Nautique 206 slalom wake at slower speeds

[fawellp]

So I just spent 2 months skiing behind my friend's (lovely, dare I say it) new Malibu TXi. Was skiing great (by my standard) at between 30-33mph. Came home, launched my 2008 SN 206 and the difference was marked, to the extent that I thought there was something wrong with the 206 (I'm still not convinced there isn't). By comparison, the Nautique rooster tail is huge and giving me a huge bounce even with ski on edge. I tried speeds 28mph to 32mph and 15 off and 22 off and in all cases the hump in the middle was huge, by comparison to the TXi.

I heard the wake flattens off at 34mph but that's too fast for me in the course. Other than further improving technique to find better edge angle (which i will try) does anyone have any comments or suggestions?

[NCH2oSki]

Check to make sure your slalom gate is actually engaging. Do you have anything in the trunk- if so make sure to clear it out of anything? How much fuel in the tank- if you are using gas that is- we always try to ski with less than half a tank. How many in your crew? What prop?

[fawellp]

Good point, we tried the hydrogate lever but will double check gate is actually being engaged as the lever was stiff having not been used in a while.

Trunk is empty apart from a 5l spare fuel can and fuel tank was nearly empty as we were out burning fuel to ensure boat was light for a long trailered journey. Two people in the boat so it should have been ideal.

Possibly I am not making a fair comparison as the Nautique is 8years old, whereas the TXi is new. Perhaps the newer 206 hulls have a smaller rooster or maybe Nautique designers are perhaps understandably focusing purely on 34/36mph.

I'm not sure what prop I have but it was the standard one that came with the boat from new. From what I can see, the rooster tail is created from the cut outs at the sides of the hull, presumably to jet water down the middle, to level out the groove in the in the lake created by the boat. Therefore, i agree with your approach of considering things to make the stern sit deeper in the water.

Despite this issue I still love my Nautique!

[keithh2oskier]

I only skied behind a 206 one time and it was noticeably worse than skiing behind the 196 hull. This was at 34/36 mph in the course at 22/28 off. I don't know what prop it had but I wasn't impressed with it especially given that I love the 196 hull. I thought the 206 was just a 196 with an extra foot added in the middle somewhere.

[fawellp]

Thanks Keith that's interesting. I saw some youtube videos and everyone skiing at 28, 30 etc was getting a big bounce. However, it could be technique as much as wake.

[keithh2oskier]

I wouldn't be surprised if the 206 has a harder (and slightly larger) rooster tail. Do you have any video of you skiing behind it? I think especially at the slower speeds and the 15/22' off lengths that its super important that your not skiing stiff legged or letting up over the rooster tail otherwise you will be getting a big bounce.

[fawellp]

That's a great point. Probably I've been too stiffed legged but getting away with it on the smaller wake. I will experiment with technique and take some video when we're out next week.