Ski Nautique vs Barefoot Nautique

I've got an '88 Barefoot (pic in my sig). I would agree that it's got a smoother ride (and bigger wake) due to the deeper hull than the same year model SN. The back seat is definitely a smoother ride than the front and I still get a complaint or two from the wife when we hit a roller :)

Duffnit,
For comparison sakes, I have owned several older and newer Nautiques. My current arsenal includes a '71 SN and an '84 Barefoot 2001. The Ski has a much rougher ride but better handling characteristics than the Barefoot. However the Barefoot has a MUCH better ride in rough water and in addition has a larger wake for wakeboarding. I love both boats and if I had to pick which is better...I probably couldn't. I am looking to sell the Bearfoot though. It is mint with the H.O. 454 and a wakeboard tower. Let me know if you would be interested.

Hey Jbear. Rain here in CA all week, but it's supposed to clear tomorrow. Slipped a disc in my back last weekend, so looks like my water ski season may be over for a while. That's ok, time to rest up for snow skiing.

Odd, but whenever I mention the weather to my snow bound friends, they seem to turn the conversation to mortgage payments, and I hang up Enjoy your ski. BKH

duffnit wrote: Thanks BKHallpass. You seem very well versed in the know of these boats and I appreciate your input.

Well, I don't know about all that. The wife would probably say I've just got too much time on my hands, but I do love these boats.

Good luck, and maybe just for fun you'll get to
take a test drive in one of the new boats this
summer. They are pretty darn nice.

BKH

I have a 1992 Nautique Excel, which is a Barefoot Nautique and an 02 SAN. The excel handle the chop pretty well. Week-ends at my lake it can get pretty cut-up and a bad back would be very happy in the back seat. You can always get a decent jarring in the drivers and front seat I think. Newer boat feels a little smoother but not too much actual differnce in jarring effects. I have the excle for sale now 'cuz I can't have 2 boats. Drive mine in your near virginia.

Duffnit,

Not really a fair comparison. The Ski Nautique
is a world class compet*tion ski boat. It's all about tracking, great handling through a course, flat and soft wakes, and low spray even at very short line lengths. If you are a hardcore skier, you probably won't be satisfied with any V-Drive. If you Ski below 28 off, the
spray get pretty tough with the V-Drive.

Now comparing the 210 and 211 to other V-Drives, they track very well. I've driven Malibu, MC, and Ski Centurion, and Nautique tracked the best.

If you are going to ski at all, I wouldn't even
bother with the 210. The 211 is better. You might consider the 216 as well. It is a direct drive, but longer, and a bit heavier than the ski nautique. It skis very well, it wakeboards very well, but does neither at world class levels. It will handle rough water better than the ski nautique, but not as well as the V-Drives.

My point is every boat is a compromise. It's just a matter of finding the balance that works best for you. You don't know if you don't test drive, and test ski. If you find you hate the 211, that's great because you won't have second   thoughts as to whether you made the right decision.

2001s were/are great boats. Wake was a little hard by today's standards, but they also handled rough water better than other boats of the era. Because the wake is somewhat hard and peaky, the boats have been resurrected as very popular wakeboard boats, offering a great wakeboard wake for a relatively low cost. But, if you're trying to make the wife happy, you can't beat the creature comforts of the newer boats.

BKH

Weight distribution is part of it. The 211 and 210 are also heavier, and have slight V Hulls to them. The 211 is also a bit wider. Test drives are free, so it might be worth a spin in the 211.

To answer your original question, all other things being equal, a boat with a deeper V will generally handle rough water better than a boat with less V or deadrise.

BKH

Duffnit,

I know it's a lot more money, but the 211 is really smooth in rough water. It could also
probably replace your I/O in terms of room and
functionality. I have a 210, which handles rough water pretty well, but IMO not as well
as the 211.

BKH

What years? I know that the 2001 Barefoot has a differnt hull shape (deeper "V"?) than the 2001 Ski Nautique. I think 1989 was the last year for the 2001. I am a relative newbie so I am not sure what year the hull design changed.