April 02, 2009
The Super Air Nautique 230 and Crossover Nautique 236 are Correct Craft's Next Heralded Classics
I want to begin this article by taking a look at the other boats that we consider to be Correct Craft's heralded classic towboats and for the purposes of this article, we're looking at in-service towboats that are on the water in large numbers currently. We're not going earlier than the 1980's, however. This article has the potential to be endless if we covered all of Correct Craft's classics going back as far as they've been in business. With that said, I will simply go through the basic, bare reasons why the boats already on this list are on it before getting into detail about the 230's induction.
An interesting thing to note is that this entry by far wins the contest for being in draft mode for the longest without being trashed or posted to my entry called The Wakeboard Report's Topics That Never Made It... because I began writing it 2 weeks before my epic journey to Correct Craft headquarters for a series of in-depth interviews and tours, most of which I could not even talk about until now due to informal non-disclosure agreements. That visit was in April. For example, during this visit I saw the FCT-3 on Mr. Bill Yeargin's Super Air Nautique 210 and, accidentally out of the corner of my eye, saw the 216V (I think - it was a funny moment - I was at the test lake with Correct Craft's designers and was told to do them a favor, and look the other way for a moment while a distinctive black boat with the FCT-3 was towed right by me. I remember someone remarking "That was definitely not supposed to be here today". I obeyed and looked the other way but I think I know what I saw). Regardless, after my trip I had to set this post aside and more carefully think out what I need to say. This is going to be a lengthy one - get a soda. This list is in no particular order, except for this one:
The Sport Nautique
From our vantage point, the most versatile and arguably best boat that Correct Craft has ever produced so far, is the Sport Nautique. The Sport Nautique's run (or Crossover 216 as 2009 Correct Craft marketing literature indicates) began in 1989 and has not yet ended. It has seen several design changes (big ones for 1993 and 1997) along the way after Correct Craft first designed it. You need to be happy about the Sport Nautique because it was a common denominator during an era when wakeboarding was progressing at an incredible pace. In some ways it was all we ever needed, and professional wakeboarders can probably do the same run behind a properly weighted 1994 Sport Nautique as they can behind a brand new boat (we, however, probably can't). If a pro rider flew to some remote island for a paid clinic and upon arriving at his or her destination learned that a Sport Nautique was available instead of a beat-to-death outboard, they'd breathe a gigantic sigh of relief (peep this for an exception to the above and general display of professionalism under poor boat-related circumstances). Also, the fact that it exists today tells us a tale about the longevity of the boat. For more information on this boat, please check out our other feature The Ten Thousand Dollar Sport Nautique Has Arrived for more reasons why people should be enthusiastic about that boat.
The Ski Nautique 2001
Originally designed as a tournament 3-event towboat, the 1982-1989 Ski Nautique is a boat with a solid ride, excellent craftsmanship, but has a significant wake at all speeds due to its deep v hull. Other inboards made in that time frame provided a smaller wake, but the tradeoff was a rough ride in chop, and with a few exceptions (American Skier, MasterCraft ProStar) the Ski Nautique was without competition. The Ski Nautique received an important redesign in 1990 - making the boat's wake significantly smaller and thus more appealing to 3-event skiers. It was a phenomenal redesign but with approximately 9000 82-89 Ski Nautique 2001's built, many of them are still on the water repurposed as wakeboard machines. The two 1986 Ski Nautiques in our extended family began their lives as slalom and barefoot machines, but by 1992 they shifted and became dedicated wakeboard platforms with extended pylons, towers and ballast. The boat is extremely versatile, powerful, nimble and well constructed. We sold one of our 2001's to buy a Super Air Nautique and I regret that decision several times a week. I've requested first right of refusal should my buyer decide he doesn't want my old boat anymore. The Ski Nautique 2001 is a classic and is one of the most important boats Correct Craft has ever made.
The Super Sport Nautique or Super Air Nautique 210 Classic
In 2006 Correct Craft took what many consider to be one of the best wakeboarding hulls ever made, and set it next to the 80's era Ski Nautique hull. In back, somewhere in their bin full of storied, yet discontinued hulls. Many find that the Super Sport is one of Correct Craft's best built, most forward-thinking and designed boats of all time - and as an owner of the one you see to the right - I agree. But the boat is not without its criticisms, and there were reasons why it was so significantly redesigned. Some report that the wake is too vertical, and that it can feel like hitting a wall instead of a ramp if they are used to "mound" shaped wakes, and there is a 4-6 inch trough immediately outside the wake. The boat was redesigned to address some of these issues and generally freshen up the interior as well. Comparatively, the boat does not need much ballast to provide its best wakeboarding experience, one that has essentially defined the term "world class wake". At about 1500lbs, and at 22-25mph, you find why this boat has been on many wakeboarder's minds and lifts since 1995. The Super Sport based iteration of the 210 was discontinued after 2006, after an amazing run. I don't believe it will ever come back (despite many folks pleading), and its removal from the lineup was a very surprising development, particularly as the boat could not even be ordered as a plain ol' Super Sport in 2007. This shook the resale market for Super Sport based 210's and current owners rejoiced. Buyers and seekers, could only weep. It is a coveted boat indeed.
