SNOB 200 freeboard height

[obrienslalom]

I'm trying to decide on getting a snob 200 over a 206 (justifying the extra $). Talking to my wife, she asked if the 200 sat as close to the water. I didn't pay attention when on the demos. It sort of felt like it sat higher. Could have been the lake conditions too. I'm mostly untested in the height from the water at the back bench, not the bow (not sure if this is freeboard or not)

I don't think she loved how close to the water the 206 was, but I did feel like the 200 could take chop a tad better. Anybody have some real insight in this? I'm mostly speculating.

[DealsGapCobra]

I don't have any experience with a 206 but I don't think she will feel that she is 'too close to the water' in the rear of the 200. That being said, expect to get quite a bit of water off the bow! The nose is low and it is not at all unusual to take-on some water on a public lake. Funny thing is, that when I have a group, it seems everyone wants to sit in the bow or the observer seat making the problem much worse.

Having said all of that, I LOVE my 200.

[obrienslalom]

Thanks, she doesn't know it will take water over the bow yet, so I'll just act real surprised =p.

As an owner, do you know if a wakeboard fits in the ski lockers, maybe with the bindings removed? I'd like to have one for guests to try to get up on, not much more.

[swc5150]

If you're on plane, she won't notice the side spray in the 200, since there really isn't any. While idling around, the lockers don't allow the passengers close enough to the side of the boat to notice the water. I think you're in the clear Be vigilant on the bow for sure, as it's EASY to take on water, if you're not on top of the throttle.

Glancing in my brother's 200, I doesn't look like the lockers are tall enough to handle a wakeboard, but I don't know for sure? We don't own a wakeboard to test it out either.

You'll love your 200!

[DaveNH]

So you mentioned wanting to know the freeboard at the back, not the bow. I think you'll find that both boats are extremely safe and near zero chance of taking water over the sides, or taking side spray over the sides. As said above it's all about taking water over the bow. I think the 206 is much less likely to take rollers over the bow, for example coming around to pick up a skier idling into the wakes. I don't have firsthand driving experience in the 200, do in the 206.

Rollers over the stern quarters are not much of an issue with some decent driving technique, it's the bow that is the challenge.

[obrienslalom]

Thanks for the input.

My main question was more directed at feel vs the fear of taking water. It is really about a boat that feels small when we aren't skiing and just cruising, as opposed to one that well...feels slightly less small.