HighAltitude Posted September 28, 2017 Share Posted September 28, 2017 I just started skiing at 34 mph this year. My drivers are excellent but have definitely noticed the difference in speed going around the islands. Do some drivers back the throttle down a bit to go around the islands when their skiers are at 36 or 34 mph? I have a '14 SN 200 with ZO if that makes a difference on the answer. Thanks in advance! -Marc Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller Rpc29 Posted September 28, 2017 Baller Share Posted September 28, 2017 I always try to disengage the ZO around the islands, that avoids the boat gassing to try to maintain speed. That could be your issue now that you are skiing faster. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HighAltitude Posted September 28, 2017 Author Share Posted September 28, 2017 I know this sounds stupid...but how do you disengage the ZO? Do you use the button on the dash or pull the throttle back? If you move the throttle back, how much? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller TallSkinnyGuy Posted September 28, 2017 Baller Share Posted September 28, 2017 If you throttle down smoothly you will feel it disengage. Just like when you throttle up you feel/hear it engage when you get close to the set speed. ZO is designed to hold your set speed, but you have to use the throttle to get it there and to take the speed back down. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller gregy Posted September 28, 2017 Baller Share Posted September 28, 2017 Map the course if you haven't already. I ski on a boat that things were feeling strange, turn out the boat hadn't been mapped. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller LeonL Posted September 28, 2017 Baller Share Posted September 28, 2017 I have to assume that you're not dropping after each pass? I would infer from your post that your driver(s) are pulling you through the course, going around the turn island and returning into the course with ZO engaged at 34 mph? No insult intended but your drivers are not "excellent". 34mph around an island is insane. It depends on the radius required to navigate the turn island, but a safe rule of thumb would be about 25mph. When you begin a significant turn ZO will actually accelerate, attempting to maintain set speed through a GPS plotted straight line. Note: this is whether or not you're in a mapped course. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HighAltitude Posted September 28, 2017 Author Share Posted September 28, 2017 Yes, I usually ski a pass, go around the turn island, ski a pass and drop where I started. No offense taken on the comment about the drivers. I meant to say they are all very comfortable with our lake and know how I like to be pulled. I have been concerned about the speed for awhile so it's nice to know that my concern was not unfounded. I'll probably play around with the throttle a few times and get a decent technique down and then teach it to anybody who is driving me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HighAltitude Posted September 28, 2017 Author Share Posted September 28, 2017 And... the course is mapped. The boat definitely gasses up at the end of the turn but I have found the prop makes a huge difference on how hard the ramp up is. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller lkb Posted September 28, 2017 Baller Share Posted September 28, 2017 Not sure how much room you have around your islands...there is plenty of space around mine and it would be hard to find a lake easier to drive. That being said I would never go around mine at 34mph. More than 26 feels too fast and there's just no reason I can think to go faster than that. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller LeonL Posted September 28, 2017 Baller Share Posted September 28, 2017 Luckily you're using a 200. There are other boats that trying to circle an island at 34 would be a disaster. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller ScottScott Posted September 28, 2017 Baller Share Posted September 28, 2017 We get that free skiing also if we circle to make another pass, even without an island. 1st time driving that circle at the end I felt it accelerate to keep speed, just pulled back on the throttle to a speed that feels right, then out of the circle throttle back up till ZO kicks in again. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bwreinke Posted September 28, 2017 Share Posted September 28, 2017 Marc, For reference, I ski in Colorado. In my mind there is no reason to hammer it around the island, in fact you lose speed when doing so. Next time you are out, try it, the speed will drop. Once you are in this situation, where the throttle is down, and your speed is decreasing, you're in a lot of trouble at high altitude. At lakes here in Colorado, I've found that keeping the boat at approx 28 and throttling up at the backside of the island is more efficient. You will find, with practice, a more efficient way to get to speed by throttling up at the backside of the island at the right spot and from the right speed. Honestly, I do not understand why drivers drive so fast at the turn around with or without an island, its not necessary in my opinion! Out of course driving is just as important as in course. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller eleeski Posted September 28, 2017 Baller Share Posted September 28, 2017 Stinking islands! Get rid of them. Eric Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
