A_B

The rust articles were good to see, but rust is not as hyper active when we store our boats during the winter, and actually is very rapid to form in hot weather. A better test would have been to take the metal samples and placed them in a freezer. I used good old 50/50 Prestone for years and fired the boat up in the yard and killed the grass every year and got tired of having dead spots in the yard and getting ragged on by the boss, so I went to the RV Pink -50 stuff a few years ago. I always believe the green AF was helping lubricate the impeller for storage and restart in Spring. I am not a believer in the drain all fluid method without any AF being introduced.

Yes it was GL. They held the pro tour there. I believe they moved the course over a little from where it normally sit. Grimditch did the color and said that the shallow water buoy was being a problem for all the skiers and at 38 off it really became apparent.

I washed my stuff when it got a little funky in the slop sink with a squirt of dawn soap and rinsed until no bubbles. When dry put in freezer for a few days. The cold kills bacteria 420.

I do exactly as @Deanoski does. Northern Ohio. @oldjeep is in the arctic tundra so needs -100.

I personally would not start a boat up to plane in less than 36” of water especially if the bottom is hard clay. We bent 1/2” diameter screw in anchors in our lake trying to tap into our clay bottom. Two dumb skiers 35 years ago in 18’ of water holding our breath and torquing on a pipe stuck through the eye. That wasn’t the smartest thing I ever did. 18’ is a long way up after you exert physical force! @Jody_Seal i also saw a trick skier catch an edge on a reverse and he came up with a head full of river muck. We were in 5-6’ of water. Thank God he didn’t find a rock or water soaked log with his head. I know I have gotten yanked OTF and dove head first in the water and have no idea how deep I went but know I was under for a while when trying to figure out which way was up. IMO your flirting with disaster under 5-6 foot of water. And the skis don’t sit in the water when it’s shallow. Grand Rapids Pro Tour skiers kept blowing the tails out in 2-3 feet of water on one buoy that was very close to shore.

A guy I know who worked in the boating industry confirmed that the draft of the boat is just sitting in the water or idling and not taking off.

If your boat is on a lift, just measure from the waterline to the bottom of the rudder or prop. Then add 12” or so. The draft spec on recent SN’s is about 22”. That could be sitting still but normal loading in the water. Heck a prop is 12”-13” with 2-3” clearance to the bottom. Bottom of hull to waterline is around 10”. That doesn’t account for nose rise on takeoff. Draft is typically the minimum to safely navigate which means at idle. At speed it’s less and takeoff it’s more.

I don't see the owners of the disagrees or dislikes any more. Assumed the Admin wanted to keep identities hidden so as not to get into cyber bullying or some such.

@mfjaegersr has posted great visual info. I can also add that you will need to pay attention to little dry scaley spots that may get picked off and grow back. I get a lot of these around my temples and eyebrows. They are also very sensitive like a pin prick or something. I have had 2 million of these frozen off over the years.

While in NY we skied in a 4-5’ deep beaver pond (yes a beaver created it) and the owner used a portable slalom course and it was always getting hung up and wanky. If the current buoys are accurate I would try to take advantage of that and drive some new pins all in the direction you want to move the course. You may end up needing to get a pipe to fit over them with a heavy bolt through the pipe so it rests on top the pin about 4” from the pipe end the. You can stay above water once started. About the shore line. Unless you want to drop in rip rap racks I have had better success moving the shore into the water. The waves break it up nice over time. We even use tree dibble bars to break the dirt loose and into the water.

And try to avoid holding onto big slack hits unless it’s for a big payday. So like never.. Palm down starts help even the load for me. Pulling the handle into your chest or waist at the end of a turn then having the boat take it out is also not good. Before you ski hookup to the pylon with the handle bridle section and stretch out and then go backwards and lean away stretching forearms out. I got through a really bad case of golfers elbow that I got hit with when playing some football with the kids. Took almost a year to be completely over it.

Curved handles, larger diameter, get loose before you ski, and try straight arm skiing, and hold the handle as light as possible. The Clincher style gloves are ok, but if you use for a long time, you will get weaker forearms. You can take the dowels out and the added material helps enough to lock the handle in. Get the TheraBand ">for your strength level and do those several times a day.

@jepski I think you have that backwards. You need to plan business around your skiing when travelling!!

At 36mph, I wouldn't hesitate to get the 68". Even at 34mph, I ran a 68" at 235lbs without much issue. Above that weight, 69.5" is about the only option for 36, as the wider 69" Senate will struggle to turn at 36mph.

Being blonde and fair skinned that burnt to a crisp regularly when I was younger, I go several times a year and get stuff frozen off. I had the first cut with the knife when I was in my mid-20's and have had several since. Luckily, everything the last few years has gone away with freezing. Even though we wear big hats, don't forget sun is reflected off the water under the hat and you aren't wearing a hat when you ski. Bimini tops a must! Bikini tops optional... :blush:

It has to be an old CDX as the newer ones are barely fit for plunking around on any busy weekend waterway... Wish's looks vintage. A friend of mine ran into 39 on that vintage CDX many times. I recommended a new CDX for my future son-in-law to buy to get started, ended up giving him my Goode 9500 after realizing the CDX was now not worth two donuts.. I have a few Black and Green 68" HO Extreme's laying around somewhere. I saw Warren Witherall run consistent 38's on those back in the late 80's.

Fun at 60 and 60 overweight is making my deepwater start at any line length!!

That looks like it would be pretty good spread over a Hershey Chocolate Bar!!

Usually the Corp of Engineers handle permits for most states.

@Drago I had a fin somewhat like that many years ago without the safety bar and must not have tightened it all the way for a set and the fin popped out as I was pulling for the gates. One of the worst falls I had in years. Saw your fin and was reminded of my mishap.

I use the velcro strap from new ropes and go around the pylon below the rope hookup and lock in the tube connector to the pylon below where the rope attaches so it gets it out of the way and opens up the end better for the loops to pass through. It has enough material to swing out in both directions and seems to decrease wear and tear as well.

This is the current tug boat. Still running great and meets my needs.

This would be my ski bud’s boat. I don’t know how @Brady could ever imagine I would own a Mastecraft, even though this is one sexy boat.

@paul413ski is the Whisper fin thin like the stock fin or did you have to stuff it in there?