ProStah_Skiah

@MarcusBrown awesome presentation! Would be great if you could do more future elaboration on this chapter:

24:12 - Centerline to Buoy: the most important part of skiing?

Update on the goings-on in Maine with regard to wake surfing regulations:

Last summer, a bill (LD693) was introduced that would prohibit "creating an enhanced wake with a boat that is equipped with wake-enhancing equipment within 500 feet of the shoreline or in waters less than 20 feet deep".

The bill failed, however the Legislature directed IFW to form a stakeholder group and review completed studies relating to wake boats and their effects on shoreline property and the environment. Here is a link to the report back which was issued in January 2024.

The legislature acted to implement recommendations in this report in bill LD 2284, which was enacted this week (April 2024).

They didn't waste any time!

Cliff notes:

It defines "wakesurfing activity" as an activity that involves using a surfboard, wakeboard or similar device while being propelled by a motorboat's wake or while on or in a motorboat's wake directly behind that motorboat.

It requires that information related to boater safety and education courses be provided at the time of purchase of a motorboat from a dealer in the State.

It prohibits a person from operating a motorboat in less than 15 feet of water or within 300 feet of the shoreline when the motorboat is engaged in a wakesurfing activity.

It directs the Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife to develop an outreach program to provide boater safety and education to persons engaged in wakesurfing activities and to submit a report focused on wake boats and wakesurfing activities in the State to the joint standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over inland fisheries and wildlife matters no later than February 1, 2027. The committee is authorized to report out a bill based on this report to the 133rd Legislature in 2027.

44 minutes ago, TLE skier said:

Unable to get the last image to download. 

Yeah, sorry! Looks like I don’t know how to upload video properly.

I’ll try a couple photos:

I can’t say enough positive things about @m_pags and his lake. Awesome guy & a great group of people he’s got around him. I’ve been here several times…always a great time, the lake is well protected from the wind & skis mint!

Here’s a shot of the lake from yesterday:

dji_fly_20240130_141856_191_1706709137441_video.jpeg

Perhaps related to this new proposal in WI targeting wakesurfing? The proposed regulation matches the 1,500 acres cited in the OP.

www.jsonline.com/story/sports/outdoors/2023/12/09/stronger-wake-surfing-bill-offered-in-wisconsin-legislature/71855233007/?fbclid=IwAR1JpuBvmVNkyQKBx4lnPyNr3kkH1iRb0fuC2FZSWrJs3aSftMVGUl0fZwE#lq1aycbm3fyp9ly6xd

I've had good luck with the Fast Passes as they usually are picked up by someone that's motivated to coach right away. There are definitely some coaches on there that are not responsive.

32 minutes ago, LeonL said:

What @Mastercrafter said has to be correct.   If there is more area in the arc there is more speed.  If not, I'd be truly surprised.

@LeonL, @Mastercrafter I agree. The areas under the curve need to remain constant (as a basis of comparison across letters/numbers) as ZO only gives back what you take.

Based on this, as a direct comparison to the 'normal' curves, I believe the + curves would all be shifted to the left, peakier and narrower (for a 'normal' skier).

I also believe this is why ZO states that only larger/stronger skiers will benefit from + (they can exert greater forces/load on the boat, which requires a larger area under the curve in response). The curves will only widen/increase duration if you can load the boat to the maximum peak gForce for a given setting.

My speculation, but here‘s why I believe that the graph does change with +

The chart is titled “ZO PULL - A/B/C - NORMAL” (does not reference +)

Notice on the chart, that the leading edges of the curves all line up for the A’s, B’s, and C’s. This would correspond to pull (response time) values of A=0.3, B=0.6, C=0.7 (higher number = faster response).

The pull values for A+/B+ and C+ are 1.0 and 1.4, respectively. Therefore, my assumption is that the + curves are all shifted to the left with respect to the normal curves. At least that’s my logic…

13 hours ago, Beezer said:

The letter is a reaction time to my load on the boat and the number is the intensity LIMIT? So the higher number I go in the same letter will respond to my load with more intensity and continue to increase to the LIMIT, until I unload the boat and the boat returns to it set speed.

@Beezer, yes…the letter is reaction time, with A being the slowest and C+ being the quickest.

The letters also define the throttle profiles. A and C are asymmetrical. A has a slower ramp up and quicker release, B has a symmetrical ramp/release and C ramps up quickly with a slower release.

The numbers define intensity and duration, with 1 having the lowest peak & longest duration and 3+ having the highest peak & shortest duration.

@markn posted the chart that describes the throttle timing and profiles above.

Hi @markn I believe you’re correct as to your interpretation of the two pages that you attached.

My earlier post was directed more to the idea that A2+ will be same/similar as A2 but more intense. I think they will be very different. My read of that same presentation is that any + setting is more intense than any normal setting. In effect, the whole A/B/C; 1/2/3 matrix is offset to be more intense on + as opposed to normal.

