SUPER AIR NAUTIQUE 210 REVIEW

At 21ft long, the Super Air Nautique 210 is the smallest of the brand’s Super Air range, but in terms of providing a customisable launch pad for serious air, it’s certainly no dribbling infant. Super Air aptly sums up what it brings to the water as I discovered on the test day, but more on that in a minute. First, let’s take a glimpse at the super cool technology behind it all.

SUPER AIR NAUTIQUE 210

HULL

As far as hulls go, one shape doesn’t fit all, so the undercarriage of each model is specifically designed and optimised to achieve maximum on-water performance and capabilities. The Super Air Nautique 210 has also undergone a complete re-design for 2014, both above and below the waterline, to attract even more attention and further work in harmony with NSS.

The NSS system means the boat remains evenly weighted and gives surfers the ability to surf either side of the wake allowing allows wake-to-wake transfers and new tricks. What it all adds up to, is one hell of a cool boat which allows you to experience the perfect pull, every time.

DESIGN

I met Glenn Harrop from Nautiques NZ and a few of his mates/watersports wizards on a stunning summer afternoon at Lake Karapiro. Once we’d loaded up the gear and backed her off the trailer, Harrop punched the start-up sequence into the keyless ignition system (no more “Damn, I left the boat keys at home” moments) to fire-up the throbbing V8 409hp PCM engine. The 6.0L of fuel-injected American muscle powered the red machine to a top speed of 37kts in effortless fashion, and while it certainly sounded spectacular, we could still comfortably chat while enjoying the onboard comfort and a few tracks on the Bluetooth-connected Polk audio system.

We blasted off down the lake in search of some clean, unoccupied water to put the Super Air Nautique 210’s impressive attributes to the test. The excellent Nau-teak non-skid transom walkthrough and extended swim platform allowed a safe and easy-going walk to the water’s edge.

WAKE

Nick Beale (being the youngest, fittest and most talented member of our crew) strapped on a wakeboard and put on an insane aerial display of back flips and various other mind blowing manoeuvres (which all had appropriately-cool sounding names) across and above the wake while we all enjoyed the show.

Once sufficient photographic evidence was obtained, Harrop dialled in Beale’s preferred wakesurf settings, and the wakeboard was swapped for a surf board. By the time Beale was ready, so was the NSS system, this time pumping out a steep wave which Beale owned – quite literally – as the beauty of the NSS is that you do actually own the wave. It’s customisable at the touch of a button and no one can drop in to spoil your ride. We cruised back to the ramp relaxed and immensely satisfied with the stereo cranking and sporting grins a mile wide. I eventually managed to pry Harrop off the helm for a play and thanks to the wonderfully ergonomic helm station with its abundance of style, comfort and adjustability, I felt cooler than Tom Cruise in Top Gun within seconds.

CUSTOM NAUTIQUE DESIGN

Our test boat was kindly on loan from a customer and reflects his personal preferences, but the beauty of buying a Nautique is you can stand out from the crowd. By visiting designyournautique.com you can play around with colour schemes and high-quality options. Harrop says it takes around three months from order to delivery.

On board it’s all about comfort, from the uber-cushy helm seat (with bolster) to the kick-back-and-relax u-shaped lounge layout. The finish is stunning, yet user-friendly with the added comfort and versatility of clip-in carpets (optional). It’s rated to entertain a maximum of 12 people and features plenty of high quality stainless steel cup holders.

With the sun beating down the optional Z5 bimini top provided welcome respite and also featured additional secure board/ski storage on top. It can of course be removed to let the light shine in. The swivel racks make stashing the boards easy with further storage beneath the seats for additional skis and all the gear – there’s even a rubbish bin to keep the boat tidy.

THE VERDICT

If you’ve ever experienced the limitations that come with a non-specialised water sports weapon or the frustration of an overcrowded surf break then one of these multi-talented machines will liberate your inner pro.

It’s a first class wave making and wakeboard machine which allows you to get your stick wet in super-cool style and luxurious comfort while looking and feeling like a legend.

With so many options, devout attention to quality and a dedication to innovation, it’s little surprise that the Florida-based manufacturer has won a swag of US boating industry awards including Boat of the Year, Manufacturer of the Year, Innovation of the Year, Buzz Brand of the Year and the all-important Customer Satisfaction Award. Cowabunga, dude!

HIGHS

• Hot as hell
• Superb quality, attention to detail and first class finish
• All-in-one surf, wakeboard, wake skate and chill out machine
• Customise your colour scheme and your wake
• Pulls to perfection

LOWS

• Coastal upgrade required for regular saltwater use
• You may experience withdrawal symptoms once back on dry land

SUPER AIR NAUTIQUE 210 SPECIFICATIONS

PRICE AS TESTED

$128,022 (plus Coastal upgrade )

Australian pricing supplied by Nautique Central. See nautiquecentral.com.au

OPTIONS

PCM ZR 409hp Engine upgrade, clip-in carpet upgrade, Nautique Surf System, four tower speakers, audio upgrade, GPS Package, cockpit table, Z5 bimini/cargo rack, upgraded ballast and much more

PRICED FROM

$105,278 including tandem axle painted DMW trailer with alloy wheels

GENERAL

TYPE Custom wakeboat

LENGTH 6.4m

LENGTH WITH PLATFORM 7.1m

BEAM 2.49m

WEIGHT 1905kg

DEADRISE n/a

CAPACITIES

PEOPLE 12

REC. HP 340-450hp

MAX. HP 450hp

FUEL 140L

ENGINE

MAKE/MODEL PCM ZR 409hp

TYPE 6.0L fuel-injected V8

GEAR RATIO 1.48:1

MANUFACTURED BY

Nautique Boat Company, Florida, USA

SUPPLIED BY

Nautiques NZ, 554 Te Rapa Rd, Hamilton, New Zealand.

Web nautiques.co.nz