Malibu Open - ZO settings changes

[jercrane]

Watching the webcast of the Malibu Open. Lots of talk on the webcast of skiers switching up their normal ZO settings on the Malibu. I don't recall that much discussion at other events running SN or MC boats. Anyone have insight into the theory here? What are they hoping to achieve? What specifically about the Malibu is driving this?  

 

[markn]

Each boat has different engines/transmissions  ..Nautique 6.2 for tournaments, the recent MC tournament used 6.0.  Also each boat may  have gear reduction and some are 1:1.  Additional factors are the hull design /drag and the ZO programming for each manufacturer./engine.  Hence the pull can feel very different boat manufacturer to boat manufacturer.  Most skiers use A2 on Nautique and MC.  but  the 6.2 Malibu has a 1:1 transmission. If the pull feels too loose on the Malibu, they may choose B2 to firm up the pull and/or get picked up sooner off the ball.

[APB]

Way too much talk about it… if I was Malibu I’d be pissed. 

[markn]

Correction.  The Malibu in use  is a 6.0 not 6.2.  Sorry.

[Mastercrafter]

1 minute ago, markn said:

Correction.  The Malibu in use  is a 6.0 not 6.2.  Sorry.

I don’t think Malibu currently offers a 6.0, just the 5.3 and 6.2GDI

[MISkier]

I think I heard them talking about a change in propeller and how much the blades do or do not flex and the impact on a better pull.  Maybe they'll pull it out of the water later and check the wax on the bottom of the hull.

[Broussard]

Malibus in use for this event are 6.2L GDI.

Currently approved towboats being produced for Model Year 2024

Malibu Response TXI: 5.3L with 1:1, 6.2L with 1:1

MasterCraft ProStar: 6.0L with 1.26:1, 6.2L 1.22:1

Ski Nautique: 6.2L: with 1.23:1

Nautique 200: 6.2L with 1.23:1

[jercrane]

So 1:1 gear ratio means some people might prefer an earlier hookup that a letter bump would provide? ie moving from say A2 to B2? Is that the take away here?  

So some pros perhaps ski behind the Malibu and feel the pull is coming on later than it does with MC and SN so they bump up?

I'm less interested in bashing Malibu and more interested in the goal and factors going into the decision-making process.  For what its worth I skied my last PB behind the Malibu so for a sub par mediocre skier like me it seems to work great. 

[dave2ball]

 Malibu is the only boat that runs a 1:1 transmission. So the pull will feel different than the other 2 MFGs which have a gear reduction transmission. Malibu is also used in very few pro events, so with that being said the majority of pro athletes at the open do not get very much time behind the TXII so to change there letter and or number would make sense to get the best pull possible.  I don’t think malibu is angry.  They want the best performance’s possible.  

[buechsr]

18 minutes ago, jercrane said:

So 1:1 gear ratio means some people might prefer an earlier hookup that a letter bump would provide? ie moving from say A2 to B2? Is that the take away here?  

So some pros perhaps ski behind the Malibu and feel the pull is coming on later than it does with MC and SN so they bump up?

I'm less interested in bashing Malibu and more interested in the goal and factors going into the decision-making process.  For what its worth I skied my last PB behind the Malibu so for a sub par mediocre skier like me it seems to work great. 

The point is, with it, being a one to one transmission, RPMs are slightly lower and slightly lower on the torque curve, unlike the Mastercraft and nautique which are higher in the torque curve. Therefore, it could give the perception that it is a slightly softer pull, hence a move up to the Bs.  

But it’s hardly “soft” or underpowered, just a different feel for them.  

It’s not a deficiency necessarily that Malibu doesn’t use a reduction transmission. They never have, even when, for example, the power slot begin usage for Mastercraft long ago.  Malibu was able to save weight and generally run a few miles an hour faster than MC and cc, and hence was the preferred inboard barefoot boat for a long time, save for the specialists like Sanger.  

The real difference will be in jump.

[UWSkier]

3 hours ago, buechsr said:

The point is, with it, being a one to one transmission, RPMs are slightly lower and slightly lower on the torque curve, unlike the Mastercraft and nautique which are higher in the torque curve. Therefore, it could give the perception that it is a slightly softer pull, hence a move up to the Bs.  

But it’s hardly “soft” or underpowered, just a different feel for them.  

It’s not a deficiency necessarily that Malibu doesn’t use a reduction transmission. They never have, even when, for example, the power slot begin usage for Mastercraft long ago.  Malibu was able to save weight and generally run a few miles an hour faster than MC and cc, and hence was the preferred inboard barefoot boat for a long time, save for the specialists like Sanger.  

The real difference will be in jump.

Jump scores looked good to me. 

[MichaelWiebe]

Running lower RPM should save a bit of fuel. Less hauling of gas jugs. I like that.

[dave2ball]

@MichaelWiebe the last thing the organizers at any pro event are worried about is how much gas is used and how often they fill the boat.   

[ISP6ball]

Looks like it really effected Regina's World Record Run 🙂

[UWSkier]

The "gearing" is similar though as the TXi runs a 11.5 pitch prop.

[coach3]

An easy way to tell if final "gearing" is similar to other boats; simply note RPM at speed, i.e. 34 mph is about 3600 RPM on a MC with no skier. So "gearing" is from transmission to prop and the end result is RPM at speed. CC has a turbulent hull philosophy, and RPM is quite high. I'm guessing the comparison is 3900 RPM for 34 MPH with no skier. 

Now I'm curious what Malibu's "RPM" is at speed? Haven't driven one in a while. Also, does the 2024 Malibu have any hull changes?

[DW]

Per the broadcast, prop brand change to OJ from decades with Acme.   Sounds like a few were tested before the final selection.  As for the hull, it was not one on the list for ‘24 changes in the lineup.

[jhughes]

@coach3TXI is about 3650 at 34.2

[markn]

@Broussard The TWBC graphic kept showing the Malibu TXI as 360 h.p. 6.0 liter monsoon.  Was that an error or are they using 6.0 liter now?  Thanks.

[UWSkier]

41 minutes ago, markn said:

@Broussard The TWBC graphic kept showing the Malibu TXI as 360 h.p. 6.0 liter monsoon.  Was that an error or are they using 6.0 liter now?  Thanks.

They were showing the ProStar as 6.0L last week too.

Malibu hasn't been offered with a 6.0L since I think 2019.  Whenever they made the switch to their own engines.  Choices are M5 (5.3) and M6 (6.2).

[markn]

@UWSkierThanks for the clarification.

[dave2ball]

Both Malibu and MC used 6.2 motors to pull their events.