skibrain

When the water is still only 66-67, and the 6:00 a.m. air is much cooler:

1.062 13” have used In-Tow w/spectra last two handles. masterline currently, going on second season, so it seems comparable. Kevlar gloves are hard on handles and we get about 2 years out of them. I’ve used ML as large as 1.125”. But like 1.062 best.

One of the guys making Adirondack chairs out of old water skis has posted with piles of unused/removed bindings, fins and hardware. Can’t recall where I saw that.

@Ed_Johnson do you have the WFin on EVO or NRG? I know you have/have had both.

@Steven_Haines I tried stock, .25 forward, stock, .25 back, now .5 back. I also bought a microjust and may fine tune or go back forward a bit at some point. It seemed counter-intuitive to me until I read some of SkiJays posts on getting the right amount of smear.

My 67 feels much better to me with bindings BACK from stock .5” Feels more nimble. Rotates/turns quicker. Best with weight forward and ski still feels stable and finishes with tip down. 2.45/6.94/.737

A standard screw driver blade fits the slot.

LXi hanger attaches to platform brackets. Not Quite as pretty as the Y pipe — don’t know if that was an option when my buddy ordered.

I helped install on my regular ski buddy’s boat 4 yrs ago. 2004 Malibu LXi 340 Monsoon. These are loud boats - mostly from the back as you hear them bark all the way down the lake. No difference that we see in ski wake. Does it reduce top speed 1 mph? Who cares. The only adjustment is that there is a pretty big rooster tail spray in a sharp turn (-32/35 off) if we spin at end of lake. (Only sprays as boat pivots and back end is sort of sliding sideways). Just move over 4-5’ to just outside wake and it’s no prob. We ski early on a public metro lake with residences on about 1/2 the shoreline, so being respectful is super important to us. I forget about how much improvement it is until a guy on the lake with exact same boat (stock exhaust) is in the rotation. I’m a HUGE fan. I’d like to help my neighbor down the block install underwater exhaust on his Harley..... (We removed the wedge. Had never used it)

I got an EVO mid last season. Tried bindings stock, forward .25, stock, back .25. Had a buddy tell me I looked the best he’s seen me ski, but I was feeling sort of indifferent and was planning to sell the ski. Finally this spring, back .50” from stock 30” ( I’m at 29.5” on 67”) and now I’m pretty excited about the ski. Feels much more alive and nimble. I have a Microjust and may install and fine tune from here, but this feels really really good. Doing an EVO demo? Don’t send it back until you’ve moved your bindings around a bit, or even a lot.

@hchwilson some good ski suggestions above. If you’re used to and like the rubber bindings on your EP ski, you might consider getting Wiley brand bindings for whatever ski you buy. This binding is going to be the most similar to what you likely have.

It just hit 80 degrees in Minneapolis. It has been 8 MONTHS since we last saw 80. (Sept 17). Skied yesterday morning. Lake temp finally up to 60 degrees.

@lpskier Stop falling. ?

CG fin, WhisperFin.... the obvious next evolution is the Drive Fin. No doubt would have the potential to both accelerate and decelerate a slalom ski.

Enough room (barely) for me to wear a comp vest inside the hybrid. Light fleece plus vest up top.

Sunny but only about 43 degrees for our first ski today. probably 8th year for my O’Neill Hybrid Ice was out about a week and a half ago, but a little surreal seeing all the snow still on the ground from last weeks storm!

225 - 300 hp Etec is 3.4L Yamaha XTO (425 hp) is 5.6L but 952lbs. Big Merc is turbo or SC. Etec, especially laying on its side to spin an onboard drive shaft would be a physically smaller pkg. Fewer moving parts than v8 inboard. Could be interesting. Hole shot great. Less hull displacement with less weight. I know we run with 1/4 tank gas and back seat out for less weight in a DD. Not 500lb, but noticeable.

Photo on D3skis.com says NRG on the bottom. Matches his gloves.

Must be the 197 Fish & Ski - it’s got a live well.

@"Keith Menard" Which O’neill model did you have?

so Theoretically the zero off boat, up-current OR down-current is moving relative to, and through the course at a consistent 36 mph. The boat might just be working a little harder to accomplish that one way than the other? We need a Moomba skier to tell us if the water flowing under the ski feels faster /harder one way than the other.

@DavidN I am not a Zero Off skier but I understand since 2013 there is a River Mode option added for use to compensate for any water currents. In theory if the entire volume of water was moving uniformily the only difference would be apparent wind speed +\- speed of current. I suspect reality is that across the width of the course, the flow in the middle of the river could be different than edges, or there is complicating turbulence. Cue the experts...

Sweet set up @bananaron In only 9 days the days start getting longer! I transition to Nordic skiing - super convenient to have snow making, best grooming crew in the business and lighted trails early a.m. and late p.m. just 15 minutes from home.

@skialex “battle winter in Florida” cry me a river.