JAG

thanks Horton. Never knew of Chuck but glad I do now. I used to dive off of Catalina Island in the early 80's. My cousin's husband was an aircraft mechanic there (I remember it being some kind of US Navy outpost or something) and he would fly out Monday morning's from San Diego, work all week and come home Friday. Me and some buddy's were visiting my cousin, (and as we were all certified SCUBA divers), he offered to stay the weekend and take us diving. We ended up being flown out, put up in a nice cottage, free use of a Jeep CJ, and even ate in the mess hall with the Navy guys, all free of charge. One of the great memories from my youth. :) RPG

I love the way the cover recesses a bit into the floor on my 2002 MB Sports 190. In rough water, it always stays put. rpg

"I love my PV, but I also had trouble (at first) with vest breaking heavy line loads on ups." Couldn't agree more sailworks. Exactly the problem I had when the straps were tighter. Now, a bit looser on the straps and deep water starts are a breeze. A full year of skiing with zero lower back issues. rpg

I love free skiing at 32 off. Sometimes I'll move up to 35 or 38, just to mix it up a bit. New Carbon V this year for me and this ski just loves the 32 line length.

I concur with oldjeep. Same process for my MB Sports with the PCM 5.7L HO. Remove both heater core hoses, blow through until clear and you're good. I've never worried about antifreeze getting to the core. No issues in 15 years.

I picked up a Connelly Carbon V and it works perfect. Great in the course and free skiing is much less effort. I couldn't be happier. Big spray too!!!!

Let's say a buddy of mine and I travel to Florida later this month and we want to go skiing for a weekend. Are the schools/sites pretty much closed down at that time? thanks, RPG

It was really sad that one team had to lose. Both cities have waited so long. Great series too. The 3-1 Cubs deficit reminded me of the '68 Series when our Tigers were down to the Cards. And then Mickey Lolich took over. :) Last night's game 7 proved why baseball is still the Nation's greatest game IMHO. It must have been amazing to see it live.

Boat is put away :( This year was probably my most enjoyable year skiing ever. A new Carbon V and a Goode Power Vest really helped me ski more/longer. 32 off never felt so good!

My '02 PCM 350 Chevy did this about a month ago. That system uses a low pressure pump to pull fuel out of the tank and deliver it to the fuel control cell, which then sends high pressure fuel to the throttle body. I found that inside the low pressure pump, there's a screen/filter that was plugged and blowing the 15a fuse repeatedly. Not sure if you have a similar system or not, but thought I would share FWIW. If you need more info, I can explain how to disassemble the low pressure pump. PM me. RPG

I've owned my '02 MB 190 Plus since '03. It's been nearly bulletproof, seeing course duty on a regular basis. It has the typical bump at 22, but 32 off is as nice as anything else I've skiied behind. There is some spray at short line, but nothing to complain about IMHO. Mine has the 5.7L HO (about 800 hours) with Perfect Pass, heater, and rear shower. Custom Faria gauges with titanium bezels and other billet pieces with MB logos throughout. It's just a very well thought out boat, skis and drives very nice. I use it on the weekends and once or twice during the week after work for our Ski Club. About the only issue I've had was the heater core leaking a bit last year, making me think I had a driveshaft seal issue. Oh, and recently a fuel pump fuse, blowing, that was traced to the low pressure pump screen being plugged. Took awhile to figure that out, but once resolved, no more issues. I would buy another one in a second. And another note, a fantastic MB Sports dealer in Fenton, MI (Aqua Sports Marine), who bend over backwards to answer questions. (They went out of their way explaining where the screen was on the low volume pump).

'@Porkfight There should probably be a prize for wearing a Baller shirt in a submitted ski photo' Agreed. There's some great photographer's on this site.

Tennis and skiing. Now if I could just improve my tennis game so I'm not dominated by women. :(

I have the Aquatek unit on my MB Sports 190. Its invaluable this time of year. Even without a wetsuit, I'll use it to get a little warmer before jumping in. And it's good for rinsing off the boat as well. One issue that I've had though, is that if the shower head valve is open even just a tad, the engine will push water through it, leaving the rear ski locker wet and damp. I pulled the floor cover last year, trying to find a leak, thinking it was the shaft seal, only to find the valve open a 1/2mm. :(

Keith, my Heatercraft heater core was leaking last year (2002 MB Sports) I pulled the core, took it to a local radiator repair shop and they repaired it with the understanding that it was for a raw water cooled boat. Cheaper than new. So far, so good. If I recall, Heatercraft required that I buy a complete new system, (and I just wanted the HC), which was prohibitively expensive.

so far I'm really impressed with my Connelly Carbon V. It feels effortless and so far hasn't punished my many mistakes with OTF crashes. LOL Past favorites were my Connelly F1, an Obrien Siege Comp and the ski that started it all for me, back in the 70's, a gorgeous Connelly Hook, that I started throwing big spray with. RPG

+ 1 on the SHELL Rotella. 800 hours on my 2002 PCM 350 and zero oil use. I think it runs better now than when new actually. Hard to beat a small block Chevy. :D

my needs are simpler: Small Block Chevy, about 330 horses, throttle body, and that lovely Detroit V8 sound old style PerfectPass (with the blinking red light) smooth wake at 32 off Beautiful Faria gauges, rimmed with titanium bezels heater shower wait, I already have that in my 2002 MB Sports 190 :)

pull the fuel filter (fuel control cell) and check the quick connections to the fuel pump. Mine were loose on my 2002 PCM motor (MB Sports 190) and had the same problem. Re-crimped and no problems since.

Ski season coming to an end here in the north. But the morning sun still throws interesting shadows.

we just LOVE the tsunami's these things throw up and down the lake as we're trying to slalom ski. Prediction: at some point, laws will be passed to limit wave height. At least on our lake, folks are getting a little tired seeing their watercraft getting slammed around, tied to the docks.

what Golfguy said.

a slow idle out to the far end of the lake early yesterday morning and we see this.... a few minutes later I was skiing in a rainstorm. :)

I so wanted to stop there and see the tournament. I was at a Vintage Motorcycle Festival in Owosso, MI, just a bit northeast of there, but figured with the rain all day Sat. afternoon, that it might end early.

working much better now. I skiied last weekend with no issues. I'm trying to stay tucked a bit more, and keep my ski out in front of me during the transition of getting pulled up. One thing for sure, I can ski longer, with less effort. My typical free ski run is about 2 1/2 miles around the lake. With a conventional vest, Radar gloves, Connelly Carbon V (much nicer than my F1 btw, ) I'm totally spent near the end. Forearms and fingers burning. With the PV, I'm starting to go longer. Now, I can get to 2 full cycles (about 5 miles) before I'm spent, FWIW