skibrain

Pass. We seldom have music on in the boat.

Glad to see its extended.

Boston Whaler, the unsinkable legend.

Good stuff. Thanks @MarcusBrown and @Horton

Looks fun to try (rental) but not something I'd stay interested in doing a lot. Price seems way high. I'd have to compare to a personal water craft (yeah I know they make some noise) but a similar solo experience with a much different learning curve.

I didn't read the OP as a criticism of either skiers on a budget, nor skiers who spend money. That said, @Wish simple solution "There is the option to not read those threads." However, @Horton reviews on 30 yr old skis are generally irresistible and there should be way more of those.

Pylon flex

"maintain a strong load in the rope long after the ski is no longer loaded." this description right there. Thx.

What was the first edge to edge concave ski? Stiletto was first EP’s first, Competitor the first O’Brien. CG Tech 1 has to be in there pretty early. ??

I would think the snow skiing comparison to buoys would be skiing gates.

@vernonreeve @UWSkier we didn’t notice any difference in ski wake up through -35 off/34mph. There is a pretty wicked shin/knee-height rooster of spray when doing a tight turn at the end of the lake @-32 and -35 as the back of a DD boat is kind of sliding that oval exhaust a skeg more sideways through water. Skier jus stays inside or goes a bit wider and not an issue really. Top speed? maybe - 1 or -2 but who skis at 43 mph? No regrets but it would be really interesting to compare with your diy. The FA is definitely quieter than another friend’s malibu chrome turn downs on a Response barefooter.

@UWSkier well done. I'm all for mods that help with public water PR and it looks like your solution is super affordable. The Malibus are obnoxiously LOUD from the rear all the way down the lake. (I helped my buddy install a FA system on his '04 Lxi.)

Sell the ski you have. Buy the ski you want. No odd dynamics.

@mmskiboat my most regular ski buddy has a hydrohoist in protected bay. Pretty constant 3-4’ depth. Mud bottom. We drive 4 posts into the bottom to position the lift and hold up hit canopy. 6” metal rings on lift slide up and down the posts as lift goes up/down. 2 of these locating posts are secured to a pretty solid dock. Looks like you’ve got a really rocky shore/bottom. And your whole setup floats - If any amount of wind I think it would be difficult to keep a hydrohoist where you want it. Is your whole floating setup attached to the deck on shore about 4’ above water in the end of season pic?

@Horton haha. Ok will wait for the official ski review.

@Horton I know you prefer not to make comparisons between skis, but is the EP vaguely similar to anything from this decade?

@adamhcaldwell I have a 65” Stilletto. Bought it used from a guy in MN about 1994. I have no idea if this fin is stock or was modified before I got it. Anyway, it was back before I knew fins were adjustable. Currently ski is in my brothers garage far away. He has no caliper. But here is a ballpark DFT.

@Horton I'd be glad to but the ski is in my brother's garage 850 miles away in Denver. I could get him to lay a tape measure on it for rough position, but he has never measured a fin.

I can’t speak to wake shape on the Bayliners, but a max 115 hp on 18’ E6 boat seems underpowered for water sports.

Nice skiing!! Fin looks like this on mine: I could set you up a decent set of “System 90” bindings if the hard shells fail you.

@Jetsetr it’s a 150hp 2-stroke. 1750 lb weight for boat/motor. We were going to switch to a 19” pitch, left on the 21” pitch prop. This boat will do 58-59 mph with driver only. Impressive for the most ordinary-looking bow rider ever. Obviously no really big people getting pulled up, but 115 - 185 lb skier weight range. Agree with @6balls on barefoot outboards. But low/no deadrise is a compromise for rough/big water. Any Ballers have a report on skiing behind a Dynaski?

Hey. I have one of those!

I totally agree get an outboard. Save 600 lbs.

Every boat is a compromise. If you’ve spent time behind a direct drive, A GTS outboard will be not THAT much better for you than the I/O version. If you are importing a boat anyway and casting a wider net, consider an outboard-powered ski boat hull from the 80’s. MC Prostar 200 outboard is used by some clubs with saltwater. There are a few around still and some maintained beautifully. ZERO deadrise will be rough in waves, but..... Doubt this is still available but here is a thread with an example: https://teamtalk.mastercraft.com//showthread.php?t=77106

@mpo I co-own a 2002 Glastron GX180 with my brother in law and ski it 1/2 dozen days a year for the past 15 yrs when we are up at the family lake cabin. 150 hp 2-stroke carb outboard. The hull on these is very similar to the current GTS. (Otherwise 99% of my skiing is behind a 2004 Malibu LXi) The GTS has a hull with a 20 degree deadrise. The GTD a bit shallower at 18 degrees. Weight of these with motor is around 2000 lb. so a good bit lighter than an onboard ski boat. assuming the weight is similar, the GTD might have slightly less wake, but depends a bit on what you are familiar with and currently skiing behind. I generally free ski behind the GX at 22’ off and while the wake table is pretty hard, its very narrow. I’ll try to find a photo of the wake. Between those two boats, the interior layout and decision on having windshield protection or not may be a bigger factor for you. But if you can demo one and ski, that is going to be most informative. Skiers in this shot are @15’ off line length.