Fast351

My wife and I do a warm weather vacation every winter around February. Usually do the Caribbean due to easy access, close travel, and excellent diving. I would really like to do a combo ski resort/beach vacation this year. I'm an average ability open water skier and would like to get some coaching and maybe run my first pass at a ski school. My wife does ski but once or twice a year and has little interest in coaching so I would like to find a location that also offers a beach. Access to a local dive shop for a handful of dives is pretty much a must. Any such place?

Cool topic! I'm interested in all the details it'll take to get that to work. 1997-2009 hulls is what many seek.

My rule of thumb (I didn't come up with it, but got it from someone I trust) is add two zeroes to get equivalent car miles. That's 550,000 miles. That engine is done. I will echo what others are saying and just drop in a long block.

@The_MS Who would I contact in w.metro to get course access? I'm an avid freeskier, a little over the hill (almost 50) and would love the opportunity to get a chance to chase some balls. I just have no idea how to get onto a course...

My method for my GT40 has worked through some VERY cold winters in Minnesota. 1) Warm engine up, preferably by driving it around the lake, but otherwise back it down the ramp and let it idle until engine temp is 175 and oil pressure drops to 20 PSI at idle. 2) Change oil while warm. 3) Drain ALL plugs (2 block, 2 manifold, 1 water pump U) 4) Remove and dump strainer 5) Remove inlet hose from trans cooler and hook up 5 gallon bucket with hose attached to bottom 6) Put plugs back in with fresh teflon tape for next year 7) Put 4 gallons of the cheapest RV antifreeze you can find in 5 gallon bucket (FVP at Menards is $2.19/gal) 8) Start and idle boat. When bucket is halfway empty dump in last gallon. 9) Let engine suck all antifreeze out of bucket, and stop engine when bucket is empty. It's just coming out the exhaust at this point 10) Reconnect raw water intake hose, put a splash of antifreeze in raw filter housing, and reinstall. The $11 in antifreeze is worth it for peace of mind. Needed? Maybe not. But if it displaces some water that might freeze and keeps a boat from needing an expensive repair, not to mention screwing up part of your next season, that's good enough for me. We regularly get -30 where I'm at.

I finally think I wore my Camaro Blacktec out. I poked a small hole through it after about a year not being careful with fingernails. It's 4 years old now, and the sleeves near the elbows have stretch ripples in them now. It's from taking it off wet. I take off the torso first then pull the sleeves off but they stretch some and I think that does the surface in. I ski with it after ditching the full wetsuit when the water hits about 65. I ski with it on anytime the air temp is under 70 to keep the wind off my skin or the water is under 75. It probably has 200 sets on it (conservatively). The price they get for them now ($140 retail) they're certainly proud of them. My dry suit and full wet suit are O'Neill and have done very well. I think I'm going to try a Reactor 2mm top for about half the price of the Camaro. I'm hoping it's a little more durable. Don't get me wrong, the Camaro is a great top, but the durability isn't great.

Radar's boots run a size small. I'm in a 12 boot with a 11 shoe size. It should be worth noting that the people running the same size might have D width (normal) shoes where mine are EE (wide).

97-09 TSC Nautique. 91-94 Prostar would be cheaper and a close second. I have an 01 Ski Nautique and my neighbor had a 94 Prostar. Both on a public lake but with plenty of glass if you get up early or weekday ski. I would take a pull behind either but the Nautique is a little nicer interior wise mostly because it's newer.

One I shot of Nate Smith a few weeks ago is kinda neat... http://www.fast351.com/photography/AWSA_Midwest/images/img_0633.jpg

Probably have better luck if you add a price.

@pregom OK so they're just like my current Profile boots. Only reason I asked is all the pics show a single plate.

@GSchmid agreed. Bought my 360 hour 01 SN for $16.5K. I could sell it for more than that today, and likely will not depreciate much below 10K in the next 10 years if I keep it in decent shape. I have yet to ski behind something I like better (although admittedly I'm an open water hacker, not a 39 off pro).

FWIW, I've noticed used boat prices dropping like a rock now that summer is over (here in Minnesota). If you can hold out a bit longer the fun coupons you spend now will probably go a lot further in 4 weeks. Can't comment on the boats listed except the Malibu. Those ski pretty well...

Just to offset the negative vibe in here. Went to go skiing this morning. Yesterday I had to lower my boat lift because the lake level is down to historically low levels. The canopy is lower as a result. Getting in the boat I don't duck quite far enough and my hat and (not cheap) sunglasses go in the drink. I was aware enough and quick enough that I fished both out before they sank to the bottom.

Just make sure you don't lock out us open water skiers that are very serious about skiing (I wake my wife up every day to pull my butt around). Would love to be competitive, but unfortunately course access in Minnesota, the birthplace of waterskiing for Pete's sake, is hard to come by.