Difference between Air and Ski Nautiques?

[tlarocque]

Previously owned a 2008 Air Nautique 216 LE and now considering a 2006 Ski Nautique that has tower and factory ballast. What is the difference between the Ski and Air (both direct drives) of this era???

TIA

[vanhanbr]

Assuming your talking about the Ski Nautique 206. Its a foot shorter, same beam width. Not entirely sure how much different the hull isotherwise...there is a link above to the brochures of each year to compare.

[tlarocque]

Yeah, from what I can tell its a foot shorter and perhaps has a little less factory ballast (one tank instead of two). From reading, the 206 has a little better ski wake.

[Evening Shade]

I don't know much about either of the 2 boats you mention in your OP, but other than length I'm fairly certain that the biggest difference is factory ballast. Air Nautiques could be ordered with factory ballast, but factory ballast was not even an option in Ski Nautiques. So if the boat you are looking at has ballast in it it didn't come that way from the factory according to the model specification spread sheet that can be accessed at the top of the page. There may be a difference in the Ski and Air hull as well, but don't hold me to that. Others much more knowledgable than I will certainly know the answer to that.

[Quinner]

2003-2009 the 3 direct drive models were the SN196 (closed bow) SN206 (open bow) and the 216 (open bow), the 206 & 216 could be optioned with ballast and the "Air" graphics or with "Ski Nautique" graphics, same boat other then how it was optioned and which stickers were on the side. Slalom wakes would be 216=good 206=better 196=best, would imagine that order would be revered for wakeboard wake capabilities. Ballast options were 216=400lbs 206=200lbs 196=none, believe a tower was available for all. Hull for each model would be the same (TSCx) regardless of what options or stickers it had other then with or without the hydrogate which became an available option in 2006.

You could really option the boat anyway you wanted, when I ordered my 206 I opted for the "Air" graphics over the "Nautique" graphics simply because I just liked them better.Technically it's not the graphics that make the difference between the Air or Ski it is the options on the boat.

[jjackkrash]

I would add that if you keep the weight down, the 206 ski wake is very close if not identical to the 196 at 34 and 36 mph, especially at shorter line lengths, and it arguably tracks better. The 206 is an outstanding ski boat.

[tlarocque]

Thanks for the input. Think I have arrived at a deal on a 206 up in WA. I'm a novice skier but hope to get better.

[jjackkrash]

The 206 is a very solid boat. Great choice!