V-Drive vs. Direct Drive

[jos]

RE: Re: RE: V-Drive vs. Direct Drive

My wife & kids like the VD because of the free walk and the arena seating.
Wife boards without ballast and 3mph less, make to cross and hop the wake easily.
I like my SAN210, has a massive steepwake, choose only when your dedicaded to boarding.
I boarded behind VD MC & MB forget those, not steep, wake isnt 1/2 as good as the SAN.
Behind the SAN probably you have to get used, takes a while, pretty steep.

[Red57Bird]

My buddy pulled me behind his 211 last summer with full ballast and 4 people on the boat. I was used to riding behind my Chaparral and when I moved outside the wake into the flats, I felt like I was falling off a cliff. Now keep in mind, I'm a very mediocre wake boarder and I don't do any tricks - I just like to ride (I'm not interested in breaking anything at my age :!: ). But to me the wake on the 211 seemed really steep. My guess is that the 210/Super Air boats will be more steep compared to the 211.

[dmiracle]

Red Bird,

You're right. Guess I sort of highjacked the thread for my own personal soapbox. I'd say based on what you've described, you may be better off with a V-drive.

One thing that I really love about the traditional SN is it's lowness to the water and the windshield being pushed forward. This provides great access from the driver to the water and in my opinion, is in some respects a safer boat to be dealing with family activities.

Again, only my opinion. I would agree that my preference is not optimal for all situations.

Best of luck on your hunt. That's half the fun!

[chris196]

I might get shouted out of here for this, but another boat you might consider is a Tige 21V.
I used to work with a guy who had one. At the time I had an I/O which I slalomed behind. The Tige had a much better ski wake and the owner liked the wake for boarding. The boat is versatile with the TAPs system.
I'm sure the wake is not as good as the nautique and I know the ski wake is not as good as the closed bow nautique, but it did everything well.
And if you're coming from an I/O all watersports will be better.

I would still recommend the 211 over the Tige, but if you can't find a 211 in your price range, you will be able to find the Tige 21V because they've been making them longer so you have 1999 and up models available.

[Red57Bird]

Miracle - no worries. One thing I have found out about CC owners, they are passionate and they generally give you their honest opinion. Never apologize for that :!: My lake is pretty big (34 miles long from dam to dam) and while I usually stay in my cove, I do venture out to the main lake from time to time. It gets pretty rough sometimes, so the fact that the 196 is so low to the water would make me nervous.

Chris - I've done a lot of research over the last year or so and I'm sticking with CC. I have a friend that just sold his Tige and he was very happy with it. Biggest issue with Tige is the nearest dealer is way across the state. I don't have a tow vehicle so any service I get has to be on the lake. Lake Gaston has two Nautique dealers (owned by the same person) and it is about 15 minutes away from my dock by boat.

Thanks everyone for your feedback and opinions. Keep em' coming :grin:

[Miljack]

Red,
I've ridden behind my pro air, a Malibu VLX (2004), a Barefoot nautique, 211,216, and skied behind the barefoot and a MC 197, and my pro air. I've ridden in a stock ballast 210 and it has a pretty big wake in boarding setup. From how you're describing you and your family's riding preferences, the best fit will probably be the 211, it's versatile enough to slalom behind, puts out a pretty good wakeboard wake, and you can surf easily behind one. The interior and storage on the 211 is much better than the 210, plus the 210 wake is going to scare you! Even a stock ballast 210 will be much steeper than your friends 211. The 211 will be more friendly to your wife's ski sets, and your sons learning progression. The resale is pretty strong on the 211 as I think it's still the best selling model for CC.
I think that the first year boats ('04) had some things that were updated in '05, so that's probably the model year you should shoot for.

I also began looking at ski/wake boats with the proviso that I wanted to slalom as much or more than board, and I ended doing a lot more boarding. I still enjoy my ski sets, but just don't get out as often to do that.
If your budget can handle the '04-'05 211, go for it. If not, the 210 is a great boat, but it's not quite as versatile. The '00-01 210 has the sloped transom, while the 2002-2006 have the "bubble" transom which improves the storage a little bit.
I've heard that the MC 205V is a versatile boat, probably better ski wake than the 210, and when loaded up a very good wakeboard wake. It's smaller than a 210, but you may find one that fits your budget.
Fire at will! 8-)

[Mikeski]

DD = sports car

VD = SUV

After having DD's for too many years to count I went for the 211 in 2005. It's a great boat, I love it, would not go back to a DD. That said it handles like a slug compared to a 196. Ironically the final decision came down to being able to ski without having to move everybody in front of the pylon. As others have said the storage is great in a VD.

