph is a bit bigger but at least it's soft.

I know I won't buy a 200v without getting behind it in the course myself but still looking for opinions. TIA. -Marc

[Pjoachim]

I haven't skied 15 off in awhile but I will give it a shot this week and let you. I usually ski 34 or 36. 34 when I want to work n technic and 36 is my need for speed...the kids usually run around 26-30. They have told me the wake is softer than the old boat for what it is worth.

[High altitude]

Good to hear. I know the slower you go the bigger the wake. That's just the facts of life. What I don't want is a harsh bump (like the 22 off rooster tail on the 196) at 15 off because we use that line length so much. It sounds like that might be at 32 off from your description.

Also, are you skiing the course or free skiing? I usually am in the course unless it's early in the season (and we haven't installed it). Does the 200V drive well in a course. Again, not expecting 200-like rock steady tracking but want to make sure it can get the job done in the course.

I've done a lot of work to get a good surf wake out of my 196. If I could get a really good ski wake plus a better surf wake I will probably make the switch over to the 200v in the next few years. Thanks for all the inputs. How long have you had your 200V now?

[sodbuster88]

...But after tweaking settings I have gotten the wake almost better on the 200v....

What tweaks did you make? What prop are you running?

[Pjoachim]

I am running the stock prop, but learned to put the right amount of ballast in the front tank and one of the rear ballasts to completely balance the boat. Sounds funny to add weight to the boat, but I have a great slalom wake now and really glad that I got the boat.

Hope that helps Sod.

[Pjoachim]

I know that 22 off rooster tail and that is almost the same as the 32 off on the 200v, it is much less than the 196's 22 off.

i had a someone ski at 15 off and they didn't complain at all with the length. The only thing they said was it felt like you hit two wakes instead of one, due to the longer width of the wake at that distance. So, not bad at all. I would get behind one to test that out.

I free ski during the week then run the course on the weekend. We set up our course on Saturday and Sunday mornings and then pull it down for the week. The boat tracks great when on the ski pylon. I tried off th tower one time and then you can pull the boat around. All and all this is a great all around boat.

I have it for only a few weeks now, but the more I learn about her the better she has become.

Let me know if you have any other questions or are in the area come out for a ski / surf.

Good to hear. I know the slower you go the bigger the wake. That's just the facts of life. What I don't want is a harsh bump (like the 22 off rooster tail on the 196) at 15 off because we use that line length so much. It sounds like that might be at 32 off from your description.

Also, are you skiing the course or free skiing? I usually am in the course unless it's early in the season (and we haven't installed it). Does the 200V drive well in a course. Again, not expecting 200-like rock steady tracking but want to make sure it can get the job done in the course.

I've done a lot of work to get a good surf wake out of my 196. If I could get a really good ski wake plus a better surf wake I will probably make the switch over to the 200v in the next few years. Thanks for all the inputs. How long have you had your 200V now?