Baller GAJ0004 Posted March 22, 2009 Baller Share Posted March 22, 2009 I like the Ski Nautique 196 the best. I pull a lot of slalom course skiers and barefooters. I hate open bows and towers. I have a 1994 Ski Nautique that still looks and runs like new with close to 1400 hours on it. The main advantage of a Nautique over its competitors is it is the most user friendly for driving. I like my 1994 because it has a good slalom wake, but it also is great for tricks and kneeboarding. The main thing I have noticed over the years is a Nautique's skiability is less affected by adverse conditions(spray mostly). All of the big 3 Malibu, Master Craft, and Correct Craft all feel pretty much the same to me slalom skiing behind them. Can't wait to get mine out! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Administrators Horton Posted March 25, 2009 Administrators Share Posted March 25, 2009 I train behind an Infinity and freak'n love it. Goode ★ HO Syndicate ★ KD Skis ★ MasterCraft ★ PerfSki Radar ★ Reflex ★ S Lines ★ Stokes Drop a dime in the can Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller Roger Posted March 25, 2009 Baller Share Posted March 25, 2009 Nautique. Consistant wake from boat to boat. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller_ RichardDoane Posted March 25, 2009 Baller_ Share Posted March 25, 2009 My 92 Mastercraft is the side spray machine, which really makes a man out of you in a head wind. The best part is the "paid for". If the powertrain ever wears out, I'd be tempted to just repower the thing with the latest & greatest, that way I'd have a DBW machine with ZO. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SM Posted March 25, 2009 Share Posted March 25, 2009 Any boat that I don't have to drive. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller_ DW Posted March 25, 2009 Baller_ Share Posted March 25, 2009 JTH,Curious why you love the Infinity. I took a ride behind one a long time ago with the factory guys and really liked it also (February in Daytona). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller otisg Posted March 25, 2009 Baller Share Posted March 25, 2009 Horton - I am with you. I have an Infinity and I love mine.Too bad they're gone. Looks like SVFara has stopped making the One.There are still a few around with low hours ....cheap. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Administrators Horton Posted March 25, 2009 Administrators Share Posted March 25, 2009 the infinity drives good and skis great. You will never trick behind one but I don't own a trick ski anymore. It just seems like a good product that did not get off the ground. Goode ★ HO Syndicate ★ KD Skis ★ MasterCraft ★ PerfSki Radar ★ Reflex ★ S Lines ★ Stokes Drop a dime in the can Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller Roger Posted March 25, 2009 Baller Share Posted March 25, 2009 If you want to have some (extra) fun with your Infinity, give it some throttle in reverse. It's the only tournament ski boat that will plane in reverse...Once they added the "water wings," it became a world class tow boat. Just not enough market share left over after the big three probably. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
east tx skier Posted March 25, 2009 Share Posted March 25, 2009 I'll throw in a vote for a TSC1, 2, or 3 196/Ski Nautique. I'm a fan of the early 90s MC's as well, but I love my new to me SN. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
creakyrowboat Posted March 26, 2009 Share Posted March 26, 2009 1982 mastercraft stars and stripes. loud. sat low in the water. looked bad ass. and barely ever ran more then 10 hours without something breaking. or so i have heard Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller Steven Posted March 26, 2009 Baller Share Posted March 26, 2009 You can't beat a "paid for" '95 Response. It ski's as well as any new boat out there! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller Boody Posted March 26, 2009 Baller Share Posted March 26, 2009 1998 Ski Nautique. Bought it new and sold it in 2008 with over 1000 hours. Still ran / drove great. Now I am getting all choked up, I hate goodbyes... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Administrators Horton Posted March 26, 2009 Administrators Share Posted March 26, 2009 Check out the chart. Did MS find a way to vote more then once? Goode ★ HO Syndicate ★ KD Skis ★ MasterCraft ★ PerfSki Radar ★ Reflex ★ S Lines ★ Stokes Drop a dime in the can Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Old MS Accout Posted March 26, 2009 Share Posted March 26, 2009 When nonCC owners get a chance to vote anonymously, they put there buyers remorse aside and vote for the best, CC.   Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller eleeski Posted March 26, 2009 Baller Share Posted March 26, 2009 When we did trick tests last year there was one ski where the testers were afraid to even try any toe tricks. It was great for wake tricks but scary for surface turns. The CC wake (even with the hydrogate) is the same thing. It is awful to trick behind. Worse than that, there is significant variability between boats - so you never know what you will get in a tournament. I don't like to criticize the boat companies too much but CC has had years to fix the problem - and they have just ignored the trickers. I have bought two MC's (excellent all around boats!) since the last CC hull change ruined the trick wake. I still own and love my 97 Nautique (so I have no prejudice).This is primarily a slalom forum so for the sake of the slalom skiers out there (and so MS doesn't bag on me too much) I will admit that the ZO CC is my favorite slalom boat of the current offerings. My top ZO CC scores are a bouy better than my ZO MC scores. And 15 buoys better than my top Stargazer Malibu scores.But for all out best slalom boat it has to be the little 79 American Skier. Tiny wakes and a soft pull have led me through more of my 35 offs than all other boats combined! And a perfect trick wake and table as well! Now if Kirk will just take a bit of time away from high school wrestling, diving, AP biology, AP history and the rest of his classes and finish restoring the American Skier, I'll get to ski behind it again.Eric Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Administrators Horton Posted March 26, 2009 Administrators Share Posted March 26, 2009 soft pull = Stan hand drive? Goode ★ HO Syndicate ★ KD Skis ★ MasterCraft ★ PerfSki Radar ★ Reflex ★ S Lines ★ Stokes Drop a dime in the can Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller eleeski Posted March 26, 2009 Baller Share Posted March 26, 2009 Stan soft?! No way! He is a hard driver with PP or ZO!And Lisa's nickname is "The Hammer".Kirk isn't bad but he grew up on PP.But I'll admit that the best American Skier runs were with a soft hand driver.Eric Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller Ed_Obermeier Posted March 26, 2009 Baller Share Posted March 26, 2009 Just what everyone needs in these days of emotional political upheaval - another "my boat's better than your boat" pissing contest... