Ski Nautique 200 - Driver's View Photos

[oldslalomskier]

hellya! Interestingly, the driver's view does not deteriorate if you move the seat to/fro. The arm rest position I could adapt to since the rest of the driver's perch works so well.

[j2nh]

Speedo

Holding off judgement til I get to ski and drive one.
One question for those that have driven the 200. How visible is the offset speedo when driving? ZO is now in a position that is probably better for course skiing but what about un-controlled free skiing. Looks like the offset layout takes it away from the field of view.

[sodbuster88]

Curious.....Can you get two kneeboards in one of the side compartments?

[Nautiqueman]

What kind of list price are the dealers quoting?

[oldslalomskier]

AT the World's in Calgary I was quoted 53K CAD for the reg edition and ~58K CAD for the Team Ed. with the LINC system. With trailer. Taxes extra of course. I thought those prices were amazing compared to Malibu and Mastercraft. But I guess with CC laying off almost 100 staff at the end of this month they are cutting margins.

[Chattwake]

58K CAD for the Team Ed. with the LINC system.

Wow, that's pricey.

[ScarletArrow]

Since Jeff posted his pics, I guess I can post mine from my test drive & ski.

Link

My observations...

- while the saddlebags are not as intrusive as the pictures might show, they are still a bit too big in my mind.

- cockpit has old school muscle car feel to it (w/ gauges) - love it.

- ditto on the hinges for the saddlebags

- the rear step on the transom needs a rubberized pad - I nearly slipped on that.

- the platform is much lower to the water and will be easier to get up on.

- open bow is plenty spacious - I'm 6' and my buddy is 6' 4"

- rear floor storage is useless

- while the dash is non-traditional, it is highly functional. I love it.

- metal-flake paint didn't impress me

- people will complain about the hole shot...people may want to consider the 6.0L, but that's only going to add cost to an already expensive boat.

- tracking is superb

- you can still look over the side of the windshield and talk to skiers

- needs an iPod jack on both passenger and drivers side

[j2nh]

Thanks for the pics Scarlet!
Did you happen to notice how difficult it was to view the speedo when driving?
Seems that reading the ZO MPH display when driving is a no-go and even the speedo seems awful far to the right and out of the line of sight.
TIA
Jim

[BrennanK]

I was looking at your photos and they a question came up.
What is going to happen when a boat buyer, gets the SE without Zero Off. What will go in it's place?

[ScarletArrow]

Thanks for the pics Scarlet!
Did you happen to notice how difficult it was to view the speedo when driving?
Seems that reading the ZO MPH display when driving is a no-go and even the speedo seems awful far to the right and out of the line of sight.
TIA
Jim

I don't typically look watch speed when I'm pulling skiers as I've become fairly trusting of ZO.

I don't recall specifically looking at the speedo guage when I was pulling my friend through the course...I would think it would just be a matter of conditioning your eye to look in a slightly different spot...it's not like you have to turn your head to look around the steering wheel.

You would have to turn your head to look at ZO.

[oldslalomskier]

While I did not drive it, the speedo/ZO sightlines did not strike me as something that would be an issue. YMMV

[maxpower220]

I looked at the OB 200 at Buxton this weekend. I don't think that you could fit 2 kneeboards inside the side saddle. They are nicer than any picture of them that I have seen: real life vs. pics. Storage under the seat is a joke, maybe you could store a couple sets of gloves. Rear seat is basic. OB seating is nice, but it is a bit low to the water line if you have kids. LINC is nice, but I wouldn't want to have something go wrong with it out of warranty. Passenger seat is basic. It really is designed like a mid-80s ski boat, everything square. I prefer contours which look like they belong. There is ample space to walk around in the boat and a lot more room than a 196. My biggest problem is $59K plus TTT and trailer. That was without a tower on a Team Edition. Then the question is... is this boat wake $10K better than a 196???

[ScarletArrow]

The 200 is less about the wake and more about the OB and additional seating and storage which were the primary shortcomings of the 196 when compared to the 197 and Lxi.

The improved wake is great but it's just sex appeal for the marketing department.

[bwana50]

Interior doesn't do anything for me. Looks too square/angular, like the old (as in 60s/70s) Nautiques. I like the 90's styling. (Maybe I'm biased. :grin: )

[ScarletArrow]

CC essentially perfected the slalom machine w/in the 196 model.

There was nothing more they could do to improve that specific model significantly enough to gain further market share and compete against the 197 & Lxi.

So the time finally come to re-invent the already perfect slalom boat.

This meant moving away from the CB, the "classic" nautique lines, logo & styling, small beam, etc. for the new customer who likes the course and time on the open water.