Ski Nautique 2019

[LeonL]

@LoopSki do 2018's exist?

[disland]

If they load up that ballast tank and someone breaks the world trick record at the Masters will it count?

[escmanaze]

Thanks @dnewton for the heads up.

 

However, that kid has to be sub 100 pounds, so it's difficult to tell too much about the wake with such a tiny kid crossing them. Nevertheless, with that being all the info we have to go off of so far, it's at least good to see that the wake is small enough to not make this happen.

 

 

Apples to oranges, I know, but still.

 

[ntx]

@LeonL For this year (2018) ski season, nautique can use the 2017 and 2018 year boats. This new model most likely wont pull many tournaments outside Orlando or the bigger events till AFTER this years nationals. Note it is a 2019 model year.

[Kelvin]

It will be at tournaments in the Houston and Austin area this year.

[ntx]

@Kelvin is the man. Any chance we can get you up to DFW area if @Jdubs does not get a new model???

[LLUSA]

@disland if the boat is tested with ballast and approved this fall at the boat test the record will count. Unless SN asks for an earlier or separate test, which have been done in the past.

 

[UWSkier]

Weren't the Malibu Wedge and Tige's TAPS system dismissed as band-aids for poor hull design in the past? You shouldn't need "drag hardware" or metal bits in the water to change wake shape, right? Could have sworn I read that somewhere...

[Horton]

@UWSkier I have to disagree with that. I don't know if we're going to look back on this new Nautique and five years and think it's a stroke of genius or not but it certainly shows some creative thinking.

 

The wing on your Slalom ski is not there because of the ski is poorly designed.....

[jhughes]

I dub it the Origami Nautique. I'm sure the looks will grow on me a bit but it's shocking ATM.

[bigskieridaho]

I think the drag devices are a great idea. Too many SN 200’s had different wakes to me. Anything to get rid of that trough is a good innovation. Not a fan of the looks really, but a nice boat nonetheless. I am sure it will grow on me like the new Malibu. Are they going to start coming out with seadek wrap for the inside of your boat like the wraps for the outside....ha ha. That thing is all seadek!

[UWSkier]

@Horton that was sarcasm directed at folks who in the past took that position when discussing things like "why shouldn't the Wedge be allowed for trick skiing?"

[Horton]

@UWSkier Ooook

[jhughes]

For any horologists out there, if you look carefully you can catch what appears to be a Rolex GMT on the wrist of the driver in the walk-through video, nice fitting touch, ha. 9:25 on the video.

 

 

[webbdawg99]

@scotchipman Earlier you said that you'd been suggesting to manufacturers for 5 years that they should move the gas tank in front of the engine. Well, this isn't a new thing in the world of ski boats. If anyone remembers Rob Shirley's Infinity boats circa 2000......gas tank was in front of the engine. My understanding is that this caused them to have to move the engine back and a direct drive wouldn't work, hence the center mounted V-drive. Interesting to see that idea come back almost 20 years later. Wonder what Nautiqe did to pull of the forward gas tank without sacrificing a direct drive setup.

 

Second thought, as a taller driver, I definitely griped about the previous generation's seat height. The top line of the windshield was always in my line of sight. Glad to see that they've dropped it back down. However, if you've been used to driving 200's, I'm sure it'll take some time getting used to a totally different site picture to find your consistent center line!

[6balls]

Our old '88 Ski Centurion Barefoot Warrior Comp had the gas tank in the nose. Most brutal hole shot I've ever felt with a big outboard on the transom. I did a flying deep barefoot start off a dock with my brother driving and I don't think my hair (no longer in existence) got wet.

I think it's cool that Nautique went tank forward.

[bishop8950]

@webbdawg99 my understanding was the Infinity had a V drive to the change the angle of the drive shaft and location of the prop. This also made it easier to move the gas tank, not the other way around.

 

The infinity was also the first ski boat with truly easy access to the platform. Both on the new Ski Nautique.

 

It looks like the new display is a major improvement in the one in the 200.

 

The idea of adjustable tuning on the bottom of the boat is great. Looking forward to playing with that. I like the Wakes on the 200 and if they are better now, great!

 

Overall, it’s interesting to See Nautique push the high end of the market. We will see how well that pays off. I am pumped to see, drive and ski the new boat.

[webbdawg99]

@bishop8950 I've always heard that they wanted to get the "ballast" out of the rear of the boat for improved wakes and that moving the tank resulted in the V-drive set-up. Maybe someone on here really knows. One thing is for certain, the Infinity definitely had some outside the box design on it. That decreased drive shaft angle on the V-drive also resulted in more direct thrust. That thing would come out of the hole FAST. I also heard that they had played with the idea of doing a triple rudder on that boat as well

[webbdawg99]

@jhughes Maybe he needs to add "Nautique skiing" to this routine....

 

[thager]

FUGLY

[MrJones]

I clicked on this thread just to see what the new boat looked like. I'm amazed that people are discussing anything but the cost, and what this continuing trend is doing to an already shrinking market.

