Nautique 200 Closed Bow 2012 vs Nautique 200 Open Bow 2010 - Boat Spec Comparison

Q: Which is the larger boat — the Nautique 200 Closed Bow 2012 or the Nautique 200 Open Bow 2010?

The Nautique 200 Open Bow 2010 is the longer of the two at 2,0 feet overall. The Nautique 200 Closed Bow 2012 comes in at 2,0 feet, making it roughly 0,0 ft shorter — a meaningful difference in deck room and overall on-water presence.

Q: Which is easier to trailer — the Nautique 200 Closed Bow 2012 or the Nautique 200 Open Bow 2010?

For trailering, the Nautique 200 Open Bow 2010 has the edge at 28 lbs dry weight versus 285 lbs for the Nautique 200 Closed Bow 2012. Add a motor (typically 300–500 lbs for an outboard in this class), gear, and a partial fuel load and the difference grows. Lighter is friendlier on smaller tow vehicles and on fuel economy while hauling.

Q: Which boat can handle a bigger outboard?

The Nautique 200 Closed Bow 2012 is rated to a maximum of 450 hp, giving it the larger power ceiling. The Nautique 200 Open Bow 2010 tops out at 343 hp. Keep in mind that maximum ratings are just that — matching the motor to the actual load and usage pattern usually matters more than chasing the ceiling.

Q: How many people can each boat hold?

The Nautique 200 Closed Bow 2012 is Coast Guard rated for 7 passengers, while the Nautique 200 Open Bow 2010 is certified for 1. Note that legal capacity and comfortable capacity aren't always the same thing — on a full day out, most experienced boaters aim for about 80% of the rated number to keep things comfortable.

Q: Which boat has the better power-to-weight ratio?

The Nautique 200 Open Bow 2010 has a better power-to-weight ratio at 0 lbs per hp compared to 1 lbs per hp for the Nautique 200 Closed Bow 2012. A lower number means quicker acceleration and faster time to plane — the number that actually matters most on short, sporty boats like these.

Q: Do these boats require an oversize trailer permit to tow on US highways?

Both the Nautique 200 Closed Bow 2012 and Nautique 200 Open Bow 2010 share an 95 in. (2.41 m) beam — meaning both sit right at the 8’6" threshold that most US states use for standard-width loads. In most states you can tow at that width without a special permit, but regulations vary. Always check the rules for your state and any states you'll be passing through before your first long haul.

Q: How do the fuel tanks compare on the Nautique 200 Closed Bow 2012 and Nautique 200 Open Bow 2010?

Both boats carry similar fuel loads — 29 gallons and 29 gallons respectively. Range will depend heavily on motor choice, throttle usage, and whether you're on flat lake water or coastal chop.

Q: Are the Nautique 200 Closed Bow 2012 and Nautique 200 Open Bow 2010 from the same manufacturer?

Yes — both the Nautique 200 Closed Bow 2012 and the Nautique 200 Open Bow 2010 are built by Nautique. That means shared dealer networks, common parts availability, and consistent build quality across the line. The choice between them is essentially a question of how much boat you need, not which brand you trust.

Boat Comparison

Nautique 200 Closed Bow 2012 vs Nautique 200 Open Bow 2010

Nautique

Nautique 200 Closed Bow 2012

2012

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Nautique

Nautique 200 Open Bow 2010

2010

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Detailed Evaluation & Buyer Recommendation

Nautique 200 Closed Bow 2012 vs Nautique 200 Open Bow 2010 — Same Brand, Different Boat

Matching a deep vee Nautique 200 Closed Bow 2012 against a modified vee Nautique 200 Open Bow 2010 means you're likely deciding between two genuinely different on-water experiences. Hull type shapes everything from ride quality and fuel burn to dock handling and resale trajectory.

On paper these two are close siblings in the size department — Nautique 200 Closed Bow 2012 at 2,0 ft versus Nautique 200 Open Bow 2010 at 2,0 ft. Weight tells a clearer story for trailering families: the Nautique 200 Closed Bow 2012 tips the scales at 285 lbs — 257 lbs more than the Nautique 200 Open Bow 2010 at 28 lbs. That difference is meaningful if you're working within a half-ton or three-quarter-ton truck's tow rating, especially once you factor in a motor, gear, and fuel.

The power gap is worth calling out. Rated to 450 hp, the Nautique 200 Closed Bow 2012 has a 107-hp advantage over the Nautique 200 Open Bow 2010's 343-hp ceiling — enough to notice on acceleration and at cruising speed, particularly with a full passenger load. Both carry nearly identical fuel loads — 29 gal and 29 gal — so range won't be a tiebreaker here.

For family outings this is probably the sharpest distinction between the two. The Nautique 200 Closed Bow 2012 is rated for 7 passengers, while the Nautique 200 Open Bow 2010 caps at 1. If you're regularly pulling extended family or a group of friends onto the water, the extra seats on the Nautique 200 Closed Bow 2012 could be the deciding factor.