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller GAJ0004 Posted March 26, 2009 Author Baller Share Posted March 26, 2009 I have slalomed behind a 1993 Malibu Echelon. I liked it too. It had a nice flat and narrow wake even at 22 off. I got to ski behind a Nightmare edition Master Craft last summer(closed bow), and a friend of mine has a 197. I like the Nightmare Edition better for slalom, and the 197 better for tricks. Nothing beats a boat that is paid for. The new Master Crafts are nice trick boats. I add a 1 foot section of rope to my trick line to find the flat spot on the table when behind a Master Craft. I have not had the chance to trick behind a new Nautique. The one thing I don't like about all the newer boats is vinyl on the stern. I would rather have more floor space when I have a crew of 4 slalom skiers. Sorry Ed, I did not mean to start an argument on here. I was just curious to see how people go about picking out a boat. I would not mind having one of those 6.0 liter engines on board for barefooting..    Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller thager Posted March 26, 2009 Baller Share Posted March 26, 2009 SN 196 with PP Classic. Great lines pull and wake! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller jedgell Posted March 26, 2009 Baller Share Posted March 26, 2009 196 with ZO.  For slalom, how can you beat it? Mine is a '95 that is paid for, I like almost as much as the new ones. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller auskier Posted March 26, 2009 Baller Share Posted March 26, 2009 "When nonCC owners get a chance to vote anonymously, they put there buyers remorse aside and vote for the best, CC." - MSGuilty. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller Bill Gladding Posted March 27, 2009 Baller Share Posted March 27, 2009 I skiied a PB practice behind an 03 196 with PP classic. My regular ride is an 08 Malibu Response RLXi and I have gotten close to my PB behind it. Did OK at regionals and Nats last year behing the Malibu with SG. In my book they are interchangeable. At our lake the Malibu is better to drive because all of our turns are to the right which fits right in with the Malibu's prop rotation.Strictly skiing I vote 196. Best all around (family, ski, drive and value) Malibu. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Administrators Horton Posted March 27, 2009 Administrators Share Posted March 27, 2009 I saw the 09 promo MC for the first time today. Wow is that a good looking boat. Goode ★ HO Syndicate ★ KD Skis ★ MasterCraft ★ PerfSki Radar ★ Reflex ★ S Lines ★ Stokes Drop a dime in the can Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller Roger Posted March 30, 2009 Baller Share Posted March 30, 2009 Brent, does he require ZO? If not, there are several for sale under that number. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller ForrestGump Posted March 31, 2009 Baller Share Posted March 31, 2009 I almost hate to say it, but my favorite boat to ski behind is the 02 American Skier Elan. Now that boat has to be the worst, most dangerous boat to ever have to drive. But it has a sweet wake. The new Response feels like it has a 4 ft tall wake to me. But my tournament pb is behind it. I hate to drive them though because you sit so low in them. I feel like I should be on the streets of Oakland, low riding it with my MAC10 next to me. LOLMy favorite to drive and ski behind is the current generation of CC 196. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller baja Posted March 31, 2009 Baller Share Posted March 31, 2009 Still love my 1994 Mastercraft 205 with over 1200 hours of family fun and memories. The wake still compares favorably with anything today except you really notice how much spray control has improved since then. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
h2oski Posted March 31, 2009 Share Posted March 31, 2009 Shane, The front part of the Malibu seat lifts up and back to form a "booster seat" works great for me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aarons01 Posted March 31, 2009 Share Posted March 31, 2009 01 SNOB Perfect Pass *paid for* Doesn't get much better for me Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller_ DW Posted April 2, 2009 Baller_ Share Posted April 2, 2009 I pulled out 300# out of my boat and noticed the improvement in the wake. I can only imagine how good any of the newer crop of ski boats would be if they took 300+ lbs. out. The wake control has certainly improved and is somewhat offset by the additional weight of these newer boats. Typical mid 90's ski boat ranged from 2200lbs (Gekko) to an average of 2400-2500 lbs, but the current crop seems to run about 4-500 lbs more. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller skidawg Posted May 12, 2009 Baller Share Posted May 12, 2009 American skier (03-05) is by far the best boat for a slalom skier to ride behind, not so driver friendly. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Old MS Accout Posted May 12, 2009 Share Posted May 12, 2009 Dawg,I still have elbow problems from driving that pile. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller JAG Posted May 13, 2009 Baller Share Posted May 13, 2009 I'm happy and content with my '02 MB Sports 190. Nice wake, minimal spray, hot shower system, floor heater, PP and nice touches throughout. And the best part, it's paid for. rpg Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller skidawg Posted May 13, 2009 Baller Share Posted May 13, 2009 Ur elbow problems are left over from adolescence!!!!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller ForrestGump Posted May 15, 2009 Baller Share Posted May 15, 2009 Uhhhh........we were supposed to stop that at adolescence?!?!?! Damnit, it's not tennis elbow after all! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Horton
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