New Nautique does not have a tower option?

[escmanaze]

I haven't seen one. Does anybody know if that is officially the case? It seems to make sense - if you don't offer an open bow, then you've already lost all appeal to the public water family guy anyway. It seems to be obvious that the public water family guy is not the guy they had in mind when designing this boat. I just wanted to see if anybody has heard or knows anything official or certain 100%.

[escmanaze]

It's really too bad because with the ballast in it, this boat would have the beginnings to make a really good crossover boat for guys like me who like to ride sideways every now and then.

 

Isn't there some rule stating that you can't use ballast for trick or something like that? Assuming I'm correct in understanding that, I've always felt like that rule has really been an impediment to manufacturers making really good ski-first crossover boats. Hopefully, Nautique doing this will be a great first step toward getting rid of any rule like that which may exist.

[skierjp]

I think you should be looking at the GS20. Very similar boats when you really look at them.

[LeonL]

3. If equipped, the ballast system starting level may be chosen by the skier (0%, 25%, 50%, 75%, or 100%). The skier may select +/- 50% for his second pass based on his first pass selection. The LOC along with the CJ may set a maximum upper ballast level. If so, the skier may not exceed that limit when selecting a second pass change.

This maximum can be 0 if the LOC feels it may damage shorelines, etc. So the doesn't explicitly deny use of ballast.

[Horton]

@escmanaze

http://media.tumblr.com/fe497dd337d9af8479bb6398b9565d16/tumblr_inline_mg6n5ltl6X1rxe4lt.gif

http://media.tumblr.com/fe497dd337d9af8479bb6398b9565d16/tumblr_inline_mg6n5ltl6X1rxe4lt.gif

http://media.tumblr.com/fe497dd337d9af8479bb6398b9565d16/tumblr_inline_mg6n5ltl6X1rxe4lt.gif

[LeonL]

OH, a triple! The new Nautique is designed (unfortunately by engineers not skiers or drivers) to be a 3 event boat only. That's just what it is.

[ScottScott]

There has been several comments about crossover boats like the GS20 and their slalom capabilities. For a slalom 1st skier they just really arean't great options. Someone's comments recently regarding the balast on the new Nautique suggested that 100% was a little more than needed for trick, but might be pretty good for wakeboard. For a slalom 1st skier, that also likes to get the family out for a day on the lake, seems like this would be the best option out there if you could put a tower on.

[skierjp]

Lots of skiers and drivers were involved with the development of the Ski Nautique.

[escmanaze]

Triple Panda Award Recipient. It's been a long time coming. I've worked so hard for this. First, I'd like to thank the academy, and all who helped me get to this point, my parents, my family, my friends there is so much support I've received over the years to help me arrive to the point where I can officially say "I've received a triple panda!!!"

[bigskieridaho]

Ha ha @escmanaze Lucky you. Once again tower haters and people like you and I need them. Just buy a MC or Malibu and you will be good. They can call them monkey bars, roll cages etc..... or @twhisper can just do pull ups on it when he gets in to drive you like mine.

[escmanaze]

@skierjp No, the GS20 is definitely not what I'm after. It's over 1500 pounds heavier and is a v-drive. It is definitely not what I would refer to as a "ski-first" crossover. What I mean when I say ski-first crossover is that right off the bat, at the heart of it, we start with the best ski boat/hull the manufacturer can currently build. THEN, after we have started with that as a basis, then we throw some accessories and stuff at it that make it at least a little bit better for riding sideways understanding the significant limitations involved when starting with a ski boat platform.

 

The first ever really good example, in my opinion of a ski-first crossover was the air 196 from 2002. It was on the TSC1 hull, but they made it open bow version and put a tower on it. Next came the X7 from Mastercraft. Open bow - walk through even - with a tower, and they even put some ballast in it. If only the 197 hull had been a little softer, smaller wake for us long line slow speed guys, that one really would have been a home run. The Malibu TXi then came with the walk through open bow, tower option, and instead of ballast they did the wedge - another great offering - probably the best "ski-first crossover" ever in my opinion. The 200 had options for open bow and a tower, but no ballast, kind of like the current prostar, and now the new SN has ballast, but no tower or open bow.

 

I understand that guys like me looking for a ski-first crossover probably make up a very small market, so I totally understand when the manufacturer doesn't give us the nod - I'm just looking to make 100% certain that this is the case with this new boat.

[LoopSki]

Sounds like the Malibu txi with wedge is what you need

[skierjp]

I’m not sure I would rule out the tower option for the new Ski Nautique! Give them a while. I would not hold your breath on the open bow version.

[oldjeep]

Id once again suggest that people actually

1) ski a crossover - they are all v drives, an sslxi is not a crossover

2) if you cant ski behind one, evaluate why you are unable to do so and fix it.

 

Let the dislikes begin

[Ilivetoski]

@oldjeep at one point last year I was surfing with a buddy he has a MC crossover boat, offered to pull me a slalom set, looked back at the wake and declined. Not sure how a GS would ski, but it can’t be good I don’t care what Nautique/ Malibu/ MC say

[BraceMaker]

V drive toasts the ski wakes. But there are boats like the 209 dd and x9 dd that are passable if you ski 28 off 28 mph++

[j2nh]

"New Nautique does not have a tower option?"

 

Thank God!

[thager]

That alone makes it worth a bazillion bucks!

[UWSkier]

BI still makes the Fly-Hi... And it doesn't ruin the looks of your boat.

