Slalom boats

[CAN'TSKI]

I did so much research last year and made the perfect decision in buying a 211. What a boat. The only problem is my 13 yr old son decided to try slalom last August and looks like he was born on one ski. He is now getting the full course in. We need a 196 type boat but my speedbump, I mean my wife says not another new boat.
How does a new 196 wake compare to the wake behind older boats? Is it noticeably better than, say a 1997 196?

[bkhallpass]

RE: Slalom boats

1997 Ski Nautique is a World Class Slalom boat. If you're son reaches a level where he is "too good" for that
boat, you won't have to worry about new boats because the manufacturers will be stepping on themselves to give him a new one each year. BKH

[east tx skier]

I was really gearing up to buy a promo 196 at the end of this season. But as fate would have it, a 98 SN came up for sale just up the road from me. There is a difference in the slalom wake among the various TSC boats, but for the price, in my case, a TSC was too great to turn down.

[SGY]

The newer 196 has throttle by wire, zero off, fancy push button ignition, fancy gauges, cool looking motor packages, a bit more room from port to starboard, smaller engine box/clamshell, nice rear storage (if you like that sort of thing--some don't), serpetine belt, and noticeably more shallow prop shaft angle. With all that said, I still get in my buddy's TSC1 Ski Nautique and say to myself "dang nice boat". I still get pulled up and ski behind my buddy's TSC1 Ski Nautique and say to myself "this is a very soft and forgiving wake". Don't get me wrong, I love my 2005 196 but I'd be equally happy with at 1997 196 if it were in great shape.

[CAN'TSKI]

Thanks guys,
$15000-$25000 is a lot easier to get approved by my Logic Enforcement Officer than 40-50000.