KRoundy

You can empty the entire tank with this thing like you can a jiggler? That little air valve must somehow let air into the gas can as the gas goes into the tank. I think I might have to try one of those. Thanks, @Horton

@Maxsend Thanks for posting that link to the document you made!

Get a great water ski boat and use it with your kids. That’s the best compromise. 

I have a 200 and the PTM is the way to go. When I drive other boats the mirrors just are annoying. I can see everything with the PTM. 

Like others here I used to own a NWZ slant back and switched to a 422 and had great performance with it. I found a used one years ago and snatched it up quickly. 

Yes, stay the same. If you were an 11 stick with that size. Remember when they are brand-new the liner will be as thick as it will ever be. Unlike others here I have found them true to size, but I have a fairly narrow / low-volume foot. 

Well, my first attempt was a complete disaster. So much slack line! 

@o2bnMaine Good images and discussion. I think what you said about your edge change not finishing until way past the spay line is also a very different thought for me. I have been trying to pull to centerline and then getting onto my inside edge as soon as possible. Apparently trying to do that is what is making me ski directly to the buoy so frequently! 

I'm glad to see that others have responded to this post, because I've listened to this episode multiple times and I am unsure if I get it. I think this is a spot in the course where I know I do a ton of things wrong, but the idea of keeping my hip on that handle while NOT pulling long has blown my mind. We've been in a rain / cold spell in Seattle the last couple of days so I have yet to get out on the water and try this, but I am really struggling with the idea. If Trent or Rossi could post some images or discuss this further I'd like to hear or see more. If I understand correctly:

a. It all starts with the correct stacked / balanced position where we accelerate to the wakes.

b. At the centerline transition to the inside edge, but do NOT do that with your upper body. Your arms, chest, core should actually relax at this point, but do not move relative to the handle which will stay on your hip. The only thing that moves is your lower body, which I take to mean knees and ankles essentially, to roll the ski over onto that inside edge.

c. You keep this position as long as possible, riding the line out to apex, and then you finally let go of the rope and turn.

Do I have that right? This is way different than anything I think about post-centerline up to now and so I really want to be sure I've got the ideas down correctly. Trent said there can be so many wrong consequences from doing it incorrectly and I'm sure that I'll do that a lot! haha

Kevin

No belt cover and on my 2016 with the H5 engine. Thanks for showing the details on the shower hookups!

As a Nautique 200 owner - I’m curious where those shower lines go, as in where is the shower head located? I have thought about adding a shower for a couple of years but have found it hard to find the kit and also just don’t know where the shower head and hose would go. Is your HT boat one hidden in one of the side trunks? 

Nice work! She will be back on the water in no time at all. The days are getting longer and hinting at warmth!

That 196 would be an awesome boat for what you described. You'll be surprised how infrequently you actually use the front of an open-bow boat. The wakes for the skiing will be AMAZING, the wakeboarding will be okay-ish, and it is a Nautique (you'll understand after owning one). 

I really can’t imagine how that can be a competitive sport. 

D3, but not sure which one, the KD Titanium.

Oh my goodness, I had no idea. Thanks for posting this. Added to the fund and I hope others can do the same. 

@ShellNice! I actually have a similar story. 🙂 Traded in my '93 on a '16 Open Bow 200 back in 2019. Have put 100s of hours on her since and I have loved every second. That new Ski Nautique is AWESOME. 

I do a lot of open water skiing. Is there a way to track that in the Swervetracker app? I'd like to track how often I ski and maybe take some notes every day, but not sure this app will allow me to do that?

Kevin

@Shell Nice slantback! 

When I first got my newer boat I took it to the dealer, but they are a 2 hour drive away. The next year I paid someone to come to my house and do it, but then I watched what he did and realized I can do it myself. Been doing all my own oil, impeller, winterization and other maintenance work myself for a couple of years. It's pretty easy / basic stuff really. Next up - replacing the transducer for my depth finder. NautiqueParts.com is my friend. 

Maybe I have only skied lakes with well-designed islands, but I like them. They especially work if you have skiers who don’t drop at each end of the lake. If I were designing a lake I’d copy the layout of Tate Lake in Eastern WA. It just works. The launch/dock area is perfect for kids or whomever who want to safely swim and play while the boat and skiers are ripping around. It is the north / top lake in this view:

Curious where you are building a lake? I have family in Dubuque, Iowa and think about moving out to that area at some point. 

Like @Bruce_Butterfield I got a digital iGauging caliper on Amazon. Was about $50 for the 8" model. I always keep a couple of spare disk batteries with it and I've never had a problem. I just looked it up and I purchased them through Amazon in 2016, so they've been working well for me going on 7 years now. Prior to that I tried to use a super-cheap Harbor Freight model and got really frustrated quickly.

So, what we really all want is for you to post a video of what that sounds like!

I’ll throw my love for the Kidder Redline in here too. I loved that ski and it holds so many amazing memories for me. 

13,000 wake barges? Ugh.