The Nautique 200 Closed Bow 2012 is a deep-V design and the Nautique Ski Nautique 196 2008 is a modified-V design, so you're likely deciding between two noticeably 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 20,0 ft versus Nautique Ski Nautique 196 2008 at 19,0 ft. Weight tells a clearer story for trailering families: the Nautique 200 Closed Bow 2012 tips the scales at 2 850 lbs - 210 lbs more than the Nautique Ski Nautique 196 2008 at 2 640 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 60-hp advantage over the Nautique Ski Nautique 196 2008's 390-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 Ski Nautique 196 2008 caps at 6. 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.
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 20,0 ft it has the deck room to back that rating up comfortably. The Nautique Ski Nautique 196 2008 is the smarter pick if you want a lighter, easier-to-trailer boat rated for 6 that costs less to run day-to-day.