ErikBerghiller

I have watched the first 30 secounds like ten times, awesome footage!

@Wish The first version will have a zero ball shot to the left as starting queue for the skier. However, a skier triggered start might be added on future versions.

Hi Ballers, Getting the OffCourse™ ready for the market has taken more time than expected, the timeline has shifted and we aim to launch it in early 2020. The project is very much alive, we just wrote a PO for a custom made circuit board, membrane keyboard and new firmware for our pre-production run. We will start the beta testing this fall. Since the OffCourse™ is a cutting-edge product that has never been made before we hope that you’ll bear with us, thank you for your patience! All the best! Erik Berghiller | Product Developer Rodics Innovation

Thank you guys for all the input! @JBB Seems like a good solution but it might take a few years to get it in place! @keithh2oskier Right back at you :) I have the same problem with the vest, right now we let him wear it at home just to get used to it. Hope it pays off! @Than_Bogan Sounds like a good solution, do you happen to have any pictures on the setup? @Wish Thank you for all the tips on how to keep him occupied! So, let's say I'll go with the car seat solution, which btw seems like a good solution even if we decide only to bring him in the boat once we have a spotter: Turning him backwords will give him a lot more to look at and he will be more involved in what is going on, but with a higher risk for rope related problems. Turning him forward will prevent motion sickness/be safer but he will see less and probably try to turn around in the chair to see whats happening behind the boat. @Than_Bogan and @Wish Please motivate why you turned the car seat the way you did :)

Ballers! My son just turned 1 and I’m super excited to bring him out with me in the boat. My ski buddy and I often ski alone which means there’s going to be a lot for the driver to focus on. I’ve been thinking about putting a baby bike seat in the boat to use once in the course. Doesn't feel super though since he won't fit in there with his lifejacket and I don't want him to be strapped to the boat if something goes wrong. There must be a lot of you Ballers who ski with toddlers in the boat, how do you do it?

Hi Ballers! Here's a video of some late autumn OffCourse™ testing and some answers to your questions. @BraceMaker “Might seem people are being backseat engineers, but if you are developing a product you would think this is all good information.” -We do, we read all the posts in this thread and take them under consideration so keep 'em coming! @skibug “Kudos to your innovation and commitment to the sport. I think your invention opens up the sport to a ton of big water skiers and that is what the sport needs. This may have the single most impact on growing the sport than we have seen in a long time. I remember, as a kid free skiing on a public lake, joking with my ski friends about how cool it would be if you could just make buoys "pop up" as you were skiing so you could turn them. This is that!!! So cool!!” -Thanks man, we can’t wait to see people ski the OffCourse™ on public lakes! @moski “I have a 2015 Malibu TXI, but i keep the windshield always open since my 2 kids go up to bow. QUESTION - Can your device fit on the boat with the windshield open???” -No, unfortunately the OffCourse™ won’t fit with the windshield open. However future versions might. We strongly recommend not to have any passengers sitting in the bow area while the OffCourse™ is in operation mode. @scottscott “Actually......along the line of what @vonman said.....how hard would it be to have a setting to modify the width to have a mini course?” -The first time you use the OffCourse™ you need to calibrate it to fit your boat, height vise. Once your OffCourse™ is calibrated you can easily adjust your course to fit beginners or warmup sessions, and then get it back to standard width. @moski “This is cool. Can’t wait to purchase. I talked with a buddy. He is excited to purchase too.” -Awesome! Make sure to make pre-orders on our website. That will help us evaluate the market and determine manufacturing volumes for the first batch. By placing a pre-order you don’t legally sign up to purchase the product. However you will be the first to be able to get it when it’s released in 2019. @MISkier “I would think the crosswind would have less affect than the moving boat. Seems like the boat's forward motion would have as much, if not more, effect on the projectile in a manner similar to spitting to the side of the boat at 34 mph (or whatever). So, the velocity for the projectile needs to already overcome that without curving the trajectory backward like your spit. If it can overcome that, then a crosswind may not affect it in a significant manner - probably similar to being off center down a real course by a couple of inches. Even the centerline to buoy measurement for consecutive buoys on a physical slalom course can be off by as much as 9 inches and be within intolerance. I'm guessing the projectile landing location in a slight crosswind may still be in tolerance.” -Exactly, the projectiles have high velocity (we do not lob) in relation to the distance to be covered which makes them fairly insensitive to the boats headwind and crosswinds. Thank you once again for all excitement here. We read everything in this thread and take it under consideration while the development process moves forward. If you like the OffCourse™ show your support by clicking the interest button on our website or better yet, place a pre-order to make sure to be among the first ones to get one in 2019! All the best! Erik Berghiller | Product Developer Rodics Innovation

@UWSkier Okay, sounds like something I need to try. Thanks.

@UWSkier Do you mean drain the engine after every set?

I apologize if this is OT: We still ski here (south of Sweden) Our problem now is that its okay skiing temperatures during the day but it starts to drop below zero during the nights. Any thoughts on how to keep the engine from freezing without winterizing it while the boat is still in the water? We don't have any electricity down at our dock so having a heater on at night is not an option, nor is trailer the boat home after every pass. How does the rest of you guys solve this?

