Kevin89MC

I actually like my 3 blade better than my 4 blade prop for slalom. The wake with my 4 blade is a bit bigger and firmer. Not by much, but it is noticeable. Granted my boat is a 1989 Prostar so the change in prop might be more noticeable on my relatively small & light boat. I recall skiing behind a 1992 Prostar, excited to ski behind one of the best hulls created for skiing. I still remember the 22 off pass, that rooster tail was huge! That boat had the powerslot trans (and the prop is much bigger) so I attributed it to that. Mine is 1:1 trans. Never skied behind a '91-'94 with 1:1, or a '87-'90 with the slot, so not really comparing apples to apples. But I'd recommend trying a 3 blade if you can get your hands on one easily, you might be surprised. Or it might not make hardly any difference, but then you'd know. Good luck. Kevin

Very nice work on the boat, and that trailer. Where did you get the trailer bunk hardware if you don't mind me asking? Love the adjust-ability factor. I'm looking at an old Malibu with no trailer, if it's still available in the spring, I might go get it. Would then need to find a trailer that is at least close that I can modify like you did. Thanks, Kevin

Thanks everyone for the comments so far. After more research it looks like the carbed engine was standard into early 2000's and the Monsoon (& others) were optional engines. All the ones I've seen have the Monsoon so I assumed it was standard. Agreed it might be a HP issue more than a carb vs. EFI issue. When my '89 351 engine was stock, it was a bit of a dog compared to the other boats I skied behind (carbed and early EFI). I could slow it down in the course, and then it would speed up at the ball to regain time, so it always felt "fast" to me. It was not fun to course ski behind. I upgraded to GT40 heads (HP went from ~240 to maybe ~270 or more) and it was immediately a much better boat to ski behind. So I won't rule out the carb, as they can be easier to get more HP out of, but the EFI would be nice for the reasons listed by others. HP with the carb is listed at 310 and HP with the EFI is 325, so not a huge jump. Good to know that others have had good success with PP SG on carbed boats. I agree about the secondaries, they don't kick in when I ski at 34 mph, but they do when I pull 36 mph skiers. No complaints, but I think the guy I ski with is too nice to say anything!

Long time lurker here, but I don't post much. My main question: is there much of a difference in how they feel to a slalom skier? Quick background and reason for the question: On a good day I get deep into 28 off or a few at 32 off. Been at 34 mph but spending more time at 32 mph recently. So not a shortline skier by any means, but always trying to improve. Currently I have a 1989 Prostar, 351 w/ GT40 heads, 1:1 trans, classic PP with slalom switch. A very good ski boat, but looking to upgrade for more space. I ski a lot behind a friend's 1996 Nautique 176, same engine and reduction trans, classic PP w/switch. My absolute favorite boat to ski behind, but even smaller than mine. My wife's cousin has a 1999 Response LX, no speed control, just free ski. I have a friend with a 2000 Response LX with classic PP that I get in the course once a year. Great boats to ski behind as well. I'm mainly looking at 1999+ Response LX (also considering PS 197's). They RLX has got everything I need and nothing I don't and are starting to become affordable. I found a good deal on one on onlyinboards, at Tommy's of Detroit, and they have another one there as well. The odd thing is one of them has EFI and the other one has a carb. I was pretty sure Malibu had gone EFI by then in the Responses, but maybe not. I believe the Echelons may have had carbs, but this one is a Response, as it has a trunk (decals were replaced). I don't mind having a carb from a maintenance standpoint, but I wonder if the EFI would be better from a course skiing perspective, as far as engine/throttle response. No matter what boat I get I will be getting PP SG, and maybe Zbox as I struggle a bit when skiing tournaments as that is the only time I see Zero Off. I plan to post this on themalibucrew.com to see what they think as well. My guess is PP classic would be fine with carbs, but thinking SG is maybe better suited to EFI? Appreciate any thoughts. Thanks, Kevin

We get swimmer's itch every few years in our lake. Yep it's a cycle of snails and water fowl poop. Little parasites get into your skin pores, then die, then itch like crazy. Not fun! My uncle next door developed a special rake to keep the snails out of his area and it does help. We've had good luck with baby oil or sunscreen applied to any exposed skin. Toweling off vigorously is also good insurance.

Congrats on the purchase, fantastic boat! I ski behind my cousin's '99 Response LX often, that wake for slalom is about as good as you'll get. Keep an eye on ski-it-again.com, under speed control. There are units that come up every so often as folks upgrade. Unless you're a hardcore buoy chaser, the "classic" Perfect Pass systems will suffice quite well. There is a Star Gazer system on there now for $500 but it is for drive by wire (too new for your boat). I have the classic PP, added the switch, and it suits me very well. But if I ever upgrade to SG, I'll post my classic on there! My cousin's doesn't have speed control either, so one trick I use is I have a GPS speedo app on my phone that I put in the cupholder so the driver gets more accurate/quicker speed than using the boat speedos. Also I tell them to pay attention to the RPM's as well. Good luck and enjoy the boat! Kevin

On my 1989 Prostar the only way I can fill on anything but super slow speed at the pump is with the nozzle an inch or so above the "all the way down" position. However keep a close eye on the level, because when filling all the way up the shutoff can trip too late and you might get gas squirting out of the vent. I usually just leave the key on and watch the gauge for when it gets close to full, and then just stop.

I read this thread with interest, as I like wrenching on my own stuff as well. Electrical issues can be a real bear to track. I am just a shadetree mechanic, no formal training. Because of your 2 month fix it appears that it is an electrical issue. I know at the beginning you said the plugs & wires were fairly new, but I'd suggest either replacing the wires or swapping them with a known good set. I've had several auto engines over the years act up and new plug & coil wires often will solve the issues. They handle very high voltages and it doesn't take much to make them act up, especially when they get hot. You might have gotten a set with one or 2 marginal wires from the start, and over time they have failed. The new distributor may have masked the marginal wire for a bit. Good luck. Kevin '89 Prostar

What a great thread! It is good to see a lot of "midline" skiers on here :) My story: First time in a course is 1999, couldn't quite run 28 @ 15 off. I thought I was a pretty good freeskier, but wow the course was so hard, but also very addicting! Spent many years struggling to make 15 off at 30. Best I could get was 4@15 off, 32 mph. We didn't know any better, as we would usually spin at one or both ends, often running 3-4 passes in a row. Pretty gassed after the second set! Didn't get much course time either, just a handful of times each year. Then in about 2007 I met a friend who was a really good skier, and noticed that he sat down at each end, every time. I thought, how novel! Maybe I should try that! Joined a local club that has a private lake in an old quarry, skied a ton with him and jumped up 2 passes by the end of the next year, getting 4@22, 34 mph. Got a new ski (went from a KD 7000 to D3 Nomad RCX) and within a few years got 2@32 off. Broke that ski and got a D3 Z7, love the ski! Maxed out at 2.5 @32, but it sure isn't the ski holding me back, but my form is! Haven't skied as much the last few years, lucky if I get into 28. Gotta work on getting a better 22 pass. Usually too quick to get into 28 where the wake is better (no bump). But when I run 22 correctly, I hardly notice the bump... guess I better work on 15 and 22. By far the best though is I got one of my daughters hooked on it. She's getting close to running 15 off at 25 mph. Ironically she just tried 22 off on accident because I forgot to switch the rope back, and she liked it better! One big bump to cross rather than 2 :)