YoKo

From personal experience using Stokes Evo, Radar Drifter and Syndicate Rebel vests in size XL.

Best floatation  Syndicate, second is Radar and worst is Stokes.

@tjs1295 The boat will be there in August 2024.

The location is great and no permit required to launch your boat.

https://maps.app.goo.gl/Qm5roTDvSyP8x274A

I am still exploring the options for a portable slalom course.

Thank you for the reply's guys!

@KRoundy I am already in touch with an upholsterer and I have a decent quote. I asked for ideas as there is no difference what colour or pattern I choose. It will be all the same price.

You can't tell from the photos, but stitching is gone on a few elements and there are brown spots that will not come out  by cleaning and use of products.

The only two working ski bouts in Bulgaria that I know of are two 1987 Mastercraft ProStar.

Waterskiing is not popular there at all and I really wanted to bring over something that is presentable, so I can get more people involved and if there is enough interest to revive a club that is not functioning since 1996. I got in touch with the person who was the coach of the club and him and his son are very enthusiastic  about having a newer boat comparing to theirs to use.

 

@aupatking I love what you have done with your boat. It looks like an amazing transformation.

 

This will be the new home of the boat. A reservoir in a valley just a mile away from my home town.

There used to be a slalom course there in the early 90's.

Thank you. I just googled it and found more details for it.

We never planned to buy a boat but this one was an amazing deal and me and my wife decided to have it. It is my old club boat that I learned how to drive and ski behind. Next summer we are doing a road trip across Europe from the UK to Bulgaria where the boat will stay and be used on our summer holidays. 

We know how well it has been maintained mechanically, but being a club boat the cosmetic part is not great. 

Due to the low price we payed for it we decided to reupholster and put a bimini on it.

It is a 2008 ProStar 190.

Can people that has reupholster their boats post some photos for inspiration please?

How can I find out which engine does it have and what is the power on it as the guys in the club are not entirely sure?

They are great to drive the boat when raining or the weather is cold.  I keep it in the boot of my car as well, as I travel a lot and in case I get stranded on the side of the road I got something to keep me warm and dry.

If you just ski it without heat moulding it will still take the shape of your foot and it will feel more comfortable with every set.

I never bothered heat moulding mine. 

Hi mate,

The Union just wants to turn more than the Session you had. Don't mess with the fin at all. Get some coaching and improve your position and technique. The Union is a lovely ski.

Good luck!

I have used. Radar Tidal in XL, Stokes evo2 in L and Syndicate Rebel in XL.  The Syndicate one has the best floatation and coverage out of the 3 followed by the Radar. The Stokes is the most conformable, but I have more peace of mind with the Syndicate and the Radar. The Radar was the longest followed by the Stokes and the Syndicate is the shortest.

I am 185cm and 86kg.

I have tried couple and I think they run small compared to radar and syndicate vests. 185cm 87kg

The only thing I can say is that I had a bad fall couple of years ago where I hit the first wake chest first and I  badly bruised  the centre of my rib cage where the zipper is. The paddings is some distance from the zipper and there is no protection there.

The flotation is good and the vest is very well made.

@UWSkier There is something wrong and probably Horton is correct. I followed the instruction videos posted above when I got my boot last year and it releases as designed. 

I surf when i am injured or if the ski boat is off the water for some reason.  It is not demanding and can be refreshing after a long day at work. 

Don't go for the Prime if you will be running the course. You want something more supportive for that.

The Union is perfect for what you need. It is very forgiving and will give you more confidence in the turns when you become more aggressive. It is ideal to learn the course as you can ski really easy at slower speed. It is very absorbing in choppy waters as well.

The Union is perfect for what you need. It is very forgiving and will give you more confidence in the turns when you become more aggressive. It is ideal to learn the course as you can ski really easy at slower speed. It is very absorbing in choppy waters as well.

This week I ordered the vapour boot after 1 year on a T-Factor(the outer layer failed) and had my first set yesterday. I feel that the boot is at the perfect spot on the ski from the first mounting. Immediately my weight distribution felt much better than with the T-Factor. Being a bit anxious about release in a fall I ran the boa and the bungee loose. I kept tightening them after every two passes to the point where the boot felt best for my skiing. At the end of the set I tried to get my foot out with the liner, but I had press with my back foot really hard. This was effortless with the T-Factor.Now I am a bit paranoid what will happen in a bad fall. I read all the comments about the reflex and mob plates and I am not sure what to do. Keep trying till I get the sweet spot for the boot to release or just order a reflex plate?

 

@jhughes Thank you for the advise. I hope D3 will accept it's a defect rather that ware and tare as it has been over 12 months since I bought the binding.

Just noticed this yesterday. Absolutely gutted as this is my favourite binding. Now waiting to see if the warranty will honour it.

 

Last year my coach helped me choose my first ski and binding. I went for Radar Union with Radar Prime boot.

At first the Prime felt fine, but as I was advancing I realised how soft it is and how much my foot moves to all directions.

Last week I got myself a T-Factor after I read all the good reviews.

I can only say that I am well impressed with the control I had and the ski felt amazing.

 

@jenksski

I hope you don't mind me jumping on your thread, but it is so relevant to my situation.

I started skiing last spring and got absolutely hooked.

My coach helped me choose my first ski and it is a 69" Radar Union 2020 which I love and enjoy a lot.

Yesterday the deal of the century came up on one of the FB for sale pages in the UK.

For sale was a 67" 2020 Radar Vapour Graphite brand new, never used, never fitted with bindings for 1/3 of the selling price. That was an opportunity I could not afford to miss.

Thank you, John from Salisbury! It was a pleasure meeting you.

 

Now I am a bit confused what to do.

Should I sell my Union and jump straight on the Vapour or leave it until next year?

I am skiing 15 off, 26pmh and I can't finish a course yet.

My hope is there will be no covid lockdowns this season and if I keep being consistent by the end of the summer I should be closer to a level of skiing to enjoy the Vapour.

What do you guys think?

I prefer vests with better flowtation, so I ordered a Radar 3.0 cga vest. While I was waiting for the delivery I found a Radar BOA vest on ebay and I got it very cheap. I can say that when I tried it I realised this is the best one I have ever had. I also have a Stokes EVO2 which is great, but when I m in the water and exhale I start to sink. Couple of days ago I recieved the 3.0 cga vest and I haven't tried it yet.

Hi guys,

I am shoe size 9.5-10 narrow UK. Will an XL T factor be too big for me for a front binding?

Thank you!