KRoundy

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Wow! I need to start recording some spring sessions.

@S1Pitts Oh, hey, that’s a pretty good idea. So to be super clear, you taped right into the block and just removed the PCM blue drain hose? Got a photo of the setup by any chance? I know some older boats didn’t have the blue drain hoses and you just had brass plugs you removed every winter, so perhaps that is your setup? Also, update to my comment above, I found an image in the PCM owners manual that shows the outlet is aft and the return is forward (closest to the belts at the front of the engine).

Finally getting my own HeaterCraft shower in my boat. For those who have tapped into that u-shaped hose for the hot water feed on the PCM engines - I already have a heater line installed there. The hose goes up under my dash to the heater core and comes back. Should I just tap into that same line? Which side? I have no idea if the outlet or the return is forward.

I have the same question as @Rednucleus...

Wow. I have watched that video a lot. Come on Summer! TW, are you going to do the coaching again this year? Kevin

Woo hoo! Something fun to talk about while we wait for winter to be over. 🙂 Seriously though, what a great idea. Keep at it. Have you considered putting, for lack of a better term, "ends" on the handle? I'm thinking of some sort of cap or bump/ridge. Something that would tactilely (is that a word?) tell your fingers you were close to the end of the handle.

While we are all rightly concerned about our sport, I wonder if this issue is less about water skiing and more about the supply and demand of boats in general right now. Remember during the pandemic when everyone wanted RVs of ANY type? Now we have too many boats, campers, ATVs, etc sitting on dealer lots with no buyers. The manufactures of all RV equipment are struggling with demand right now. Dealer lots are FULL of brand new, 2023 build, equipment that nobody wants when interest rates are sky-high. I wonder what is going to fall out on the other side of this cycle for the entire RV industry?

@Hoity Welcome! Those numbers are to set the fin. Radar has a pretty decent write up about how to do it. If it is illegal to post this copied image here I’m sure Horton will panda me appropriately. The numbers from Mike are: Distance from Tail - 0.790” Fin Depth - 2.510” Fin Length - 6.840 Wing Angle is not included there but 7 degrees sounds like a good start. If it has been a while and you’ve put on some lbs you could just leave the wing off to start. The boot placement you quoted sounds about right for a 69” ski. If you want to really get into this, buy a copy of Fin Whispering by Jay Poscente. https://finwhispering.com/

I was curious and I just looked - Nautique no longer has the GS22E on their web site. Looks like they made a run at it but I have to wonder if either it didn't work as well as hoped or it didn't sell well?

I would echo what others have said. Try different handle sizes or configurations. That has made the biggest different for me (I'm on a 1.06). It also helps to really let it rest over the offseason. Do lightweight weights exercises during the offseason as well. Don't keep injuring it by using heavy weights. Definitely try a new rope.

I LOVE the sound of my boat starting in the morning and have thought that I really need to record it sometime. Glad I am not the only one to think of that, but also sort of kicking myself for not doing so! Today is 1 min 24 sec longer than yesterday, but we're supposed to get some very cold weather here in the PNW later this week.

It is the shortest day of the year. 53 degrees and sunny on Lake Stevens today (north of Seattle). Time to ski!

Here's to 14 more! Man, I'll be old in 14 years... I better go ski.

I think one of the boxes under the tree might be holding a new S-Lines rope for me.

Update - these things are AWESOME for the Pacific NW winters. Wore mine today before and after an open water set. 48 degree air and mid-40's water. It really works well. I was nice and warm. It is heavy, very soft inside and absolutely delightful. I can see using it October - June around here. I got a size L, I'm 210 lbs and 6'-1" and it is huge. I could easily change in it. It's made big enough to pull your arms in and do so.

@LK_skier Wow. Where did you get that? What else did you do to that setup? That DFT is off the charts. And @Horton I was not accusing Radar of something weird - I was more curious if there are heavy testing skiers. Or maybe you could put on weighted vests (would they float? hmmm...) and try things out. I'm very interested in this topic. In my experience weight makes a huge difference when skiing. When I was in the mid 200s the 71" Senate Lithium was amazing. I could get up so much more easily and it was a Senate so I was able to progress. Made my first full pass on that ski. Now I'm moving pretty close to 200 lbs, on a 69" Senate and I love it. The less I weigh, the better I ski. Not sure what I'm trying to say...

@Zman That is a really good question.

Interesting. Got the same email. I liked the service but had no idea of the background issues. The coaching I received via GiveGo has made me a better skier - no doubt about it. I now believe in water ski coaching and expect to do some research and make some choices in the 2024 ski season.

Definitely go for the Senate Pro. They make the Lithium in a 71" model but a quick check of the Radar web site says "coming soon". I've been at your weight and speeds and a 69" Senate Pro would be a really good choice. The 71" has a lot of support, carries speed easily and feels very stable, but if you are skiing that deep into shortline I think a 69" might be the ticket.

@Horton Curiosity question - Have you ever had a pre-release? Or a bad fall where you had the binding release? I recall you saying some time ago that you rarely fall anymore (not a brag, just stating a fact). I wonder if it (pre-release) has happened to pros, but they like the rigid setup so much they stick with it. I know this for sure: My binding setup is not holding back my skiing. Better weight distribution, staying up on the ski, staying attached to the handle past center line, etc… it is a long list. Equipment is not the problem. 🙂

No. It was after my opener on my second pass. I SUSPECT that the release happened because of a combination of 1 and 3 on your list, with 3 being the most likely culprit. I checked everything post-crash and did your release test again. After doing so I upped the tension a little bit (maybe 1/2 a turn) but could not determine why it happened. I skied on it for another month, tentatively, and it never pre-released again. Went with some borrowed Vapors (old style) and then switched to new Vapors when they came out. I won a ski in 2022 and put T-Factors on it and I like them as well, but the Vapor is by far my favorite boot. I have not come out of them yet, but I also have not had an out-the-front or hard crash since that pre-release.

When I tried a release system a couple years ago I went with a front Reflex and a rear low-wrap Wiley. I actually really liked the setup, right up until I had a release happen as I was going through the gates and had the hardest fall I think I have ever experienced. Once I recovered I tried staying with the Reflex but every time I skied I found I was thinking about that release every time I crossed the wakes. That was never going to work. I sold the Reflex and still have the low-wrap rear in my garage waiting for a good use in some future setup.

I wonder what the story is here. That is a really complete set of 20 year old equipment - skis, boards, a boat... all from the early 2000's. It's like someone got that boat, got EVERYTHING you could do in 2003, and then just kept it.

Invite me up to Hilltop and I'll let you try mine out. 🙂 And yeah, it's been a bit cold here this week.