[dbutcher]

Not sure you can fasten a tower to carbon.

[escmanaze]

@bigskieridaho FWIW, I'm guessing that the panda award was probably primarily directed at the rule change paragraph about ballast more than the rest of it. Just a guess though, and regardless, yes, there is plenty of hate to go around for ski boat towers, and I kind of understand the perspective on that too even though I certainly don't share the sentiment. If I only skied a private lake and I only skied, or even something kinda close to that scenario, I would think "skiers" who wanted towers and open bows to be crazy lunatics as well.

[escmanaze]

@LoopSki you might be correct. If and when I finally get the money saved up to move to a newer boat, it will be a tough choice between the txi with wedge and tower and the prostar. The prostar still have open bow option and a tower, and at my long lines and slow speeds has a friendlier wake as well. The TXi will crossover better and be less expensive. I will just have to look at it and see where my family is when I get to that point. The 200 will be in play as well as it can also get open bow and tower, but so far, I haven't skied very well behind the one 200 I've had the chance to ski. Hopefully I'll get to ski a few more before the time arrives to see if maybe they just had their hydrogate adjusted poorly or something.

[Horton]

@escmanaze

You are awarded the triple Panda because the new Nautique is so overly three event-oriented. It's like asking for monster truck tires on a Ferrari.

 

Now I am sure just to prove me wrong somebody at Nautique will develop a tower.

[escmanaze]

Ha Ha Ha!!!! Well just promise me one thing. When they do release a tower for it, please promise me you won't rescind my award. It's hard to put into words just how prestigious I feel with those 6 stars next to my name. This must be what it feels like to belong to a country club. :smile: :smile: :wink: :blush:

[Jody_Seal]

 

[Jody_Seal]

I got lightning in a bottle too!

[escmanaze]

Ha ha ha!!! Good call @Jody_Seal . Apparently Horton hasn't seen this kid up in Park City with his Lambo.

 

https://www.ksl.com/?sid=42933577&nid=148

 

 

 

[thager]

Fugly! I saw a corvette in Corpus with the monster truck look back in the 80s. Hideous!!!!

[Killer]

Must be the same reason they don't have an OB...

[KRoundy]

The triple panda!!! So happy I got to see one in the wild.

[dvskier]

No surf gate, 3,000 lb ballast, no 50 mega watt sound system. Must be made for skiers! Maybe a Bayliner deck boat for the whiners. Wow you can take 29 passengers with the Bayliner.

[Moffattra]

Hold on, it's just a tower. I get you guys don't like how they look, but he's just saying he wants the option, not that every new Nautique should come with one.

 

Plus, towers are good for:

-teaching people to get up

-keeping kids involved, doing something behind boat

-storing gear

-climbing on, jumping off

-having slightly higher bimini without it looking stupid

All things that help grow the sport which increases the demand and hopefully reduces price of 3 event boats.

[thager]

and pullups! Can also hang wet swim gear and towels!

[igkya]

If Nautique doesn't have a tower for this boat, I'm sure a 3rd part vendor could get one made. That being said, I really dislike towers on a ski boat. IMHO, a better option would be an extended pylon which could be disassembled quickly when not in use.

[escmanaze]

@igkya An extended pylon is what I have now on my boat. In my opinion, it is absolutely not a "better option." For some I'm sure it would be - but definitely not for me.

[Broussard]

@Moffattra I think the reason that it seems so ludicrous is because the boat is only offered as a closed bow. A hardcore 3 event closed bow ski boat is typically not going to be ordered with a tower.

[dave2ball]

The construction of the new SN is different the the previous boats. The lighter weight materials may not ne able to handle the force placed on the deck and hull. This boat was clearly made for the hard core 3 event skier.

 

[LoopSki]

Extended pylons are a pain. You can't use bimini without cutting a hole in it. And the cable makes the open bow uncomfortable.

[oldjeep]

Be intersting to see how the resale market will be for all of these extremely expensive single purpose boats. I'm betting the promo guys are glad they are not the owners.

[ScottScott]

I think the built in ballast of that capacity is what really makes it attractive to possibly expand its use. @dave2ball may have a point in its abuility structurally to handle a tower. I do agree with @Moffattra though regarding the benefit of a serious ski boat being able to adapt to the whole family and growing the sport.....putting a ballast together with a great ski wake and a tower option would be very attractive to us that spend the day on a public lake with family and friends.

[LoopSki]

It's been done . The X7. a 197 with tower and ballast.

[Jordan]

The new Prostar is available with a tower. I don't understand why it would be so panda worthy to ask about one on the nautique.

[Horton]

@Jordan the ProStar also has an open bow...

[LoopSki]

It also has secret compartments

[UWSkier]

You've been able to get a Malibu DD with Wedge AND ballast AND tower since around 1999...

[Moffattra]

@Broussard OK, that's true, my thoughts also include the assumption that they will make an OB eventually. Funny how much I like towers on OB slalom boats, but absolutely can't stand how they look on CBs. Especially when they look like this...

 

[LoopSki]

Well those goof balls put the tower on backwards. Looks like a euro MC.

[jimski]

Looks like those guys are having fun

[chrislandy]

Ha! that's my old boat, suffice to say it didn't have the tower on when I had it.

 

And yes, the current owner has been subjected to around 14 years of abuse for putting it on backward AND preventing slalom at all

 

It was one of the last to be made in the UK

[B_S]

Where am I supposed to attach my disco ball and 12" sound cannons without a stinken tower?!