See attached table from the same slide deck you referenced earlier. If you look at the values for A2 and A2+, you’ll see that the gate entrance speed is faster and the pull/release/gForce values are all much greater. Note that all of the pull/release/gForce values in the + matrix are greater than any value in the normal matrix.

FYI, this presentation references ZO rev R. Apparently ZO made some changes to the + settings in Rev S, but I do not know what they are.

Hope this helps?

2 hours ago, markn said:

If you are used to A2, as to when, where and for how long the boat is on you, I submit, stick with A2 and add the +.  It will act as A2, but more intense.  Changing letters means changing when, where and for how long ZO is engaged.

ZO A,B,C is not how fast it responds, but rather WHERE it responds.

ZO responds to skier load, not location in the course.

A has the slowest response to pull load, followed by B, C, A/B+, then finally C+ being the fastest response.

The numbers control intensity and duration.

17 hours ago, Beezer said:

I’ll try the + settings.

FYI, the response and intensity of the plus settings are all greater than any non-plus setting.

The progression is:

Slowest Response | A -> B -> C -> A+ -> B+ -> C+ | Fastest Response

Less Intensity | 1 -> 2 -> 3 -> 1+ -> 2+ -> 3+ | More Intensity

Also, the plus settings will have you enter the course faster (+1.6% speed instead of +0.75% speed).

Mapping the course with the puck at the gates maintains a symmetric relationship of the pylon (skier) to the course in both directions. If the course were mapped at the pylon in one direction, then the pylon would be offset 2x the distance between the puck and pylon out of the course entering from the other direction. I don't know much about jump, but since it is run in one direction, it can be mapped at the pylon.

@mlange I alternated a skier between 32.2 mph tournament and recreational this morning. The boat entered the course at the expected ~32.5 mph in both modes.

My PB is also behind this boat 🙂! 

SOLD!

@RichardDoane thanks for the offer, but I’ve already got a 2018 ProStar lined up. 

@TomH Thanks! It's not the first color combo you think of, but the boat is awesome & gets tons of compliments!

@jpwhit Yes, this has the 5.7L engine. The transmission is the 1.22 ratio, not 1.26. I'm on open water and have no problems with the pull-out or constrained set-ups. Since it's not an issue for me, I've not investigated swapping the transmission or propping-down to gain back the few % difference. In the course, the boat skis pretty much identical to the 5.7L 2018 we ski behind, not sure how short is too short for setup. Thanks for checking-in.

Listed this yesterday on S-I-A & also wanted to share here:

2014 ProStar in excellent condition. Hull is white with lime green accent; interior is carbon platinum/carbon white; looks really sharp on the water! This boat has snap-in carpet, mooring cover, bimini, Fusion IP700 JL Audio stereo ($2940 option), fiberglass swim platform, heated driver & observer seats, bow seating, removable rear seats, pull-up cleats bow & stern and factory tower. Firmware on Garmin ZO pucks was updated to latest revision over the winter. Meticulously cleaned & maintained. I have all maintenance records. Oil & transmission fluid changed every 50 hours. Impeller changed annually. Single axle trailer with folding tongue and three brand new Goodyear Endurance tires installed last Fall. 757 hours. Asking $54,999.

I've flown with my waterski & equipment in a SportTube various times on United, American, JetBlue and Frontier. Always been considered "sports equipment" & never been questioned, hassled or charged extra at check-in. It mostly leads to interesting conversations when I tell them it's a waterski as they are assuming it's snow skis.

the spark plug gap is 0.60 and should already be set from the factory as stated above.ZF specifies Dextron III for the transmission fluid. Yes, Ilmor updated the factory fill to the Rotella T4 15W-40. However, last I checked directly with ZF, they only recommend Dextron III. You will get plenty of opinions on this one. I'd say do whatever makes you comfortable & make sure to flush thoroughly if you change from one to the other.

I try to keep the level low and fill 5-10 gallons at a time, but fill to full a couple times a summer to make sure the gauge stays accurate.

If you switch between ethanol and non-ethanol fuel, it will be particularly problematic. The sender reading is proportional to fuel level and capacitance. Fuel with 10% ethanol has twice the capacitance as non-ethanol.

If you are inclined to use a multi-meter, the manufacturer (Centroid) will help you troubleshoot your sender. If you need a new one, they will also sell you one direct.

Do you guys ever fill your tanks to full? The ProStar fuel sender estimates fuel level by measuring capacitance. Its accuracy can drift over time and is greatly affected by the ethanol content in the fuel from batch to batch. Adding just 5-10 gallons at a time can eventually become a problem.

The sender has a circuit in it that re-calibrates itself to back to full when you fill the tank. This usually works pretty well. But, having said that my sender went completely bad this year. I replaced it (5 min fix) and it works great now.

Here are a few pics for you...hope this helps!