[SkiTower]

I haven't been in many different models like some of these guys, but I love my 211 (versatility, storage, pylon behind seating, and I don't get waves over the bow). My suggestion is to go for a V-Drive (sorry guys, but 'VD' usually stands for something else), but whatever you do DON'T let your wife ski behind a late model DD. What she doesn't know won't hurt since you're coming from an I/O but if she gets a taste of the lack of wake, she might persuade you otherwise. Yellow_Flash_Colorz:

[CAN'TSKI]

Red,
Your wife's abilities resemble those of my wife...I mean watersports. In the summer of 2006, I tried unsuccessfully to get her up on a wakeboard. In 2007, I bought a 211 and she was up and boarding the first attempt. I had this same experience with a friend's three daughters on two skiis. His I/O didn't work. They were up immediately behind the 211. Not to mention surfing! Good luck!

[g-rose]

Red,

I see some prevoius posts where they talk about the handeling between V-drive and DD. Yes, DD is the best handeling boat, but your coming from a i/o like I did. We bought our first inboard, a 2000 SAN, about 1.5 years ago after owning several i/o's. This thing handles like a sports car compared to any i/o. The room of the v-drive is great for families. My wife slalom skiis with no problem behind ours. The wake is not bad at 30+mph. You will love a V-drive...good luck.

[Red57Bird]

Thanks again everyone. Looks like it is going to be the v-drive for us. Now the challenge - finding a good one in my price range.

[Red57Bird]

I haven't been in many different models like some of these guys, but I love my 211 (versatility, storage, pylon behind seating, and I don't get waves over the bow). My suggestion is to go for a V-Drive (sorry guys, but 'VD' usually stands for something else), but whatever you do DON'T let your wife ski behind a late model DD. What she doesn't know won't hurt since you're coming from an I/O but if she gets a taste of the lack of wake, she might persuade you otherwise. Yellow_Flash_Colorz:

SkiTower - just noticed that you are in Raleigh. What lakes do you go to, and where do you have the 211 serviced?

[SkiTower]

Bought and serviced at Whitelake (at the WL dealership). It's the customer service that hooked me (good thing they sell a great boat). Definitely don't touch Boats Unlimited. Heard too many horror stories (plus they sell MC).

I've tried a lot of the lakes around. I've got a place available on Lake Norman, so that's my weekend trips. Day trips have been to Kerr. Afternoons so far have been to Buckhorn (outside Wilson)(I killed a prop at Buckhorn in the Gekko before I got a depth finder. Hit a flooded road. Buckhorn's fine as long as you know where to go). Going to try Jordan this year, but nervous with the water depths. Tried Harris once but it smelled too much like gasoline (but it was Labor Day weekend). A lot of guys swear by Harris. We spend two separate weeks a year at Whitelake. I won't go near Falls, even when it does have water. Ditched the kids last year and the wife and I went to Smith Mountain Lake, but I hit something 50 yards from the ramp. Never got on the lake beyond that. Gorgeous area. That was the beginning of the end for the Gekko. Had a chance to ski High Rock Lake at the end of last year. Nice little lake. Also hoping to see Jocassee this summer (or more to the point my wife does) and I want to try Lake James, other side of Hickory. We LOVE the mountains.

Too Much Info???

[Red57Bird]

Sounds like you get around to a lot of different areas. I was smart enough to buy a nice lot up on Gaston back in one of the main coves, and was lucky to close the deal before prices went through the roof. Boat stays under the boat house and is ready anytime I want. Very convenient not to have to tow the boat around. Gaston is hard to beat, being a constant level lake - we saw lots of new faces up there in the summer. Water was so low everywhere else.

Keep my info handy and let me know if you ever have any interest in making a trip up this summer. Takes about 70 minutes from North Raleigh and there are a couple of easy access public launch sites. Lots of boarders in our area.

[SkiTower]

Thanks for the offer. Sounds like you have a great setup.