Which boat to buy?

I'm thinking I'd like to get a bigger boat than my current 96-176. I find it cramped even with just me and it's worse with skiers on board. I also get pounded even in the mildest chop.

How do the late 90's 196"s or Sport hulls ride compared to the 176? It seems that the Sport hulls are heavier and longer but appears the extra length is in the aft of the boat where the locker is.

I don't do much slalom skiing these days given my age but would like to do something that is lower impact like trick skiing or wake boarding.

It's time to give up the sports car and get a cruiser.

I'd appreciate any and all opinions.

Thanks, Don

If you feel like a grandpa, might as well get the official grandpa boat and find a Sport. I feel like my 93 Ski rides fair enough in chop but that’s compared to a 2nd gen Ski or Moreno lately Skiffs. It’s all relative I guess.

Barefooting- It’s all fun and games until you catch a toe 😂

I didn’t realize that the Sport is the official Granpa boat. It’ll match all the chrome on my truck. 😂

QUOTE=GottaSki]

AlfaDon wrote: but would like to do something that is lower impact like trick skiing or wake boarding. ] heh, good luck with that wake boarding... May i suggest barefooting? other than that half-jest, i have no constructive direct experience with the 176 and what would ride better enough to commit to, other then a bfn

Thanks 75

I still need to tune that 11a rudder. It pulls way to hard to the left. I think it must have been on a reverse rotation boat

75 Tique wrote: Don's 176 Nice 176. Nice upgrades (including unmentioned rudder) Dual Exhaust, nice touch. I bet that thing really gets up and goes. Shouldnt have any trouble moving this one, should you decide to pull the trigger

This GrandPa sure likes his '93 Sport. Only been a GrandPa for 2 1/2 years.   Have had the boat for 13 years this June.
Very capable boat. Will handle rougher water (think Lake Lanier Summer) at the correct speed and bow up.
We ski. Not course runners, but the whole family free skis on a slalom.
Enjoy the extra room and open bow.
For me, it has been a great choice !
Seems that there was a "97 ? maybe for sale recently.

Hi Larry,
I'll have to check out your rudder thread.

I did install my 11a. I used to have that ugly slab of stainless that's been called a rudder. I didn't run with it much because I went right into changing it out,so I don't remember much.   I do find that the 11a turns much smoother, and it seems to be easier to initiate a turn. Plus it looks much cooler and that's worth more.   There's a 176 for sale near me on SFBay craiglist that has a bronze rudder on it but it looks smaller that an 11a.

I think I might of opened up the hole for the rudder port but it wasn't by much. I probably did it with a rasp or something like it. I can measure it if you'd like. It's become a door stop at my house :-)

75 Tique wrote: Don, Just curious (as more data input to my 176 rudder thread I put up yesterday) Did you put on the 11A? What was on it before? Stainless or small bronze Did you have to expand hole in fiberglass to fit a larger port? Other than hard pull to left, did you notice any other performance changes?

There ya go! You’re all ready for the grandpa boat!

I am 56, but not yet a Granpa. I love my 2002 Sport Nautique. My oldest daughter wake boards behind it and the rest of the family skis ( Free Ski) behind it. Handles chop much better than my Cyprus Gardens Limited Edition Seaworld package 1980 did.

The 206 will give you a World Class skiing wake and the Sport with 1/4 tank low gear in the trunk and one observer provides a great ski wake. Wake Board is not world class, but throw a fat sack in the trunk or a fat chick in the back seat ( Sorry Quinner) and you have a nice wake for boarding.

The sport also gives you room to move around inside. The Air Nautiques 2000-2002 ish have hard tanks and a not so good filling and draining system. The Sport Nautiques have no hard tanks so you get the full room in the back and floor storage compartments.