Help me decide which boat to keep (206 vs sport)

[Liamfm]

Wife says 2 boats is one too many. Help me decide which one to keep:

1997 Sport Nautique, 640hrs. Purchased from original owner, have had it for 7 years. A couple seats replaced this past year from C&S but overall vinyl is a 9.9/10 (deducting for a very minor difference in color between the new and old). GT40 runs flawlessly. Gel Coat is a 9.2/10. Teak in great shape and oiled. Trailer is in okay shape (showing its age, but functionally fine). Boat has stargazer perfect pass. Everything operates as it should. It is a fantastic boat and has a soft spot in my heart as my kids of grown up on it.

or

2003 206 ski - 170 hrs. Dead tach (hrs pulled from engine), dead voltmeter. Gel is 9.9/10, rub rail has some white streaks on it, I guess from a dock, I'll have to try to get those out),D teak is great, bimini in great shape. Interior vinyl is a 7.5 - 8 - a bit of yellowing in a couple spots on the white vinyl, and some cracks on one side of the rear locker. Besides the gauges, everything seems to operate as it should. Galvanized trailer, brand new tires. Trailer needs brake coupler replaced/fixed but otherwise in great shape. I'll be putting in a new steering cable this week, the only other thing I can think of that it really needs to be functional. This is the older PCM 330 with the v-belt setup vs the serpentine.

If I keep the 206 I need to put a stereo in it (6 speakers, a sub, and bluetooth), and need to put in a perfect pass system. No shower, no heater, no ballast. Which I'm okay with (heater would be nice, but I don't have one now).

I ski 3x a week or so, typically on my buddy's 2004 206 since he prefers it to my '97 sport. I'm sure if I also had a 206 we'd switch boats often. My kids (11 & 13) ski, disk, and occasionally tube as much as I try to keep them from doing so. Generally we swim, hang out, etc on the sand bar. We keep our boat on a covered lift. Yesterday we took the 206 out for the first time. My 11yo skied and I would say the wake at about 26mph (I think I need to calibrate the speedo) was quite a bit better than the 97. I course ski at 32mph and free ski at 34 and 36. From experience, the 206 skis better.... But again, my friend has a 206 and typically we ski his boat. The Mrs said if we keep the sport I need to buy a bimini.

Both boats have covers in good condition.


I'd keep one based on reliability and resale value above "skiability". Taking 3 kids and 2 adults out on the 206, it did feel bigger, the locker was a big plus. It came with the spare spotters seat. It handled the rough waters of the weekend a bit better and really drove better (better hull design) than the 97. But I don't know the history on the 206. The 97 I know, and it is a solid solid boat.

So I'm torn. Stick with the tried and true 97 sport, or enjoy the slightly newer 206? Ask any questions that might help push one way or the other!

[FMSKI]

Im a fan of the 97-2001? era ame5000 resin seems tough as nails, solid construction. And the new Perfect Pass GPS is a game changer as the speed control is quite good. The recreational edition has a surf/board mode too. I just installed this PP control on a 1997 went from a dud to a banger for slalom skiing,

I don't like the GT40 engine because the fat ports and thick cams, while giving big power, idle is annoying with the flare and it doesn't settle in.
The systems can be problematic too on the GT40.

So I'd lean toward a newer boat, remodeled/restyled because the artwork and themes of that era a bit hideous.

I might get another 1998-2000 for skiing but will redo the whole thing, as vinyl used back then wasn't very good, and new flooring etc is nice.

It's a tough call tho.

[glassywaters]

It's worth mentioning the 1997 is on an older hull that is shared with the super sport/air of that era and will likely holds it's value. I prefer the analog gauges and simple EFI of the GT40. The 206 seems like it has a few too many minor issues that can cost more than it's worth to fix. Obviously, the 206 is the skiers choice.

[dskier]

I will be devil’s advocate. You have $40+ in boats. How about sell both and buy a 200?

[Liamfm]

I will be developing advocate. You have $40+ in boats. How about sell both and buy a 200?

So you're jumping ahead in the plan. Reason for not going that route at the moment is technically I have enough money to own one boat (of this general price point). As in, the savings account shall be replenished upon sale of one of these. But... you've figured out my long(er) term goal.

[Liamfm]

It's worth mentioning the 1997 is on an older hull that is shared with the super sport/air of that era and will likely holds it's value. I prefer the analog gauges and simple EFI of the GT40. The 206 seems like it has a few too many minor issues that can cost more than it's worth to fix. Obviously, the 206 is the skiers choice.

Beyond the gauge mess (I read all 14 pages today in the thread on those), can you elaborate on other issues you tend to see on the 206 and the 330 that you don't see on the GT40?

[FMSKI]

I sold my 200. I liked it but... it is wide and thin, so surfing isn't really an option and took on water regularly.
For skiing the hull lifting pads create a commotion behind the boat that I wasn't used to coming from a TSC boat. The ZO was nice but now I can get a good pull from the Perfect Pass GPS.

With some work I think a re-jigged 206 could be better.