Boat buying help.

[Guido]

I currently have a 91' SN that i have had since new. With the addition of kids, i need to upgrade. I want a boat that will give me a slalom course skiable wake, good wakeboard wake and a wakesurf wake. Any thoughts on year and model? I would like to stay under $40,000. Thanks in advance.

[s_kelley2000]

Sounds like an SN 206 is what your looking for. Excellent slalom wake, good wakeboard wake with ballast and its probably surfable. Should be able to find a nice one with tower and ballast within your budget.

If you are ok sacrificing a little on the slalom side then a 216 or 95-02 Sport will give you more room and a better wakeboard wake. The Sport will have the best wakeboard wake and probably surf the easiest and still have a pretty good slalom wake.

If you are open to v drives then the SV211 might be an option. The 200V would stretch your budget some but be a great fit. I don't know much about them but the 216V might be worth looking into as well.

[jsta281]

There are several on her with 206's that have WAY more experience with what it can do. I have had mine for about a year, and it ski's awesome as you would expect, and with 350 pounds of ballast in the trunk and 4-5 people in the boat the wakeboard wake was very solid, not big like any competent v drive but very solid with a nice shape. I don't wake board but my brother in law wake-boarded behind my boat, and then behind another supra boat v drive (that was admittedly over full with ballast and people, had a hard time holding speed, but he got way more air and the wake was way firmer, albeit smaller. For a legit ski boat I was very pleasantly surprised. I have yet to try and make it surf, I have the ballast bags to give it a go but having spent a year in the boat, I suspect getting it to surf will be very tricky.

For a ski first family boat we have absolutely love it. if you are a surf first family better look at the v drives.

[awakewilson]

I would go with a 211 or 200v. A 06 211 should not be more that 40k, its a great cross over boat for that price. The 200v replaced the 211, but is smaller also.

[Nautiquehunter]

What you really want is a 200V but thats not going to happen for 40k. 206 OR 211 would be closer to your price point.

[dfoster]

What you really want is a 200V but thats not going to happen for 40k. 206 OR 211 would be closer to your price point.

I got my 211 2 yrs ago for 32k as a winter sale. Only 130 hours and in great shape, and I see more of them online so I am sure you can find them.

I like my slalom wake, but I don't ski the course. I would recommend you ski behind one to see, but you are on the opposite coast, so I can't help.

Originally, I was looking at a 216 DD, but my wife and kids don't slalom and they hated the engine in the middle and the seating arrangements.

With balast and some trial and error you can get a "very good" wakeboard wake and a "very good" surf wake out of a 211. For surfing it is a bit tempermental with the weight distribution, so we have to adjust people and speed a bit, but I can consistently build a 3+ foot wake that I can easily surf with no rope.

In the end the 211 is a cross-over/compromise boat. It is "very good" at each event, but will not be the best at any of them. But since I am mostly focused on family time, I was willing to give up a bit on slalom to get one boat that could do it all.

[Guido]

I am willing to give a bit on the slalom wake. I did ski behind a Mooba Mobious last weekend and was quite shocked at the large wake at 34mph. The 211 sounds like my best bet.

[swc5150]

You'd be giving a lot from your SN to a 211, as far as slalom wake. I would think a 206 would be perfect for you? The 211 is great, but maybe a 206 is a better transition into a family boat for you. Plus, the 206 being a direct drive, will handle much more like you're used to. I'd get behind the wheel of both before making a decision. Good luck!

[4th ski-doo]

200v is what you want. If you can stretch your budget a little it does everything you're asking for. It has been rated r capable slalom and sets nicely with the tanks filled. This is a very competent slalom boat that seats 10 and you don't have to shout over the engine box. We went from a classic tourney boat to the v drive and I'm already looking at buying a SANTE 210. 2.5 years ago I said I wouldn't even ride in a v drive and now we're out looking for a bigger one.

[River Monsters]

I was in the same position last year. I would have really liked a used 200V. I ended up with a Malibu VTX that has treated us very well. Since the VTX was introduced several years before the 200V, it is possible to get one close to your price range (2007 or 2008). I'm not saying the VTX is better than the 200V, but it is far better than a direct drive for interior space and surfing. The ski wake looks pretty good, but honestly haven't ski'd it. I end up driving the majority of the time and I get on the water very little.

[pe4me]

I was in the same position last year. The ski wake looks pretty good, but honestly haven't ski'd it. I end up driving the majority of the time and I get on the water very little.

I end up driving to...love how that works out. I never complain.
I know by anyone's standard on this forum the pre2006 210 is not considered a slalom boat, I didn't require it, but I had a few "old school" guys ski with my boat empty of ballast/peeps and they were impressed coming from? As far as room for the family goes, the vdrive space cannot be over stated. I wasn't unhappy with my 205 and searched for a 205v before landing my 210.
Once you weight the features and quantify your needs (if possible) look through the forums and trust your judgment. $40k buys a lot of boat and while it is easy for me to be bias n justify my purchase, the 210 was an awesome ski boat in dd configuration that happened to throw an awesome wake in vdrive platforms. I would never recommend buying without testing but i did buy my boat from Saudi Arabia based on zero first hand experience. My thoughts were the sport nautique was akin to 210 as the 205 would be to 205v. Skiable? I think so, slalom course? I am qualified to say. I got lucky or at least was happy to find out the 210 was everything and then some + it handles much better than i anticipated for when I am just cruising. I did like the razor steering of the dd.
"Slalom course skiable" may require DD by most people's standard, 200v for x over people, and guys like me (a few?) who try not to see the rebadged, marketed hull and configurations except for what they were (tournament hulls reworked) and make a decision. (Not heavily weighting skiing) The subjectivity is what makes it hard, fun and ultimately what is so great about water sports. Good luck with your decision and enjoy the ride-

[Jordanskinsurf]

I have a '07 sv211. Love it. Great crossover. Small wake for sling. Good wake for surfing. (Added 1500# ballast). Nice wakeboard wake. Got it in April of thus year. Great quality. Skied and surfed behind a moomba outback V. Big ski wake, barely able to surf. Love my sv211