[mateja]

Wow, hard to believe we've now blown past the $100k mark for a new ski boat. I'm starting to feel that buying a 1 year old promo boat for $40k a few years back was one of the best decisions of my life.

[DefectiveDave]

I'm just glad the market is still healthy enough to allow companies to release new ski boats, even if they are getting more expensive. 10 years from now I'll have the opportunity to own one of these babies.

[UWSkier]

So Malibu invented surfgates and a bunch of companies popped up and created aftermarket flaps/gates for improving the surf wake.

 

Who's going to be the first to market aftermarket trough fangs?

[Ed_Johnson]

Already thought about machining a pair for my 200. Can't wait to get a good look at them.

 

Back in 98 we had chines that bolted onto the Pro-Star that significantly improved it's wake.

 

 

[bigskieridaho]

@UWSkier I designed my own surf gate, so I guess I could do the same with some drag fangs?? Don’t really feel like the trough is that bad on my BU tho.

[Ed_Johnson]

Here's the Video on the Micro Tuners.

 

 

[Tonster17]

I have herd the price landed in Australia....It is approx 45k more than a MC!

I do like the fact that they are pushing the boundaries, but they do need an OB in the line up. Big money....

[fox197]

I hope these seat tears on the outside of the bolster are an option when your spending that kind of dough

[Not_The_Pug]

@fox197 those are not seat tears, that is the back of the upholstery wrap and that piece should be popped/locked back into the hard plastic side of the seat. Someone must have just pulled it out.

[eleeski]

@fox197 The dog did it!

[pgmoore]

At the risk of being off topic, but seriously... who lets their dog in the boat?!? :)

 

I know @Horton is with me on this one.

[dvskier]

I agree blame it on the dog!

[mdriggs]

I am going to say what some of you are thinking. If I had a $100K plus boat, I wouldn't let my kids in it, let alone a dog !!!

[eleeski]

@mdriggs That's exactly why there shouldn't be 100k boats.

 

On that line of thinking, will SDSU get a new Nautique? College kids and salt water. Racking up the hours using the boat. Not wiping it down and obsessing over making sure the rub rail doesn't touch the dock bumpers.

 

Eric

[Not_The_Pug]

@Mdriggs total understand your thinking. I won't let @eleeski in my new boat, more likely to leave a mess on the seats then kids or a dog. :smile:

[Dacon62]

Cool tech and well thought out.

Would be nice if the rear blast was split so it could be used to balance the boat and with all that drag hardware (hydro-brake and TFT-trough filling tuners) fuel burn will be increased. Not a fan of Sea-Dek but a personal preference.

Other than that I think they nailed everything. The looks are unique and follow the in the same theme as the rest of the Nautique line. Well done!

[swc5150]

Hopefully that seat is just a proto boat, and not a QC issue...ala Bu this year (boat show pics). That's raw jagged fiberglass not cut to size for the glove box.

 

[Kelvin]

The boats currently in the wild are pre-production-line versions. The first 2 off the production-line are scheduled to head to Texas in a week or 2.

[TEL]

My take on the 2019 Nautique.

A group of us (15 to 32 off skiers) went to demo days at Jack Traver’s on Friday. Pictures do not do this boat justice. Function is what this boat is all about - it’s a skier’s boat. This boat was specifically targeted to the short-line skier. For our 15 off skiers there was not much of a change in wakes compared to other boats currently on the market. At 22 off there was a good bump, which disturbed two of us (we both own 06 and 08 196). At 28 off it was about the same as my 08 196. I have never complained about 28 off behind my boat. Had them drop the tabs in the water and they smoothed out the wakes tremendously. Another skier was also amazed at the difference with and without the tabs down at 28 off. From what we were told they are programmed to drop down at 38 off but can be overridden at anytime. We were told that skiers running 39 off said they have never run those passes as easily. So, is it worth it? Anything that helps you run more buoys is worth every penny. So maybe in about five years I’ll be able to afford a used one.

 

[Ilivetoski]

@TEL So without the tabs is the wake any better than a 200?

[LoopSki]

Boat seems less and less appealing to the masses

[Justin]

So it only benefits skiers 38 off and shorter?

Seems like the majority of people who can afford one don't run that deep of shortline.

[LoopSki]

I think they built ot for Nate to run 43 !

[CCRSKR]

They are programmed to "drop down" at -38 and shorter? How does the boat know the line length? Did I miss something?

[liquid d]

@justin Tel commented with the fangs/tabs down it made a big difference in the 28 off passes they were running. Sounds like they made several functional changes. Get friendly with your nearest Nautique neighbor! Love that Maker's mark!

[BraceMaker]

@LoopSki and then the sport is officially over right? Or fractional inch off line lengths.

[mkerzie]

@CCRSKR You have to enter your line length and speed for every pass. The boat takes care of the rest

 

[skierjp]

The boat is pre programmed to adjust for the best wake at the speed and line length selected. You will not have the choice of selecting the micro tuners up or down. Many hours of R&D with all levels of skiers have been spent to make sure the best wake is programmed. When I skied the boat a few months ago the wake was noticeably better then the 200. 22 through 35.

[TEL]

@skierjp We were able to drop the micro tuners any time.