At this size, power-to-weight ratio matters more than outright horsepower. The Nautique 200 Open Bow 2010 comes in at 0 lbs per hp versus 1 lbs per hp for the Nautique 200 Closed Bow 2012. The lower the ratio the more explosive the acceleration — meaningful on a short RIB where bursts of speed, quick planing, and agility in surf or tight waterways define the experience.

Bottom line: Choose the Nautique 200 Closed Bow 2012 if your priority is putting more people on the water — it handles 7 passengers and at 2,0 ft it has the deck room to back that rating up comfortably. The Nautique 200 Open Bow 2010 is the smarter pick if you want a lighter, easier-to-trailer boat rated for 1 that costs less to run day-to-day.

General Boat Info

MakeNautique

Model200 Closed Bow

Model200 Open Bow

Model Year2012

Model Year201

Measurements / Dimensions

Beam95 in. (2.41 m)

Beam - Meters2.41

Beam - Inches95

Draft [max] - Detail22 in. (0.56 m)

Draft [max] - Meters0.56

Draft [max] - Inches22

Weight - Detail2,850 lbs. (1,293 kg)

Weight - Detail2,800 lbs. (1,270 kg)

Weight - kg1292.74

Weight - kg1270.06

Weight - lbs.285

Weight - lbs.28

Length - Meters6.1

Length - Feet2

Length [over all with swim platform]21 ft. 10 in. (6.65 m)

Length overall - Detail20 ft. 0 in. (6.1 m)

Length overall - Meters6.1

Length overall - Inches24

Body / Hull

Hull materialFiberglass

Hull typeDeep Vee

Hull typeModified Vee

Engine and Drivetrain

Engine makePCM®

Engine makePCM® Excalibur 5.7L V-8

Engine modelCatanium CES

Engine modelMulti-Port EFI

Fuel tank capacity - Detail29 gal. (109.8 l)

Fuel tank capacity - Liters109.78

Fuel tank capacity - Gal29

Fuel typeGas

Drive typeInboard

Horsepower343 hp

Horsepowernot available

Engine max450 hp

Engine max343-409 hp

Operational Info

Maximum capacity1,450 lbs. (658 kg)

Maximum people7

Maximum people1

Nautique 200 Closed Bow 2012 vs Nautique 200 Open Bow 2010 — Common Questions

Which is the larger boat — the Nautique 200 Closed Bow 2012 or the Nautique 200 Open Bow 2010?

The Nautique 200 Open Bow 2010 is the longer of the two at 2,0 feet overall. The Nautique 200 Closed Bow 2012 comes in at 2,0 feet, making it roughly 0,0 ft shorter — a meaningful difference in deck room and overall on-water presence.

Which is easier to trailer — the Nautique 200 Closed Bow 2012 or the Nautique 200 Open Bow 2010?

For trailering, the Nautique 200 Open Bow 2010 has the edge at 28 lbs dry weight versus 285 lbs for the Nautique 200 Closed Bow 2012. Add a motor (typically 300–500 lbs for an outboard in this class), gear, and a partial fuel load and the difference grows. Lighter is friendlier on smaller tow vehicles and on fuel economy while hauling.

Which boat can handle a bigger outboard?

The Nautique 200 Closed Bow 2012 is rated to a maximum of 450 hp, giving it the larger power ceiling. The Nautique 200 Open Bow 2010 tops out at 343 hp. Keep in mind that maximum ratings are just that — matching the motor to the actual load and usage pattern usually matters more than chasing the ceiling.

How many people can each boat hold?

The Nautique 200 Closed Bow 2012 is Coast Guard rated for 7 passengers, while the Nautique 200 Open Bow 2010 is certified for 1. Note that legal capacity and comfortable capacity aren't always the same thing — on a full day out, most experienced boaters aim for about 80% of the rated number to keep things comfortable.

Which boat has the better power-to-weight ratio?

The Nautique 200 Open Bow 2010 has a better power-to-weight ratio at 0 lbs per hp compared to 1 lbs per hp for the Nautique 200 Closed Bow 2012. A lower number means quicker acceleration and faster time to plane — the number that actually matters most on short, sporty boats like these.

Do these boats require an oversize trailer permit to tow on US highways?

Both the Nautique 200 Closed Bow 2012 and Nautique 200 Open Bow 2010 share an 95 in. (2.41 m) beam — meaning both sit right at the 8’6" threshold that most US states use for standard-width loads. In most states you can tow at that width without a special permit, but regulations vary. Always check the rules for your state and any states you'll be passing through before your first long haul.

How do the fuel tanks compare on the Nautique 200 Closed Bow 2012 and Nautique 200 Open Bow 2010?

Both boats carry similar fuel loads — 29 gallons and 29 gallons respectively. Range will depend heavily on motor choice, throttle usage, and whether you're on flat lake water or coastal chop.

Are the Nautique 200 Closed Bow 2012 and Nautique 200 Open Bow 2010 from the same manufacturer?

Yes — both the Nautique 200 Closed Bow 2012 and the Nautique 200 Open Bow 2010 are built by Nautique. That means shared dealer networks, common parts availability, and consistent build quality across the line. The choice between them is essentially a question of how much boat you need, not which brand you trust.

← Nautique 200 Closed Bow 2012 full specs ← Nautique 200 Open Bow 2010 full specs