2000 Nautique 196 open bow for ZO project

[gregy]

I ran across a 2000 196 SNOB that need pretty much completely rebuilt. Are the open bows as good as a the closed bows for wakes etc? Thought this might make a good ZO project for the winter.

[Onside135]

I don't think the SNOB wakes are quite as good as the closed bow TSC1s. I believe they moved the motor further aft in the hull which degraded the wakes a bit. Personally if I were going to make a zero off tractor, I'd look for a closed bow.

[gregy]

I need an open bow unfortunately. I have family that likes to go to public lakes and play.

[Drago]

It'll be fine

[Hockdog]

The dash and seating was moved back a little to make room for the open bow, the wake should not be impacted much unless you load up the open bow with kids, gear, etc..

[aupatking]

It will make an awesome boat, but I can't imagine that it will get anywhere close to getting your money back out of it. will still be more boat than 99% of the skiing world can ever out-ski.

I'll take the old engine. I've got a 93 SN 196 NWZ that needs a full repower on the cheap. No meat on that bone if I start sinking dollars into it. Old engine is trash.

[swc5150]

If you need an open bow, are you sure the SNOB is a good choice? It's just a little sandbox up there. It's a great boat for skiing, but in reality, the bow area is pretty much worthless.

[JohnCox]

We ski behind a 2000 closed bow that has a newer engine and ZO, and it is awesome. From the end of the rope, feels as good as any boat out there.

[Doug]

I have done 4 repowers 3 being 2000 C/C 1 being 1995C/C they all ski and drive great I have taken out the GT 40 put in 343EX brand new from PCM using the same trans install ZO go map go ski repower takes me about 5 hours start to finish DON"T WASTE YOUR $$$ on a snob

[Mateo_Vargas]

http://austin.craigslist.org/boa/5172063930.html

[gregy]

Yea thats the one. I saw it on the side of the road the other day. I was thinking less $ than that though. It needs a lot of work and for some reason it doesn't have the proper windshield. Might be best just to make payments on a newer boat.

[Drago]

That looks pretty Wrong. Unless you want a major rebuild project.

[Mateo_Vargas]

Might be better off going with this one:

 

http://sanantonio.craigslist.org/boa/5137622242.html

[animal]

That looks like a pre '2001' Nautique. Absolutely brutal wakes.

[rodltg2]

Looks like the windshield from a ski challenger. Which I would rather have than that POS !

[escmanaze]

Wowee that boat is hammered. As for a snob in general, I have one and really love it. The front bow has easily fit two adults or 3 kids, so it really does add a ton of space to a top notch slalom wake. I have to imagine the engine being back does make the wake a touch worse, but I still feel like I have a great wake.

 

As far as adding ZO to a snob, I tend to agree with aupatking in the fact that you will never get your money out of it. But if you're planning on keeping it for 10 more years, then getting money out of it isn't the point, the point is to make a zo open bow boat with a premier wake that you can afford, and that you would accomplish.

[gregy]

Definitely not trying to get my money back. I just want a ZO boat. I figure the next boat will likely be the last. I've see some 07 or later response lxi that I could afford.

[ForrestGump]

That boat in Austin has been sunk before. Guaranteed.

[gregy]

@Shaneh I was worried of that also.

[ForrestGump]

No doubt. It was most likely sitting in a boat house on the Guadalupe when it flooded, which is why someone stuck a different windshield on it. Plus all the manual switches. After the '98 flood on Mcqueeney, there were any number of boats that looked like that.