Baller jetpilotg4 Posted October 28, 2015 Baller Share Posted October 28, 2015 Started a thread asking about upgrading from PP to ZO , and I ended up speaking to Tim at inboard solutions,(Awesome guy and conversation ) and promptly gave me the answers, that I didn't want to hear .... My 2004 SN 196 Excalibur , can be upgraded , but because of the electrics with the keyless ignition , I get the most expensive option. Roughly 5500.00 OUCH !! my question , aside from giving up 55 Benjamin's for 2016 Technology on a 11 year old boat, Is it really worth it ? I ski 6-8 sets a week almost year round ( S Florida !! ) , haven't skied a tournament in a decade , but id like to start back up tournaments next season, and I could qualify for nationals if I run what I run in practice .... Thoughts ? Thanks guys , Happy skiing Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller_ RichardDoane Posted October 28, 2015 Baller_ Share Posted October 28, 2015 sell your current boat, add the $5500. you didn't spend, and upgrade to a good used 200 that left the factory with ZO, my .02 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller ozski Posted October 28, 2015 Baller Share Posted October 28, 2015 Just went through the process with my 05 6.0L with no regrets. Expensive but the end result is a boat and pull that is still world class by any measure. I can switch between my boat and a 200 and its pretty hard to pick the difference out the the back. Guess it depends on what is important to you, 196 is still a good hull and will be for a long time to come. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller rockdog Posted October 28, 2015 Baller Share Posted October 28, 2015 Spend around $40k for a 200, or $5,500 on your existing $20k ish boat if it's worth keeping. All depends on what you can spend if you must have ZO. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller 6balls Posted October 28, 2015 Baller Share Posted October 28, 2015 I would upgrade my 2000 SN 196 in a heartbeat if I could but it's not compatible. Given that trying to put away some cash for a boat upgrade in the next few years. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller LeonL Posted October 28, 2015 Baller Share Posted October 28, 2015 How many hours on current boat? Do you like your current boat? Is it in good condition? You won't regret going to ZO whether with your boat or a newer model based on how much you ski. By the way, where do you ski? I need a friend in south FL in the winter! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller thager Posted October 28, 2015 Baller Share Posted October 28, 2015 Upgraded my 02 196 in 2010. Worth every penny. As good or better than any boat I ski in tournaments. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller sunperch Posted October 28, 2015 Baller Share Posted October 28, 2015 Ditto @thager. We have no regrets to upgrading our 98 bubble butt to ZO. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller eleeski Posted October 28, 2015 Baller Share Posted October 28, 2015 I agree with @sunperch , fix the boat you love. Personally, I hate the 196 for tricks so @richarddoane has the right idea for you (the 200 is fine for tricks). On my "to do" list is to convert my 79 American Skier to ZO. I love that boat. Eric Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller_ DW Posted October 28, 2015 Baller_ Share Posted October 28, 2015 It is interesting to see people are considering spending up to ~25% of the value of a particular boat to simply upgrade (not add, just upgrade) the speed control system to the latest technology. It certainly speaks to the importance of that element to the sport. To put in context, that is roughly 2 ski purchases, so how many buoys is ZO worth when skiing behind a different boat at a tournament? It would certainly be great to see a more cost efficient method to get a "ZO" pull either via a more cost effective conversion kit (not at all an indictment of Inboard Solutions, actually kudo's to them for even having a kit) -or- a more accurate PP kit to simulate the ZO pull. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller igkya Posted October 29, 2015 Baller Share Posted October 29, 2015 Would StarGazer w/z box be a better/cheaper option? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller skihard Posted November 1, 2015 Baller Share Posted November 1, 2015 StarGazer w/ ZBox is a nice upgrade but is still not the same as ZO. My previous boat was q 196LE and it was going to cost roughly the same $5500 +/- to go from SG ZBox to ZO. I put the $5500 into the purchase cost of upgrading to a newer boat already equipped with ZO. Sold my 196 and now there are 2 happy families; mine and the people who got a really good deal on my 196. :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller markn Posted November 2, 2015 Baller Share Posted November 2, 2015 I too have a 2004 Limited 196 with key-less ignition. With the help of Jody Seal, it was converted to ZO back in 2009. The performance of the conversion has been flawless since installation and every time I consider buying a 200, my conclusion is why? I need a great slalom boat with ZO. I have it with my converted 196. Also, consider you will recover some of the cost when you sell as a ZO equipped boat is more desirable than a PP equipped boat for tournament skiers. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller buoyboy1 Posted November 3, 2015 Baller Share Posted November 3, 2015 Tim White converted my 05 196 a few years ago when I had 425 hrs on the boat. Zero regrets (no pun intended). I only put about 60 hrs a year on the boat so I should be set for the next 20 years or until my back gives out. Converted 196's are also getting top dollar at resale thanks to the price of the 200's. I was also able to sell my old PP system for $425, course magnets for $200 and ECM for $300. My wife also loves the fact that she no longer has to listen to me about how much rpm to add or take away when pulling me when its windy....#happy wife/happy life.....:) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller swc5150 Posted November 5, 2015 Baller Share Posted November 5, 2015 Does anyone know why one can't bypass the Faria gateway in an '06 196LE to install ZO? @Jody_Seal ? Considering adding it to my boat, but would like to avoid the $900 for a new gateway. Could the PP chip be pulled out of my existing gateway? If there were a way, people would be doing it, just wondering what the primary issue is? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller_ Jody_Seal Posted November 5, 2015 Baller_ Share Posted November 5, 2015 The primary issue is that when converting your MEFI over to E-control your gauges will not work with out the Gatway replacement. MEFI and E-control are two completely different digital languages and that's what the Gateway does is translates the information to the gauge package. Unless you want to change your gauge package over to analog....That's whole different can of worms!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller andjules Posted November 5, 2015 Baller Share Posted November 5, 2015 Radical idea: - Save your $5500 - With some of that money, treat yourself once a week to a set with a coach, who presumably coaches from a ZO boat I predict: - in 8-12 weeks your ZO scores will get close to your PP scores - you'll become a better skier from the coaching than you would from spending $5500 on ZO - you'll qualify for nationals Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller swc5150 Posted November 5, 2015 Baller Share Posted November 5, 2015 That makes sense, thanks Jody. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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