Prostar 209 Dilemma

[cbryan70]

Originally Posted by shoe

It is a good weekend for me to digest the responses, and they are all good. Just to close a few gaps, I'm only considering a MC, although I know that there are other ski boats that are good. I also have a pontoon (that is 20 ft and only 40 hp…after my wife read the posts, she informed me that she never liked the pontoon anyway). Therefore, no to a pontoon strategy...and it is for sale. I checked out a 209 yesterday, but the price point for her ‘04, plain jane model, is 30K (asking), which seems way to much for a boat that does everything well, but not one thing great.
I'm pursuing a two-boat strategy: you convinced me to keep my 205 for skiing and find a 209 or V-drive for tubing and hanging out. In the end, I will have two boats, which is what I have now. The 205 is solid, paid for, and I do most of the maintenance. So, little operating costs on keeping the 205 in-pocket and ready to ski.

For tubing and cruising and a nice ride why wouldn't you get a I/O that fits the needs. They ride better and are generally less expensive in the used market. Look at 22ft cobalts. You will get the same fit and finish and the benefits of a better ride from the IO

[ProTour X9]

Originally Posted by JohnE

I'm shocked to hear you say the 209 has a better slalom wake than the 214 at any length. What speed are you skiing. It definitely changes below 32 or 34 mph.

I've said this before to the forums' discontent, and didn't want to bring it up again. Having skied both boats, I think MC Tax Guy's assessment is spot on.

[Bouyhead]

Originally Posted by JohnE

I'm shocked to hear you say the 209 has a better slalom wake than the 214 at any length. What speed are you skiing. It definitely changes below 32 or 34 mph.

Originally Posted by ProTour X9

I've said this before to the forums' discontent, and didn't want to bring it up again. Having skied both boats, I think MC Tax Guy's assessment is spot on.

I sure would love to ski these two boats back to back. I love my little ProStar but besides being a slalom tug it's my "go to the beach, cruising boat". I love the looks of both and would love the extra room. I'm a hardcore course skier that skies at 34 MPH

[willyt]

you should get an xstar

[JohnE]

Originally Posted by ProTour X9

I've said this before to the forums' discontent, and didn't want to bring it up again. Having skied both boats, I think MC Tax Guy's assessment is spot on.

I haven't skied the 209. But I've owned a 197 and now 3 X14's. The 2 wakes are very similar, and arguably better on the X14 at 15 and 22 off.

Originally Posted by Bouyhead

I sure would love to ski these two boats back to back. I love my little ProStar but besides being a slalom tug it's my "go to the beach, cruising boat". I love the looks of both and would love the extra room. I'm a hardcore course skier that skies at 34 MPH

I'd be glad to give you a pull anytime. Find someone with a 197 in between us geographically and I'll meet up and you can get the back to back comparison. Or if you want to come up here, I can probably get you the comparison. There are a couple 197's on our lake. (small lake)

[LaRue]

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[zsqure]

Fellas, drag your butts down next August to the Buckeye Bash! We have the boats covered, 197, 205, 209, 214. You can choose the tug and ski the course until your arms and legs are rubber if you like.

[Bouyhead]

Originally Posted by JohnE

I haven't skied the 209. But I've owned a 197 and now 3 X14's. The 2 wakes are very similar, and arguably better on the X14 at 15 and 22 off.



I'd be glad to give you a pull anytime. Find someone with a 197 in between us geographically and I'll meet up and you can get the back to back comparison. Or if you want to come up here, I can probably get you the comparison. There are a couple 197's on our lake. (small lake)

Thanks John. I just might take you up on that offer. To bad my summers on Lake Winnepesaukee fell through years ago, your place would have been a great halfway point.

[Bouyhead]

Originally Posted by zsqure

Fellas, drag your butts down next August to the Buckeye Bash! We have the boats covered, 197, 205, 209, 214. You can choose the tug and ski the course until your arms and legs are rubber if you like.

That's quite an array of boats your offering! And they say us Yanks have no hospitality

[ProTour X9]

My cousin had an X14. The wake is uneven because of the backseat (also had a light spotter), and I found it to be harder and steeper than an X9. That said, both wakes are fairly bad for course-level skiing. You can't replace a 190, though I hear 205's are the closest.