They're always running at the front of the pack, but now Correct Craft is trying to pull way ahead with their new Ski Nautique 200, the next evolution of the older 196 model. But don't call this an upgrade; it's a ground-up rebuild that significantly improves on the 196. It's a brand-new animal. Or, as Andy Mapple says, “It's the first significant change to a true three-event boat in eight or nine years.”
Pro athlete endorsements aside, we wanted to know if this boat lives up to its advance billing. The answer: absolutely.
In a world of wakeboard monsters and big-wake toys, experiencing the elegance and precision of the 200 – a boat designed specifically for world-class, three-event skiing – is almost like tasting fine wine after you've just left a Pabst Blue Ribbon keg party; you can't believe what you've been missing!
INSIDE THE BOAT
Options are good, and that's exactly what you get with the 200. The boat is 20 feet long with a 95-inch beam and there are two deck versions available, open- and closed-bow. Both are identical in weight. The mirror brackets are new and standard on all boats. The glove compartment and engine box are also new. The Zero Off gauge – part of an outstandingly designed console – has been moved down near the throttle to reduce distraction, which also makes speed adjustments easier. The windshield has been pulled back and comes in both walk-through and non-walk-through designs. The jump seat can be folded down or removed. The feature that sticks out, though, is all the new storage this baby has. Equipment clutter around the engine box is no longer a concern. You can store three or four large skis and gear in lockable gunwale storage on both sides of the boat, all without sacrificing passenger space.
BEHIND THE BOAT
All the pretty hardware, though, is secondary to the main event – the skiing. This is where the 200 really shines. The 196's wake was remarkably soft; the 200's is even softer.
The 200 is wider with a whole new running surface. It now rolls the wake out and fills the troughs between the wakes. And the deeper chines help clean up the trick wake. Understanding boat dynamics, the engineers designed the hull with very clean lines that control where the water is going. Shortline skiers will have excellent course visibility because chine spray is pretty much nonexistent. The wake has a gradual entry, and there's no bump in or bump out. This means your ski (or skis, if you're jumping) will have constant contact with the water, which equals better acceleration and more stability.
OUR TAKE
For serious and highly skilled skiers to longline swervers looking for rapid progress, you can do no better right now than the Ski Nautique 200. This boat can instantly make you a better skier.