Bookm_dano

Hey @Than_Bogan ...finally got a chance to measure my tension screws today:

180 Lbs

30 mph novice

32 to 34 mph open water

Front - .361

Rear - .359

Could go a bit tighter but still shy from an ankle injury last year (which inspired me to buy the OB4s).

One reminder for OB4 users: the instructions that came with the system say to check your release setting often, especially after a crash/release. I had a fairly big crash last month (lousy position into wakes offside) and an appropriate release with the OB4. Jumped on the ski next day without checking the tension screw position and did the same front foot release trick as @jdk99 (his was definitely more exciting). Examination showed tension screw had backed out about 1 1/2 turns.

@oldjeep Yeah, you are correct....5.3 L Silverado

Just switched to a 2014 Chevy Silverado 5.7 last year. Nice truck, barely notice the boat behind it.

Actually pulled a 19.5 Mastercraft with a 2.4 L Toyota Tacoma for several years. It pulled it up the ramp with no problem; did just find until I would try to climb a hill at freeway speed and would fall flat on it's face. Glad to hear some success stories with V6 Toyota as I really would rather drive a smaller truck.

Oh man, my wife really digs your boat (she's into red)....now I guess we need one.

 

I have a '98 Mastercraft (Sportstar) with a 5.0 liter and throttle body injection. I've been very happy with it; no issues in the 400+ hours I've had it. As @bigtallweed says, it is probably a little less efficient than a multi-port set up.

As far as engine size goes, bigger is probably better on a short lake. I'm on a large public use lake so acceleration time is not as important. Seems to have a good hole shot but I would need to time it to speed with a big skier to really know.

@Than_Bogan - Hey whatever works best.....and we mostly just play around on the 'alternate water toys ' when the lake is too crazy to slalom.

@Texas6 - We ski on Lake Austin. Just joined local club which has ski clinics alternating on SMRR, Aquaplex, and Frameswitch.

Dan and (wife) Amy. I'm 57, Amy is slightly younger (not allowed to say exactly how much).

We split our time between Houston and Austin. The boat stays in Austin.

I've been a mediocre open water slalom skier and barefooter for 40 years; just now getting serious about trying to run the course and taking some lessons. Amy is super enthusiastic, a great partner, and she skied and drove the boat all winter.

We mostly slalom but bought wakeboards and a wakeskate so as not to be the old curmudgeons that can't try anything new.

Ball of Spray is a great site...often helpful/insightful....always entertaining.

 

 

My favorite piece of gear happens to be my wife's favorite: her Roxy Cypher heated vest. Can be worn under wet or dry suit. Small rechargeable battery pack provides about two hours of heat. It's my favorite because she has assured me that without it there is no way she would have been out there all winter driving the boat for me.

'Happy Easter to all Ballers from Danandamy...Water is warming up but air in 50's this morning with light rain. ..nice water though

 

Was learning to barefoot in late '70s...trying to step off a ski, I managed to drop it between my legs at about 45 mph. Ski does not 'drop' but rises straight up on spray from feet in that case.... unable to climb back into boat for 20 minutes.

Wife wears 1.5 mm spring suit all summer for sunrise ski...even with 80 plus deg water...I say not one word since she gets up at 5 am to drive the boat for me..

Rather than a separate kit for the boat, I have a small (12") canvas tool bag that can go from car to boat (and plane when I had one). Has pliers, wire cutters, full set of sockets, open end wrenches, crescent wrench, wire terminals and crimper, ratchet screwdriver with multiple tips and a few miscellaneous items. Cable ties are handy and some stainless steel safety wire can be a great help.....cell phone and friends or towing insurance when all else fails.

Or maybe newer, maybe Promo boat, maybe (but less likely) showroom. Never bought one less than 12 years old. Depends on when I really replace the '98 Sportstar (at least a year or two away). Wife is actually enthusiastic about newer boat.

Slalom first (and 2nd and 3rd).... but got wake boards and a wake skate and play around on them....then usually anchor out and drink beer when the lake gets crazy. No tubes or surf.

All I did was delete my bookmark to the forum page and re-add it after navigating from home page to forums.....seemed to work

Would give up beer if I had to....but I'd need a better reason (my ultimate goal is not all that lofty).

For me, there's more to the boating thing than just the slalom runs. Like anchoring out in the 'Party Cove' afterward and having a couple of cold ones.

 

@countymountie..... The OB4 base plate is about .38 to .42 inches.... (it has a rubber bottom; depends how much you compress it)

@TyZac.....Photos of size 14 Strada on OB4

@TyZac......@mmosley889 ...I'm using size 14 Stradas on OB4 system....requires you to cut about 3/8 inch off front or back of one of your boots....I took it off the front...just the bottom structure, toe stays intact. I can try to send photo tomorrow when I go out to marina.

Dan C

Free ski on Lake Austin....air 60 water 56.....a little windy but glad to get out there....probably last run of 2014

Thinking of getting a seat heater for the MC...we're not as spoiled as the SoCal and Florida folks, but central Texas has made us a little bit wimpy in the cold.

Worth noting: best investment I made was Roxy heated vest to go under wife's wetsuit...that thing Rocks:!!

I've been using Strada boots with OB4 system. Still have bungee laces...the boots have never come off my feet once the OB4 releases....Probably not an issue, but would be inconvenient and expensive if it did happen.

Dan C.

A drysuit is that thing that might actually get my wife to come out on the lake with me all winter...

 

No naked deepwater barefoot work for me. thanks.....I dropped a ski.