Baller Lars Posted June 19, 2019 Baller Share Posted June 19, 2019 Due to a crappy spring I was delayed in getting our permitted course out this year, but I did most of it by myself and finally got it raised on memorial day. (insta-slalom course with stainless mainline, Jim's old course) Then we had a no wake restriction for 10 days earlier this month, so I was pumped when that was lifted last week, but then a neighbor texted me that the course didn't look right.... Took that with my gopro. All 6 of the turn buoy gate arms were buckled or snapped in half! Here are the 4 that I removed: We figure someone must have been dragging an anchor through the middle of the course and then jolted the mainline which snapped the 6 gates. the entry and pre gates were unaffected. Don't know how they didn't also break the main line, or how someone could boat around so carelessly. Fortunately the same neighbor had an extra course and we worked on replacing the gates and he re-tensioned it. Happy to say I've gotten two great sets in this week Our lake association added a blog post to the website about exercising care around the course, but it never ceases to amaze me the damage inflicted on our course. Fortunately I think I can repair the broken gates with parts from home depot to keep as a backup in case it happens again... :( Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller jjackkrash Posted June 19, 2019 Baller Share Posted June 19, 2019 I would bet that is intentional/sabotage. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller robmollysilverlake Posted June 19, 2019 Baller Share Posted June 19, 2019 Dang, sorry to hear that! What lake are you on? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller Lars Posted June 19, 2019 Author Baller Share Posted June 19, 2019 @robmollysilverlake Minnewashta Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller epnault Posted June 19, 2019 Baller Share Posted June 19, 2019 I have seen this happen with people dragging their anchors. My neighbors mainline broke during an incident like this. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
david_quail Posted June 19, 2019 Share Posted June 19, 2019 Super annoying. But thankfully, fixing buckled PVC is *relatively* easy and cheap, as you suggest. I have accidentally caused this when being too aggressive tightening the course. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller oldjeep Posted June 19, 2019 Baller Share Posted June 19, 2019 There is a course on Minnewashta? Don't worry, I'm not coming over - but I drive by there twice a day and was unaware there was one there. Been years since I've had a boat in that lake, mostly stick to Minnetonka. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller Lars Posted June 19, 2019 Author Baller Share Posted June 19, 2019 @oldjeep yes sir for at least the last 10 years. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller PatM Posted June 19, 2019 Baller Share Posted June 19, 2019 Glad to see you're up and skiing. This kind of thing is just disheartening Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller_ The_MS Posted June 19, 2019 Baller_ Share Posted June 19, 2019 @oldjeep @Razorskier1 lives there Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller_ Wish Posted June 19, 2019 Baller_ Share Posted June 19, 2019 Feel your pain. Good to see you have it back up so quickly. That matters if it was busted up for nefarious reasons as the perpetrators won't get the satisfaction and you've sent the signal that you won't give up in any way. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller Nando Posted June 19, 2019 Baller Share Posted June 19, 2019 From the damage, it looks to me like someone hooked something and applied a huge amount of tension on your mainline. Know a guy who unintentionally did that to his course while trying to straighten it. It almost had to come from one end only. Maybe a Wally hooked an end gate or ??? Hope it was an accident and won't reoccur! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller skihard Posted June 19, 2019 Baller Share Posted June 19, 2019 IDIOTS or intentionally done! Side note - you have those gate buoys high out of the water. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller BrennanKMN Posted June 19, 2019 Baller Share Posted June 19, 2019 There are 4 other courses within 10 miles of Minnewashta that I know of too. Hard to beat the choices in the SW metro. Unfortunately 2 are submersible and the rest favor early mornings and late evenings for conditions. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller Lars Posted June 21, 2019 Author Baller Share Posted June 21, 2019 Is there any merit to having a thicker/stronger gate pipe? OR should I just be happy the pipes are the 'weak link' and not the mainline? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller Nando Posted June 21, 2019 Baller Share Posted June 21, 2019 @Lars, when I had a cable course (mine is anchored now), I did reinforce two broken a pipes with stronger between the gates and had no problems. With a stainless cable, you would probably be safe. We also had one with super heavy-duty PVC for the full arms and never had problems- except with sagging and the need for intermediate buoys to prevent it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller S1Pitts Posted June 22, 2019 Baller Share Posted June 22, 2019 Most people have no idea there is any hardware below the surface of the water in an un-anchored course. I once had a very upset boater tangled in my SS mainline with about 30 ft of it wrapped around his prop. Seems someone had damaged an arm so they "helped" me out by wrapping the buoy leads around the pipe to bring the broken arm to the surface and then left the area. Life on a public lake. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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