Hi Ballers! Thank you guys for the feedback, we’re super stoked to see that so many of you ballers are excited about the OffCourse™! Here’s a couple of answers to some of your questions. There will also be an FAQ up and running on our website soon. We’re super excited to share the OffCourse™ project here on BOS as the process moves forward, so stay tuned! @keithh2oskier “I would be scared the @ROBOTs would turn and start firing directly at me. No need to get a nut shot with a paintball. “ -We’ve spent a lot of resources on making the OffCourse™ as safe as possible. It is mechanically blocked from turning any other way than slightly forward from the boat crew and the skier. And even if you shall always use the stop button when it’s time to stop skiing, the OffCourse™ is programed to stop automatically once your speed is under 25 mp/h. It also has two hatches that mechanically block the barrels while driving slowly or standing still. They open automatically at 15 mp/h. @jhughes “If you think about it, the 55s and the gate are just timing cues. You could almost have those be a light on the boat (configurable) that blinks when the 55s are X feet from the boat and then again when the gates are at a certain point on the boat. Then the GPS can start firing balls out from there.” -We’re currently testing out the best possible way to start the OffCourse™ to get the timing right. I see that a few of our alternatives been up for discussion here. We can’t disclose more details yet, but in the spirit of @Horton we’re trying not to over engineer this thing. Simple and fun. @lundberg “I'd like to see an option to mount this on a tower. That would be way better from a visibility standpoint. The way they show it right now you can't even have a mirror.” - In operation mode the OffCourse™ is tilted slightly forward (not in attached picture) which will give your mirror the space it needs. However, some older mid-mounted mirrors need to be moved a little bit to the right. Our goal is to make a tower compatible version as well. @Wish ”24 shots and I'm guessing easy to refill. Says biodegradable projectiles. I would think keeping the boat dead level would be a huge factor.” -We thought so too, therefore the OffCourse™ is equipped with a bubble level and an easy to use adjustment gadget. When you’re up at speed you just make sure that the OffCourse™ is leveled and push start. @aspski ”One issue I see with this is if you aren't in perfectly flat conditions it would be tough to see where the ball hits. Even in the video it doesn't look to be the most visible thing. Maybe from the skiers perspective its more clear.” -In fact, a rugged water surface makes the projectiles impact angle steeper and therefore the splash becomes larger in non-flat conditions. And like you said, from the skiers prospective you won’t miss it. Thanks again for all excitment here. If you like the OffCourse™ show your support by clicking the interest button on our website or better yet, place a pre-order! All the best! Erik Berghiller | Product Developer Rodics Innovation

"Silver Back" or "Ball of spark"

I always put 50/50 - water/air in turn buoys and gates.

Wonder why the guy at 0:40 looks super bored? :D

...and finally, winter caved. Months of ice, snow and darkness is over. It's time for some serious skiing...STOKED! :)

@Horton Okay, any speculation on which engine option the boat in the video has? Sounds amazing! @Broussard Yep, wrapping seems like a good choice... now i just need to by a red prostar :)

@dvskier : Yeah I think its the best looking Prostar ever, the picture is from the Mastercraft "History is History" video. Never seen one IRL or for sale with these colours thougth. Limited edition scheme maybe?

Badass.

I ski a lot in cold water, i use a pair of these under my Radar gloves. In my opinion it´s the wind that do most of the cooling. Try to find gloves with long sleeve that you can pull over the edge on your wet/dry suit. That way you will prevent water from coming in at your wrists in the start. I´ll still be coold with these on but you will survive :)

@MISkier That video looks exactly how it felt! And I guess you are right... never thougt about wich arm i pull with the most. Thanks for all the tips. @BraceMaker 29,5" from the back of the ski to the heel of the frontboot.

@Booze With "plate" do you meen open binding? @MISkier Like I'm leaning to much to the side I'm pulling at with my upper body? @6balls I dont know, i did'nt have any time to understand what happend at all :) @BraceMaker Radar Vapor Alloy 2015 67", I'm 6 feet and weight 175 pounds... both bindings are in the middle of the adjustment range.

I had a problem in the beginning of this season, just when I was in the middle of crossing the wake it was like I fell forward/to the side of which I was pulling. It happend fast and without any warning signs and totally random, at least that how it feels. Then suddenly it stopped and I haven’t thought much about it. Then last week I upgraded from open rear binding to a closed one and it started happening again. Faceplanted just an hour ago and I can’t figure out why it keeps happening which bums me out, plus it HURTS! :# I realize it might be hard to tell without video but I still want to ask, anyone who have had this problem and figured out why this happens. (I ski at 32, 15" off )

@DavidN Ok, thanks!

Thanks! I will check out the heatercraft, is there any big no no when it comes to where to take the water from the engine?

Hi! Went out sailing whit my parents last week and discovered that they have a hot water shower on the transom, somehow heated by the engines cooling system. It was awesome being able to take a hot shower after a cold swim! Now I’m thinking about installing one on my SN 196 as a winter project, I’ve been googling around to see if there any complete kits out there to just plug in but it doesn’t seem like it. All I can find is kits where it’s just the hose and handle or kits for 230V electrical heaters… There are plenty of space in the transom storage compartment to store the hose, handle, pump, mixer and some kind of tank to store the heated water. Anyone who have done this on a skiboat or know a good heated “transom shower kit”? Thanks! //Erik

@DW Thanks for the article, very interesting... did'nt know that Malibu was the biggest one, never see those around here. @BRY Love the term lake destroyer :) So what do you think about the future, will the skiboat keep its market territory as today? Heard somewhere that the boat manufacturers just keep on doing skiboats because of old habit and that theres hardly any money in developing new models...