klindy Posted September 28, 2017 Share Posted September 28, 2017 @eleeski keep going around the islands at 36mph and they'll erode away fast enough! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HighAltitude Posted September 28, 2017 Author Share Posted September 28, 2017 Thanks for all the advice! -Marc Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller UWSkier Posted September 28, 2017 Baller Share Posted September 28, 2017 Don't go under 20 though either, especially if you're unevenly weighted. Just about put a Malibu on shore that way once setting up a barefooting run with multiple guys about to jump out on the boom together. Chine locked on me. Managed to get it stopped about 10 inches from where the keel would have beached. Corner case for sure, but more speed seemed to be the solution since I'd done that about 4 times earlier that day at higher speeds with no issue. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller oldjeep Posted September 28, 2017 Baller Share Posted September 28, 2017 The course I ski on hasn't got an actual island, but it does have a really tight circle path through the lily pads. We always back it down manually and then accelerate once we can see the course again to avoid tossing the skier into shore. This is with PP, but the concept is the same - back the throttle down below the point that the speed control will take over. (typically this is low to mid 20's for skiers that are skiing 30-34 mph) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller WoodySkier Posted September 29, 2017 Baller Share Posted September 29, 2017 We spin at the end of course and slow down until the zero off disengages and then speed it back up coming out of the turn. We do this with a 15 200 and 15 prostar, works great on both. If you don't back off the throttle zero off will make the engine rev up some and race around the turn. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller_ Jody_Seal Posted September 29, 2017 Baller_ Share Posted September 29, 2017 Depends on the island. Ski chaste has nearly an acre island you can drive at 28 mph around it, may be more ! The little lake here in pc 24-26 max around the island. I guess conditions will dictate speed . Some sites have short shots off the apex into the 55s. I think that engagement into the course process is most critical , sometimes the boat needs to turn faster just to get the needed engagement speed. Hang on Martha junior is going 36 now! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller greghayes Posted October 4, 2017 Baller Share Posted October 4, 2017 @HighAltitude - a good way to train your drivers is to have them pay attention to engine RPM. It should always be slightly below your straight line RPM around your island. How much below depends on your specific boat and setup. Experiment a little and I think you'll get a more enjoyable pull and your drivers will thank you. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller skiinxs Posted October 4, 2017 Baller Share Posted October 4, 2017 If the island is tight you don't want your drivers looking down at the speed or tach. Have them make circles in the middle of the lake the approx. diameter of the path around the islands at 24-26 mph and listen to the engine. That is what they want the engine to sound like going around the island. In other words they should turn by listening to engine rpms and keep their vision focused on where they are going. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller LeonL Posted October 4, 2017 Baller Share Posted October 4, 2017 Gosh, you guys seem to be over complicating this. Just drive fast enough that keeps the skier at a comfortable speed (i.e. not sinking) and slow enough that the driver is in full control. You don't need to watch the speedo or listen to the engine, just "seat of the pants" feel for what you're doing should do it. Every island radius is different, setup distance is different, boat acceleration is different. Just get a feel for it. It ain't rocket surgery. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HighAltitude Posted October 4, 2017 Author Share Posted October 4, 2017 I did a few "practice'" laps thru the course and island to get a feel for it. Like Leoni said, it's not super difficult. If I crack the power back about 2-3 inches the boat starts to slow and settles at about 29-30 mph. By the time I'm 3/4 of the way around it's 24 mph and I'm putting the throttle back down. It get's back up to 34 mph with a ton of time before the entry gates. Thanks for all the advice. I think the folks that drive me will be much happier once they get used to it. It would be sweet if the whole course was programmable to include the slowdown and the ensuing acceleration coming off the back of the island. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller Golfguy Posted October 4, 2017 Baller Share Posted October 4, 2017 I alway slow to 3000 to 3200 RPM's before beginning the turn around the islands. The skier is in a whip so his speed is not the same as the boat. RPM's work for me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shansen345 Posted October 5, 2017 Share Posted October 5, 2017 Going around the islands at full speed or with ZO engaged is dangerous and puts unnecessary strain on your skier and boat. Slowwww down to what feels like a reasonable speed. Don't sink your skier, but don't whip them onto the shore either. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller Razorskier1 Posted October 5, 2017 Baller Share Posted October 5, 2017 We have small islands and TXIs. 18-20mph is perfect Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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