Open bow vs closed bow?

[boatech]

RE: Could I make this interesting and offer you mine???

i have found it much easier to sell the open bow over the closed bow. just something to keep in mind come resale time. good luck

[east tx skier]

I have owned multiple closed and open bow boats and I believe each have their advantages. Over the past year I have done just the opposite of east tx skier, I sold my 1998 Ski Nautique closed bow and replaced it with a Mastercraft 205 (a few years newer than east tx skiers). The amount of storage can certainly change depending on the year of the boat, I know that the earlier 205’s were a bit limited on storage but I believe in 1998 was when a change was made and they added the rear storage and a large in floor storage unit, this boat has a lot more storage than my old boat.

Storage varied. The 1st Gen 205s had a floor locker in the walk through. Mostly good for live bait as water had a way of getting in there. In the last year, I had a jump seat on top of it, but it rarely got used for more than storing the cooler. Hull changed in 96 and floor locker shrank to a floor cooler. Storage beneath the observer seat had a pass through to underneath the bow seat so you could actually get a ski under there. Gunwhale storage improved as well. Around 99 or 2000, the floor locker returned. My father in law has a 98, so I know there was no floor locker that year. Just FWIW. Sorry for waxing MasterCraft.

I looked hard at your 196 when it was up for sale. It's a beauty!