wolfgang

This makes perfect sense and helps with the "visualization". I just hope that with so many new swing thoughts from GUT, in the16 or so seconds available, that I can remember remember to keep the curly end of the ski forward.

We skied for many years behind a 20 ft Grew Fundeck, with a 130 Yamaha V4 two stroke . Got me thru the course at 32-34 mph 15 off. Would have loved a speed control but never found one for outboards. The boat is fairly light and almost flat bottom. The 17 in pitch prop was the secret, but skiing at 36 mph was almost wide open. Could pull up 200 pound skiers no problem. Our friends still have a Fundeck but with a 130 Honda four stroke and a regular prop. Top speed is mid fourties but it takes at least 150 yards to get me up on a 68 inch F1(195lbs). This takes real commitment! 150 or 175 hp would be much better with out sacrificing too much top end. However I'm still convinced two strokes are best for weight and hole shots. ( our Malibu LXI was the ultimate solution).

Not starting a new thread @ Horton , but back in the day I had a 1959 Porsche, it was a 356. The 911 came later. It was slow with surprising handling but very cool. Couldn't build up much speed in the straights so you never wanted to slow down for the corners!

Canadian garage, no roof but comes with a snow removal specialist. I hope that the chipmunks are resting somewhere else!

Agree with@Spuddy. There were lots of wakeboard and wake surf boats though. Judging by the large number of sold signs there must be a lot of inheritances rolling in these days! I'm guessing that people want to buy before the full impact of the weakening Canadian dollar takes effect. I also believe that the aroma of new fibreglass is addictive and overrides all logic and reason.

Nautique 200 and mastercraft direct drive didn't post prices

No Malibu direct drive at the boat show in Toronto. 20 foot v drive $108,000 Cdn !

....Occurred as soon as I "un-winterized" the boat early in spring....

Yup....I had two that leaked ,on one side only, that looked exactly the same. I'm expecting the other side to leak some time soon. The original leak occurred as soon as I in-winterized the boat.

I agree with all the above. Happened to my 2004 LXI too. Easy to remove headers yourself...a capable aluminum weld shop will have no problem making the repair. It seems to occur at the casting gate where the plug has a different aluminum metallurgy , leaving the spot susceptible to galvanic corrosion. I now carry JB Weld in case it happens again. No gaskets are necessary when reattaching the headers, just a quality liquid gasket maker

It was 8C in Toronto today, I think spring is coming..... Boat show is on this week too. Bought laces for the the Enzo boots last week. Bring it on (soon)!

Another Canadian here.....I have always just drained the engine, but very thoroughly. Along with blowing our the heater core I 'rod' the knock sensor and drain plug holes with wire coat hanger on each side of the block. It's amazing how much water comes out with the rust flakes. My LXI 2004 has aluminum exhaust manifolds and one corroded through and leaked water at a casting node last year. We welded in a plug and it's fine now. I always carry a tube of JB Weld in case the other side goes while out on the water. I don't think I could fill the manifold with anti freeze and don't believe tha RV glycol has any inhibitors any ways. Also, I think that the manifold leak was galvanic and not oxidation.

Looking to get 28 off, 34 behind PP classic 2004 LXI. My score behind ZO 200 SN is at least a pass plus less. We'll try different settings this year. Also I need to improve my stack! Sure do love PP....I calibrated it myself

http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-35192366. Opportunistic, lookalike the rain finally stopped

Last ski buddy was out three days ago but it's all over now that the Texas Clipper came through. I don't know how y'all can live down there!

@gregy & @ShaneH , I had a great experience at the Shouldice Hernia Clinic in Toronto. They use an apparently advanced technique to get you active again as soon as possible. I was talking chip shots on the driving range a week after my operation and skied gently within a month. No ill effects ten years later. There were many international "guests " and the food was not bad but the nurse who shaved me was not hot!

I used to tow a twenty two foot SunRay cuddy (my fourth boat actually and first non-outboard) on a dual axle trailer behind a 1989 Cherokee. Same problem...with anybody in the back seat the rear springs would settle on their stops and transmit every expansion joint and pothole in the form of a sledge hammer blow. The radiator constantly overheated and the brakes faded in seconds; but power and traction were great . It would pull that old barge up any dirt ramp. The SunRay would get me up on one ski if I held my breath to the count of 10. 4. 3 V 6. Actually swapped the two barrel for a 4 barrel carb. It used more gas but didn't have any more of a hole shot. Two boats later, the 2004 Response LXI PP is very much appreciated.

Fun posts! My first and only tournament was an un-sanctioned regatta on Gull Lake in the late seventies. Wooden concave ski, long line 75 ft , public lake, first pass, no warm up, was 36 mph behind a 17 foot J Craft with a a big 175 Johnson two stroke (it would do 73 mph with a stainless prop and jack plate but I digress). My family ski boat had just been upgraded to a used 65 hp Merc so I believed I had sufficient know how. I made it to 2nd buoy (RFF) before the mother of all OTF yard sales...skipped and cartwheeled for an eternity . I didn't try the course again for a couple of years.

@skibrain and @Stewy , I am in awe ! We quit here in Ontario (well south of MN) at our Thanksgiving in mid October . Neighbors said we were nuts back then.

Good advice@GregHind, thanks. It should be fun finding a new ski!

Thanks @Ipskier and @GregHind , I think this time I'll demo my next ski. I've had enough OTF that for a while my nickname was Luke Skywater . But as I've progressed I've skied in 22 off and occasional 34 mph passes and now I feel that the F1 is still pretty capable. Usually I free ski at 28 off , 34. At least 60% of my time on the water is free skiing. Occasionally my stack is pretty good. Didn't Jamie set some 43 off records with a similar ski?

So true. My family however does demand a higher temperature because for them it's not all about skiing....and they're convinced money grows on trees! Waiting until May to ski again isn't going to work for me. Darn US dollar exchange is too strong. Might have to go for another time share sales beating for a cheap Florida weekend.

Is it warm enough to go to the beach in March (Ontario march break)?

Has Canada ever won the team title before this one?

Best wishes and speedy recovery Jaret!