swc5150

In this struggling economy, you also have desparate dealerships unloading new non-currents at prices way too close to 100 hour promos. Looking at the qty of promos on SIA, I think there will be a few owners taking serious loses, or end up keeping their boats. It's too bad the manufacturers don't offer a lease program for the promo guys. It seems the promo member is the only one with skin in the game.

I'm one of them JD. Was an AWSA member for years, but haven't been in either for probably the last 5 or so. I suppose I should get on board to help the cause.

That is a great looking boat. I don't want to imply that I'm dogging MC's. They do track and ski great, and have a fantastic fit and finish. I just wish they had less body roll in the corners. It'll be interesting to see how they handle the open bow in a 19' boat, which I'm assuming they'll do?

Sounds like we all need to hang out!

Wake up and walk down to the dock with a hot cup of coffee. If it's glass, I rattle my fiance for the first pull of the day (through the course). Have a casual breakfast on the deck and watch the wallys come to play. Then it's to the dock for sun, music, and an slow cruise around the lake. Once the wallys break for lunch, one more pull. Then we pull the neighbor kids or our niece and nephew on tubes, wakeboards, skis - whatever they want to do. We pretty much live from boat to dock until the world heads in for dinner, then its as many passes as we can muster until dusk. Then an evening cruise with a cold Honeyweiss, that often goes deep into the night. Wake up, repeat:-)

The annual new Nautique sweatshirts, hats and T's. Nautiquegear is Santa's helper in our family:-)

...and Marcus Brown, to me, should be the poster guy for this sport. Did any of you catch the Waterski mag with the reviews on 2011 boats? The pic with Marcus by the 197 showed him with a beer in his hand. Lifestyle=fun... sell that, and you grow this sport. We have literally 2 dozen wakeboard boats on our local river, and two guys who actually wakeboard. Reminds of the 80's... lake full of Prostars and 2 guys who actually used them to ski. Simple econ, if people aren't buying the boats and skis, the sport dies, and it'll take more than a few living on private lakes to keep it financially viable. The business model is right there for us to see, and sadly it's called wakeboarding. People buy/finance crazy expensive wake boats because it's considered cool, and/or, that's what their kids want/see out there. Horton - I should mention that's at 34mph (ZO B1 though! lol)

Xrated summed me up completely... I'm 38 years old, have long hair and a couple tattoos, and live on a public lake. My pb is -35 (pretty weak compared to you guys), and I have no interest in entering a tournament for all the reasons mentioned. I'd love to catch a pull from any of you guys, but expect joking around from me, versus gear talk! I think this sport needs people like me. Before wakeboard boats, how many ski boats built actually pulled tournaments versus families? Not many I'd guess. Back to the thread theme: I want the sport to grow so companies keep putting R&D into ski boats, ski's, etc. The sport needs families like mine to survive, otherwise ballers will be making boats in their garages, like Shirley and Bentz had to.

The best marketing this sport can have is an availability on public waterways, and our DNR has made that very challening. I grew up on a public chain, and when we had our course in, folks would line up to check out what we were doing. The next thing you knew, every wally on the chain owned a Mastercraft. People mimic what they see, and right now, public water is dominated by wakeboarding, mainly because it's allowable. Popping course on public water is a quick path to a visit from your local warden, demanding it be removed. The big 3 are selling wake boats like crazy, since that's what folks are seeing on public lakes. I bet there are few parents that wouldn't prefer to spend $50k on a ski boat, versus the $100k on a wake boat. If a course was allowable and encouraged on many public lakes, I believe you'd see people getting into it again, and perhaps it would grow your tournament attendance. As long as this sport continues on private lakes, out of public view, good luck!

I hope they produce something similar to the '91-94 Prostar. Those boats were an absolute blast to drive, in addition to their great wakes. I've not cared for the cornering ability of MC's since '94. I know, it's irrelevant when the boat is a course tractor, but that's just my opinion. I live on public water, and simply enjoy a boat that is fun to drive as well.

My '08 196 was insured with Met Life, and I was about the same as you, with a 5 month layup as well.

I'm not in MN, but Eau Claire, WI is pretty darn close.

It looks like that boat sold - which makes sense at that price!

There's an '08 SN 196 LE with 125 hours, gate, ZO, heater and trailer right now in lower MI for $26k. They're even including the boat lift. I'll try to dig up the link, if anyone's interested? With that said, this Bu is a nice looking boat. I may make the switch from Nautique, since the 200's are out of my reach.

Sorry for the highjack, but Shane, check your PN inbox. I have a SN200 prop question for you. Great discussion though, as I'm thinking of trying a Fire Mid, as I'm not digging my X5 as much lately. I'm sure it's me, and not the ski though.

Sorry for the highjack, but Shane, check your PN inbox. I have a SN200 prop question for you. Great discussion though, as I'm thinking of trying a Fire Mid, as I'm not digging my X5 as much lately. I'm sure it's me, and not the ski though.

1988. I was 15 years old, and ran -15 @ 32mph behind our 1988 Prostar 190. I felt like Bob LaPoint that day (my hero back then)! I still remember the golfball sized spray smacking me in the face from that boat - even at 15 off:-(

Definitely a bling thing. The stainless doesn't mark up very easily, at least from my experience, but it does trash trailer guides.

We've got Outbacks all over my lake, as we had a dealer on the lake itself. A basic version (no tower) in 2011 was in the mid to upper $20's, after putting pencil to paper. For that kind of scratch, it's a great boat. They also put a really nice Boatmate under it, rounding out a nice package. I'd be more than willing to use one as my personal towboat, and I'm used to a 196. With that, it's not a training tool for tournaments, since you'll never encounter one there.

I'd consider a promo, but not one that was used an ice breaker! That video made me sick to my stomach:( Hopefully the rest of you promo guys treat your rides a little better. As the target customer for a promo boat, I'd be more prone to buy one from the helpful owners on the user websites (like planet Nautique, or here). I would've bought Jody's, until I saw it beached;-)

I had the same thing, only on my left middle finger, between the knuckle and hand. I also use a bent handle. I changed gloves and it slowly went away, and hasn't returned.

Congrats to Clem! I must say, she's also the prettiest pro skier IMHO:-) I'll give you a pass on the beaching too...this time!

is that $750 msrp? If so, I'm guessing 5 bills or so from nautiqueparts.com, or similar site? I may be the minority, but I'm sold on it.

One can buy a keypad at nautiqueparts.com for $170, with the PN discount. The MSRP on keypads is only $375, so $600 is getting burned badly. Sorry to hear that:( The new linc is way cool, IMHO. LCD screens are pretty tried and true technology at this point, so I'm confident they'll last - perhaps not as long as good old analogs though. I'm not aware of the replacement cost of a linc, but at least it's only one gauge, versus an entire dash pod (like the Teleflex debacle).

Wow, I've never heard the 196 called awful before? Does that mean 3 event as a whole, or just for a couple disciplines? It's not as nice as a 200 for slalom, but I personally like it better than its competitors. I don't trick or jump, so no opinion there. They must be ok, since they sure sell fast (just sold an '07 and '08). Differe'nt strokes I guess?:-)