94 Ps 205?

[jamisonsbrodie]

How does a 94 PS 205 compare with a 90 PS190, wakewise? I have a 190, and there is a 94 205 for sale close by for @ 14k. I ski 28 off @34 mainly, but I also like to wakesurf if enough people are around. Is the slalom wake close enough to make switch worthwhile? My main complaints with the 190 are side spray at shortline, and very little room. I do love the wake of the 190 however.

[AirJunky]

I have a 94 205 but don't slalom...... but the boat definitely has more room than the 190, most of it in the bow. Behind the engine cover the dimensions are about the same.

[east tx skier]

The 94 205 has a pretty decent wake. I have a 93 (same hull). Shortline spray will still be an issue. But the wake at 34 mph will be fine. I have pictures of the wakes behind my boat at various speeds in the Prop Test (http://www.writeonrice.com/shoot-out.htm).

[SkySkiSpokane]

It isn't a 190 but I have a 95 and ski 28@34 and 36. The "hard spot" is mostly behind you (22 off) but it isn't as soft as it is on the 190. Spray is an issue like eastie said but it isn't enough to bother me. I love having the open bow and it opens me up to more stuff like the foil and when the wakeboarders want to play I can fill it with people instead of those "pain in the a$$" fat sacs. :uglyhamme

I love the way my boat handles through the course. Then throw me my foil!!!

[BrianM]

I ski behind and drive my '88 190 (which is the same hull as yours) and frequently (at least once a week) ski behind my ski partners '96 205. I think '96 is the first year of a hull change on the 205 so take this for what it is worth.

My Prostar has a substantially softer and somewhat lower wake at all speeds. Under 30mph the 205 wake getts pretty big and tall where as my 190 stays pretty flat. The most noticable thing at 34 - 36mph is the firmness of the wake.

Spray on the 205 is better than the 190.

Interior room is obviously a plus for the 205 it is the difference between a Suburban and a Corvette.

Handling. This hands down goes to my 190. Although the 205 handles well for its size and much better than most boats out there it feels like driving a station wagon (although probably like a new Dodge Magnum) where as the 190 drives like a Corvette. We ski in a private lake with a pretty short set up so the difference in the handling is very noticable. Once running straight through the course I think both boats track equally well.

Given a choice at the dock on a private lake I would take my '88 190 over the '96 205 everytime for sets through the course. Given a choice for a day on open water on a public lake with more than 3 people I would take the 205 everytime.

I would say if you have the need for more space you can't go wrong with the 205 but it is going to drive and ski like the bigger boat that it is.:twocents:

[east tx skier]

Brian is right with respect to the 96 205. I regularly ski a 98 205 (same hull as the 96). As mentioned, I own a 93. The 92--95 205 is a whole different ball game. 96 and up have more space and better spray characteristics, but the wake is smaller and softer on a 92--95 205. The handling is also much better on the earlier 205s. I can't speak to the 88--90 boats as I haven't had the opportunity to ski/drive them. The pictures of the wake looked good though.

[rspiecha]

I own a 94 Prostar 205, yes it has more room than the 190 you are talking about. But for adding more people, the bow is pretty much useless with adults. Only good for children. I have a terrible time not creating a river down the center of the boat with adults in the bow. This was fixed with the 1996 205 hull that has a deeper, more byoant bow to handle the additional weight.

Rob

[east tx skier]

With two adults in the bow, the earlier 205s will definitely ride a bit lower than the later models. The later models are just plain big/tall by comparison. That said, if you just give it a little power through the rollers, you won't get the waterfall into the ski locker/cooler that all of us 205 owners have experienced at least once. I've seen it happen on the later models just as easily even though they don't sit as low in the water. It's all about that little power bump to keep the bow up.

I've said it before, open bow d-drives are only of limited usefullness as seating goes. Two adults max, but with the 205, unless you have the jump seat, you're losing a seat for the walkthrough.

The 195/197 flip out seat was a stroke of genius on MC's part.

By the way, rspiecha, welcome to the site.

[AirJunky]

...... the bow is pretty much useless with adults. Only good for children. I have a terrible time not creating a river down the center of the boat with adults in the bow.
Agreed..... but then I've subbed the bow with no one up there too. Typically I don't have much of a problem if the people in the bow are under about 300 lbs total (plus I have 100 lbs of ballast up there).

[east tx skier]

Yup. I've never subbed it with anyone up there. Only time I did it, there were only two of us total in the boat.

[SkySkiSpokane]

Only sub it when Airjunky is sitting up there! :purplaugh

[AirJunky]

Only sub it when Airjunky is sitting up there! :purplaugh
Ha! Better watch it next time I'm drivin......... bilge pump test! :uglyhamme