The SV211
When we first heard that the boat called the 211 was the replacement for the Super Sport, we we're intrigued. When we saw it, we questioned the assertion Correct Craft dealers had made. When we heard it made a fantastic slalom boat as well as a fantastic wake boat, we knew it wasn't the replacement we had in mind. But the 211 is kind of Correct Craft's cash cow and it has serious merits. Strictly in terms of interior design and refinements it does trump the 1995-2006 Super Sport/or 210 Classic. Again while the 211 will likely never be in our garage or slip, it is in a substantial amount of garages and slips and competes with the stern-drive (I/O) market very well. Any boat that Correct Craft builds in such high quantities, we pay attention to, particularly as this one is also positioned to convince families to go for a top quality inboard instead of an I/O. There have been many 211's made and thus a lot available in the used market and the boat makes for a solid choice for so many families. The 211 has staying power and even if we based that only on the pure number of boats built (and we don't...), it has made its mark and is now in my book a heralded Correct Craft classic.
The Ski Nautique 196
This is a wakeboarding site, but we can't help notice that the Ski Nautique remains brilliant, both in terms of branding and performance. The Ski Nautique 196, with its unapologetically closed bow and (now) retro graphics would be in our boathouse if the finances allowed for 2 Correct Crafts. Even as an avid wakeboarder, I still ski and I barefoot. Heck I'd even like to get back into trickskiing (or shortboard as the kids are calling it) to see if I could put down a backroll on one of those things. For 3-event folks, the Ski Nautique has been iterated upon many times and has reached a nearly perfect point. If my Super Air Nautique is a high end SUV on the water, the Ski Nautique 196 is its Porsche. And it is a classic.
And Now Inducting the Super Air Nautique 230 and Crossover Nautique 236.
Answering what the industry was calling for, Correct Craft released to the world a large, versatile boat in 2006, as a 2007 model, dubbed the Correct Craft 236 Crossover, and a year later released a wakeboarding branded version of the same hull - the Super Air Nautique 230. For years I wanted to see them create a boat that cracked the 23ft mark and compete with boats like the X-45 and the Malibu 247. Drawing upon prior articles we've posted that have contained claims that wake boats will never get smaller, the evolved wake boat is not a 19'-21' craft, but rather a 22'-25' one. With rising fuel prices and the financial considerations, there is a sweet spot and it's approximately 23' 1.5" without the platform. For a long time the magic number was 21'. Riders, owners and those that pay for gas, build garages and house these boats seem to have been able to accommodate 23' lake boats into their lives, so that's where we'll be for awhile.
The Super Air Nautique 230 and Crossover Nautique 236 further iterate on an interesting design track that was first started with the introduction of the Super Air Nautique 220 in August of 2005. This trend, particularly the interior layout and general concept has changed a bit in 4 years but the basic ideas are still there. The convertible seating system and some of the mechanical and design considerations are seen in several boats that have been released since the 220, and the 230/236 is among them.
The Super Air Nautique 230 and Crossover Nautique 236 somehow manage to look right with any of the towers that Correct Craft offers, but I prefer the heavy-duty Flight Control Tower which was specifically designed for it. Insofar as the opinion found here can affect a purchase - let me offer some advice. Buy a boat that is as timeless looking as possible. Often graphics packages subvert that option, but in those cases timelessness is only a peel away. The general lines of the 230/236, its conservative yet modern upholstery, interior amenities and helm, propel the 230/236 into the timeless category. With its careful balance of conservative lines, a wide array of options and packages, combined with the fact that the boat is popular and many are being built - the boat will be around for a long time. It is the boat of choice of Correct Craft team riders Danny Harf and Shaun Murray, and I'm sure is one of their most requested boats coming out of their Promotional Team division.
I don't think the popularity of the Super Air Nautique 230 and Crossover Nautique 236 is simply a fad. I have seen the wake the boat produces. It's no pretender wake boat, requiring 4000lbs of aftermarket ballast & plumbing lunacy to make a rider happy. I'm not saying you won't add ballast beyond its stock offering, but you won't be needing the equivalent weight of another boat to be happy behind it. I've spent a considerable amount of time in and around it, noting the amenities and year-to-year refinements that are made to the modular seating system, storage areas, gelcoat and decal options. We've spent a lot of time thinking about this model since its release, and we're convinced it is the real deal. Despite being in production for only 3 years so far, we're ready to call the Super Air Nautique 230 and Crossover Nautique 236 Correct Craft's next heralded, and coveted, classic boats.
Posted by erik
