2016 Ski Nautique 5.3L Zero Off

[Triplett]

Hey guys,

 

We have a 2016 SN with the 5.3L. I would like some opinions from drivers and skiers about how the boat feels.

 

To me, the boat feels like it is always running on me. I never really understood the feeling until I skied my Nautique and a 2016 MC in one day. The MC gives me way more swing and feels more efficient. As a driver, the nautiques engine note is flat, unlike the MC, which you can hear it react to the skier load behind the boat. The Centurion (Horton's old blue 6.0L) and the TXi all feel similar to the MC, along with engine note change while skiing.

 

 

Is this a similar feeling others are having with the 5.3L SN, or is it just my boat and I need to reflash the ZO? @Jody_Seal might be a huge help on this one.

 

 

[Roger]

From your description of the feel and the flat RPM, it sounds like you have the very first version of the ZO software released with the 5.3 single puck package. I'd get the latest software loaded if I were you.

[The_MS]

Play with the ZO settings. I did not have to move the letter for the 5.3 200 but on the 2016 MC I needed to move from B1 to C1to feel normal.

[LeonL]

I have heard this description before, I have also heard that the single puck with 5.7 is too soft. This last comment seems to come from heavier skiers. Now for me (160) I notice no real difference between a '16 200 and two different MC's I skied behind this season. Some other skiers, pulled by these same boats had the same experience as me.

[Triplett]

@MS I love the feel on the MC, hate the feel on the SN. I moved to C2 yesterday and it felt better. @Roger , I suspect this is the case. The boat was delivered in January. I will work on getting the latest and greatest from the dealer.

 

[disland]

just go to the ZO web site and download the latest version from their portal. Also read the detailed release notes and release history that is clearly documented. Don't forget to also review the compatibility matrix that explains which versions are supported by the different engine combinations and puck types, going back in time to the original versions. After that you can read the blog entries and instruction guide that explain the pull types and letter combinations and how they work. They also have a great manual for how to do upgrades to ensure you dont lock up you system and have to send the head back to get re-flashed. They also have a great resource for how to source the upgrade cables, jump cable and ancillary equipment you will need to keep your system upgraded and performing to the latest release.

[disland]

OK, only kidding

[ColeGiacopuzzi]

@Triplett I have heard people have been changing numbers and/or letters on the new 5.3 SN 200. What ZO setting were you running before you changed to C2? I agree as well the MC is money!!

[Triplett]

C1, figured C2 would give me more rpm earlier, giving me more release out to buoy. It worked, kind of. Still, the SN is a lot of work, but I don't miss the 5.7L.

[MISkier]

@Triplett, I only got one pass (well, not quite) behind your 200 on Saturday and did not drive in that round. It might have felt a little strong to me, but I had many other issues anyway. I did select C1 instead of C2, because I had been concerned it might be "on me" more. I would need more skiing time with it and some driving time to comment more intelligently.

 

@Horton old Centurion pulled many great scores and PBs in the 3rd round with the old two puck system. It drove well, too.

[Roger]

I used B2 on the old 2 puck 5.7 and 6.0 Ski Nautiques. I use B2 on everything except the new 5.3/6.2 SN where I use B1. I just feel the new engine single puck combination is slightly firmer than the old setup. I'm still using B2 on the Centurion with single puck, but they have not switched to the 5.3 or 6.2 yet (the one I ski behind is a 6.0), so I don't know if that will be a factor or not. In the last tournament at Okeeheelee that I skied, I ran 3.5@35 behind all three hulls (5.7 MC with 2 pucks, 6.0 Centurion with 1 puck, 5.3 Ski Nautique with 1 puck). If you include the Malibu, all 4 boats are pretty great these days and we have to get really picky to find issues...

[The_MS]

@Triplett Move the letter to B and if you used 1 on C, try B1. Always move letters of out of sync with the boat.

 

[Triplett]

I have no problem with the letter. I am more concerned with having the correct software on the boat. I just checked the version and it's at E1886400R.

[Hockdog]

Sure miss Perfect Pass..........

[dbutcher]

@Triplett, for what it's worth, E1886400R is shown on AWSA's website as the approved ZO version for Nautique (revised 3-15-16). I don't know if there is a later one that may be in process of being approved by AWSA, but some of the promo Nautique guys on this forum probably know.

[greg]

@Triplett, E1886400R appears to be the correct software for single puck Nautique. The approved versions are posted USAWS/AWSA/ Towboats & Speed Control/216 Approved ZO software.

 

 

[Triplett]

Alright, thanks guys. It must be the way the 5.3L works with ZO, just was curious of why it was different.

[Roger]

The other thing to check would be the prop. Make sure it's the one the current promo boats are using.

[B_S]

The new DI engines are so responsive and dynamic in their acceleration characteristics, it would make sense that one would need to move back a letter.

[Triplett]

@Roger I will take a look tonight.

[skierjp]

The prop should be a 654

[mcskier41]

Brent,, I second checking your prop as that can make huge difference.

[rodecon]

I skied behind a '16 200 a few weeks ago with the new 5.3 and was intimidated just looking at that lump of iron! The doghouse is huge just to cover the thing up!

[Horton]

@Triplett my old 6L! So kick ass. Come to Cali. My current Centurion is 5.7 but skis the same as the blue 6.0. The 6.0 is more fun to drive but in the Centurion they ski about the same.

[Horton]

@Triplett call @Jody_Seal about the prop. He knows SN props like @DumbAss knows social diseases.

[ForrestGump]

Ahhhh, now I understand the text at midnight, you jack-wagon!

[Triplett]

Thanks @Horton. Our hoist has been broken so I haven't been able to see the prop number.

I have thought more about @B_S's comment with DI being more responsive. This would mean C is actually on you earlier than on the Port injection boats. So moving to B or even A might not be a bad idea.

[acmx]

@skierjp My freind told me his 5.3 promo 200 has a 668? Felt no different to me.

[skierjp]

The 654 is the approved AWSA prop for the 5.3. The 668 is for the 6.2

[Triplett]

So I moved to B3 and I am getting a much better feel from the boat. Seems to be direction a few other guys I know that were at C have went to at least B, some to A.

[ozski]

Any update on how the 5.3's are working out for skiers?

[bigtex2011]

this sound crazy, but we erased all the mapped courses in our zo and re-mapped our lake and our boat felt better.

 

just a thought

 

 

[dave2ball]

Most people I know including myself have dropped one full letter with the 5.3. It just feels better

[shansen345]

Drove a 5.3 2 summers ago. I was shocked by how quickly it accelerated. It only hit 42mph at like 5500 RPM though. Honestly kept thinking a prop with a higher pitch might be good on it. I was only needing to use a quarter throttle to pull up a fully grown man. We just didn't need that crazy kind of acceleration and a little more top end would be fun for barefooting or tooling around a public lake.

[Ed_Johnson]

Just switched my CC200 6L from a Acme 654 to a 668, and it hit 50 mph with the Gate open. Much better pull from ZO also, and still has plenty of power.

 

 

[skierjp]

@shansen345 don’t forget to to pull the Hydro Gate back for more top speed and a better barefoot wake. Wow, I’m 185 and 38 mph is more then fast enough for bare footing. That’s the first thing a barefoot school will teach you is slow the boat down!

[shansen345]

@skierjp Fastest I've ever pulled a footer was at 38mph. I just think it'd be nice to not be at a million RPM at that speed if the boat is already quick enough out of the hole, that's all.