Just Bought a used 2004 196 with the Hydro Gate?

[BadLuck]

Hello all, first time posting, but have been reading these forums for months. I have a question I hope the forum can help with: I just put a deposit on a 2004 196 over the weekend; the boat is in great shape overall, and the seller is the second owner of the boat. The boat is currently winterized, so I'm having it taken to a dealer for a pre-purchase inspection (not a full survey or anything, but just asked the dealer to do a compression test, take it for a lake test and let me know if anything major is amiss). One thing has me puzzled. From my research on these forums and reading through the brochures, the Hydro-Gate was not an option on the 196 until the TSC3 hull in 2006, but the boat I am in the process of buying has the gate and control installed. The gate and controls look to be factory and perfectly match the pictures from later years. I guess it could have been retrofitted at some point, but want to know if this should concern me? Is there anything specific I should have the dealer check for re the hydro gate?

Thanks!

Below is a picture of the helm, I don't have one of the gate itself, but once I take delivery (unless the retrofitting of the gate is an issue with the boat?) I'll make sure to get better pictures and upload them...

[NautiqueJeff]

If I remember correctly, the ONLY difference in the TSC2 and TSC3 hull is that on the TSC3, the lip at the back was removed and the hydro-gate was installed. It was a fairly common modification on TSC2 boats, and is fairly easy to do. You just grind away that lip where the hydro-gate mounts, and install it.

What's the hull ID? Are you SURE it is a 2004?

[BadLuck]

Ok, thanks, sounds like as long as the hull was properly modified, the Hydro-Gate retrofit shouldn't be an issue. The HIN definitely indicates it is a 2004: CTC40001C304

[wtrskrs]

Interesting comment from NautiqueJeff: If the only change between the TSC2 (which I have) and the TSC3 is the Hydrogate, did the addition Hydrogate improve the slalom wake or the trick wake over a TSC2? In other words, is adding a Hydrogate to a TSC2 going to improve the slalom or the trick wake? I don't trick, so if my TSC2 hull is the same as a TSC3 hull with the hydrogate in the slalom position, then I wouldn't want to do the modification. However, if the TSC2 wake is closer to a TSC3 in trick position, then I'd want to consider doing the modification myself.

[NautiqueJeff]

I believe it only helps the trick wake. The lip at the back of the TSC2 keeps the stern higher in the water. Removing the lip will drop the back of the boat deeper in the water, creating a bigger wake. With the hydro-gate down, that has the same effect as having the lip there -- raising the back of the boat to create a smaller wake. With the hydro-gate up, that would lower the back of the boat, making a bigger wake for trick.

This is all from memory from many years ago. I am pretty sure I am correct, but you may want to verify that with Nautique just to be sure.

[NautiqueJeff]

There is a little more info here.

https://www.planetnautique.com/vb5/f...g-a-hydro-gate

[SilentSeven]

I believe it only helps the trick wake. The lip at the back of the TSC2 keeps the stern higher in the water. Removing the lip will drop the back of the boat deeper in the water, creating a bigger wake. With the hydro-gate down, that has the same effect as having the lip there -- raising the back of the boat to create a smaller wake. With the hydro-gate up, that would lower the back of the boat, making a bigger wake for trick.

This is all from memory from many years ago. I am pretty sure I am correct, but you may want to verify that with Nautique just to be sure.

I think this is accurate.

What I don't understand is how adding a hydrogate to a TSC2 hull changes anything. That is, unless you remove the lip from the hull. That would be my question on the OPs boat - did they remove the lip as part of the hydrogate retrofit?

I poked around on this when I was looking for my 206 as there are 206 models with and without the hydrogate. When I finally understood what the system did, I crawled under my 2004 (no hydrogate) and was surprised to see how obvious that lip is.

[NautiqueJeff]

It would do nothing if the lip wasn't removed.

[BadLuck]

That would be my question on the OPs boat - did they remove the lip as part of the hydrogate retrofit?

Thanks for all the feedback! I've asked the dealer to closely examine the hydro-gate to determine if it was done right (i.e. lip removed, gate installed properly using factory parts, etc.) or if the lip is still there and the gate is doing nothing. The weather has been terrible, but hopefully they can get to the boat in the next few days. I'll let everyone know what they say, and assuming there are no other issues, have some up close pictures of the gate and hull.

[Quinner]

The gate kit is $800 plus the cost of installation, sure would be silly to go thru all that and not grind out the hook so it works correctly.
It's a very simple device, slide the lever to Wakeboard and see if the plate shifted and if there is a hook or not.

[SilentSeven]

Does anyone have a thread / post / something that shows how the lip is ground off? A before and after picture would be super interesting.

[BadLuck]

Does anyone have a thread / post / something that shows how the lip is ground off? A before and after picture would be super interesting.

The pre-purchase inspection at the dealer went well, I'll pick up the boat next week (still waiting to hear back from the seller as to what day he can meet), so I'll be able to provide an "after" pic of the conversion on a 2004 soon. I'm so excited to have my first Nautique after years of I/Os, pontoons and jet skis!

[SilentSeven]

Pictures???

[BadLuck]

Finally got a free day to work on the boat and get some pictures... sorry for the delay:

[BadLuck]