JAG

Lakeshore Products out of Quincy, MI. Several people on our lake use them. Pretty much bulletproof. Go for the 40108 model (4,000 lb. 108" width) if you can as you don't have to worry about several people just hanging out in your boat listening to tunes. :)

have to have one

"Hey, the end of that rainbow is at one ball!" Yeah, the one I always seem to miss......

Nothing beats an early morning set.

Wednesday Night Ski League in southern MI. There's a magical time each day when the summer evening light just comes alive.

Anticipation

Classy looking models from SI.

as a chronic low back pain sufferer, can you say that the vest relieves some of that pressure? It seems after my 1st pass in the course, I can feel my back tightening up, grip getting weak. thanks, RPG

So sorry to hear of your loss. Losing a beautiful dog like that is heartbreaking. We've had two Labrador Retriever's who have made our days at the lake so fun and memorable. To have them with us for only 10 or so years is hard to comprehend sometimes.

Sometimes you just gotta get wet!

Ted Williams said one time that his goal was to one day walk down a street and have someone recognize him and say, "there goes the greatest hitter there ever was". I've only been to one water ski competition, taking the opportunity to ride my motorcycle to a Big Dawg event at Lake Jepawhit in MI. I think it was 2009. I'm there by myself, taking pictures and relishing watching Ben Favret and Dave Miller tear it up. All of a sudden I see a tall man walk by and the gentleman next to me looks at me and calmly says, "that's Andy Mapple, the greatest skier there ever was". You've inspired even mortals like me to be excited at getting a buoy or two at 15 off. RIP Andy RPG

Currently 56. Skied last week with Phil Hughes at his beautiful new site in Clermont. Hadn't skied since last October but felt great. New Yoga, aerobics routine, nightly swimming paying dividends. Ski often 2-3 times/week in the course in MI. Truth be told, I didn't start skiing good until I was in my late 40's. Hard to progress behind a 70hp Tri-Hull in your teenage years I guess. :wink: Remember, you only get old when you stop doing the things that keep you young. RPG

I switched from a RTP to double bindings back in 2007 (Connelly F1) and it took awhile to get my deep starts dialed in. I just stuck with it as my ski buddies all used double wraps, and I wanted to be cool like them. :wink: Having said that, I'm very comfortable with deep water starts, almost a no brainer now, but I did break the outside bone (5th metatarsal) on my ear foot in 2010 in an out the front fall in the course. I'm in Connelly Drafts and they obviously don't release. No real sage advice her other that to say, stick with double wraps. you'll master them and then love the control and feel. RPG

I have had nothing but 2 years max life out of Interstate Marine batteries on my MB Sports. Switched to standard auto battery (Costco) and going on five years now. Marine batteries are mostly designed for deep cycle, trolling motors and not the best application for your inboard. (Revealed by several sources, most recently, the head mechanic at the local Mastercraft dealer). RPG

Sometimes lift weights before skiing. If not, just put on my Mapple T-1 and go. Never stretch/warm-up before a run either. Markn, why should you not stretch or warm up before a set? Just wondering. thanks, RPG

pulled the nut and cotter pin and the prop is on solid. Light amount of tapping didn't budge it. So I found a used puller and will go that route. thanks for all your comments and offers of goodwill. RPG

thanks so much everyone. I'm in the Farmington Hills area. Our lake is in the Irish Hills (Lake LeAnn). Season sort of came to a halt when one of our members broke his leg 2 Sunday's ago in the course. Boat is a 2002 MB Sports 190 with 600 hours and the prop has never been off so anticipate it being pretty tight. Just wanted to clean up a couple dings on it over the winter. Rather than bother you fine folks, let me ask Skier's Pier (they're right around the corner) or Devils Lake Marina (M/C dealer out near our lake) if they have one they can rent. If not, I'll be more than happy to rent one from you folks if the offer still stands. Kindest Regards, RPG

End of season here in MI so want to pull the prop on my MB Sports 190. Dumb question but is there a place that would rent the puller? I just want to have the OJ four blade reconditioned so seems a waste to buy a puller for one use. thanks, RPG

Early morning set yesterday, my buddy Dave was skiing 35 off and went down around 1. Suffered a broken left leg below the knee. Was on a Connelly F1 with Vision bindings so no release. I also ski on a F1 with Draft bindings and suffered a broken left foot (5th metatarsal) in 2010. Started thinking about a release system after my fall (but too stupid to do fit one) and see now that Connelly has Stealth bindings. Wondering if I can retrofit those to my F1 (2009 model). I think it's time. Would appreciate your thoughts. RPG

In-Tow handles by Brenda. Absolutely love mine.

'02 MB Sports 190. 575 hours. PCM 5.7 HO. (Great motor btw!) Maintenance is anal with me as these boats aren't cheap and should last a long, long time with proper care. As others have said, oil and filter get changed every 50 hours, Fuel filter every other year. Plugs, rotor, cap, etc. about every two years. Transmission fluid at the end of the season. Buy a suction device to remove the old stuff through the dipstick and save it to a measuring cup so you put back in the same amount. I used to change the impeller every other year but found my new one (installed Spring '08) was already deterriorating early last summer so now it's every year. I checked shaft alignment around 500 hours and it was perfect so I'll go another 500 hours. I also found that T-9 Boeshield is a great preservative for metal. I spray it on the propshaft (inside and outside the boat). It leaves an invisible waxy film so no rust spots on anything. RPG

so far so good with our group. All the core guys are intact. Some of the women have come and gone but us old guys are still hanging in there.

Toad, went through the same thing when I got an F1 last year and Draft's. Had always used RTP (for 30+ years) and was getting frustrated. My buddies worked with me and it became a no-brainer after a few weeks when I did the following: Bring your front knee up to your chest and extend your arms to the handle If RFF angle the ski to the right, rope on the left Have the driver progressively accelerate. IOW, get a driver that knows what they're doing. Slamming the throttle doesn't work Above all, keep your legs loose and relaxed and don't stand up out of your crouch until you're on the water. The more I can get into a crouch the easier it is for me. Best of luck to you. RPG

I'm happy and content with my '02 MB Sports 190. Nice wake, minimal spray, hot shower system, floor heater, PP and nice touches throughout. And the best part, it's paid for. rpg