Roger

I just returned home after experiencing the 2021 Prostar at Action Water Sports. Thanks to them, Mastercraft and Freddie Winter for allowing this opportunity. I currently own a 16 Prostar and regularly drive our promo owner's 2020 so was looking forward to comparing the new boat against those I've been driving and skiing behind. Freddie did a great job going through the changes and features of the new boat explaining the details and not hurrying through it which we appreciated (I brought along Dave and Carol James who are the Okeeheelee Mastercraft Promo owners). I skied the boat first and found the wakes and pull to be similar if not the same as what we're used to which is terrific as the the Prostar has the best wake (IMO) of the big three. I'm men 7, so 32mph and I skied a couple of 28s, a 32 and a couple of buoys at 35 which about my current average. Next, I drove the boat while Freddie skied 32, 35, 38 and 39 and found the tracking to be superior to the current boat. I had no trouble and really enjoyed pulling him as I had not pulled him in the past. The driver ergonomics are improved as well. There is a larger screen which now incorporates the usual functions as well as eliminating the three hard switches that used to be above the ignition key. The screen is larger and provides everything you could possibly want (including a clock, thank you). The seating is still very nice with a change in the adjuster to similar to what is in the new Nautique (stationary adjuster and only the seat moves). The controls worked smoothly as expected and I had no trouble at all adjusting to the changes from the old boat. One thing that did surprise me, was no throttle stop (don't know if this was intentional or not, but all the boats have had one for a few years now, so not expected). Overall, I'd say they accomplished exactly what they set out to do, very impressive boat!

I am going up on Friday to see/drive/ski the new boat. Dave James who is our Promo for Mastercraft here at Okeeheelee is going up with me. I'll take some photos though I imagine MC will release their own about the same time. I have a 16 now which I'm very happy with, so new boat will have to wow for me to part with that much cash (whatever the number is).

Devastating news. I have skied at many tournaments with and against George over the years (including this past weekend at Palm Bay). Always a great sense of humor and typically zooming back and forth in his golf cart. My thoughts go out to his friends and family and particularly to my friend who was pulling him at the time.

@Mattp - Okeeheelee is closed effective tomorrow.

So far, Okeeheelee is still open though I expect them to close the park anytime. The club has posted signs to observe social distancing and to have only the driver and skier per boat (no observers). Personally, I use a hand wash after driving anyone else's boat and my own boat if anyone else has driven it. I saw generally good social distancing from the people who were in the park today walking or riding bikes. Also, as someone else mentioned earlier in the thread, I'm not shortening the line yet though my target for doing so was March. No point risking it when tournaments have been pushed back anyway.

I have the FM guard on my handle. Another thing I do to mitigate the possibility of an arm or head intrusion is to hold onto the handle in a fall until the boat takes it from me.

@Bdecker - While I certainly agree that driving a stick is more fun, the auto is faster in every circumstance. Jim Mero and Randy Probst (probably the two fastest Corvette drivers) both say the auto is faster on the road coarse (if you can keep it cool enough). The fast list on the forums will show it's faster in a straight line. The DCT in the 2020 only makes it an even wider gap to the manual. I have always bought the stick version anyway, but this time chose the auto as my wife is done with sticks and I want her to be comfortable driving this car. I actually like the 8 speed quite a bit, my only complaint being the delay when using the paddles. I still prefer a stick, but it's a dying option. Fewer than 20% of Corvette sales are manuals these days which I'm sure played into the design of the 2020.

Looks good! @vtmecheng - OP mentions inclusion of ZO settings.

My home site is hosting Nationals this year, wondering if we will be able to have it? There is a considerable financial investment by the club for this event...

@MISkier - The 2020 production line is also shut down. If you want to take your 2020 Corvette to tournaments, be advised that neither trunk will hold a ski, so passenger compartment only internal option and if you're taking your spouse or friend then they cuddle with your ski? Also, if you have a current Vette and like to have a cooler behind the seats for those long trips, you can forget about that as well. I do like the car and the mid engine design is superior for handling, but too many things added up against for me. * No place for my ski in trunk(s). * No ability to have a cooler behind the seats for long trips. * My placement in the allocation vs. orders list probably meant a 2021 for me with a price increase. * I planned to chance this one, but this really is an all new Corvette and there are bound to be some 1st year teething issues. * For insurance purposes, I have to keep the car in my garage. My C6 and now C7 Corvette(s) just fit and I had to enter and exit at the 1st door stop. The C8 Corvette has part of the air intake on the door and I don't believe in my garage that it would open even to the 1st stop. Even if it did, you can not enter/exit at the 1st stop (tried it at the 24 hours of Daytona). For those reasons: I cancelled my 2020 order last month and bought a 2019 ZO6 instead.

Okeeheelee was 71 today, air was 75 when I skied.

I think you'll do fine on either. I went from my Fischer to a Vapor and had no issues.

Take it to the dealer, the fix has been available for some time now. I had the new sender installed in my 16 a couple of years ago and have had perfect operation since then.

Google Earth will zoom in enough to see buoys... (Okeeheelee Park).

When they tested the 196 at Okeeheelee, it was just as loud as the gas powered version, thought the sound was different.

@Jody_Seal - Not only about water skiing, but that's Bob LaPoint back there stunting for John Candy...

@jrs who weighs about 155lbs skied on a 70 inch HO CDX for a while and didn't seem to have any problems executing tight turns. Someone above mentioned that Nate rides a 67 which is true, but for the first couple of years (and several wins), he rode a 68 (IIRC).

@A_B - "Good drivers anticipate the pull. If you wait until you feel it I think it is too late. Just my opinion." Well, I'm a Senior tournament driver and I couldn't agree more. I agree with your next sentence as well, work at it to get better. I drove 4 different skiers today with three different boats. I constantly drive as many skiers of all levels (I'm fortunate to ski at Okeeheelee where I can pull skiers from 15 off to 41 off) as possible and am always looking to get better...

@pregom - It's not the "same conditions" thing about the boat, it's the motor. There are no powered sports in the Olympics. From Wikipedia: "Sports that depend primarily on mechanical propulsion, such as motor sports, may not be considered for recognition as Olympic sports". Until that changes, we will not be more than a demonstration event..., and it has not changed in my lifetime.

@The_MS - @scoke has a wife and a house these days, no van that I know of B)

2013 Nationals, 1 ball at 41 off!

Sorry I didn't see this earlier. If you're still here tomorrow (Saturday the 23rd), I will be out starting at 9:00am until at least Noon.

There is a reason I live in South Florida, air 83, water 80. Skied two sets today in fabulous conditions :)

@jetpilotg4 - a lot better, kidney stone passed Saturday. Lost 17lbs though, so building strength back up. Thanks for asking!

Went out to Okeeheelee tonight to pull some friends. Air 82, water 86. Sorry...