vtjc

@UWSkier I would expect a 2009 196 to have Zero Off, not Perfect Pass. 

I may have this problem with my 2008 in about 170 engine hours. 

I agree with some debate about the effectiveness and potential harm from increased surface area(neck). I also understand the majority of helmets have been designed over the decades to prevent skull fracture vs reducing rotational or impact forces. The latter two are needed for concussion prevention. However, helmets seem ubiquitous in wakeboarding and jumping. Two years ago, I cut my cheek on my ski in a forward fall.   

At this point, I can't even find one that fits appropriately to try it out. I use Giro XXL helmets with MIPS for alpine skiing and cycling. 

I am currently recovering from a concussion; this wasn’t suffered waterskiing, but it is keeping me from skiing. I have a prior TBI and need to be careful. Previously I looked for a helmet to ski in but couldn’t find one large enough.

Is anybody using a helmet while course skiing? Does anybody know of an extra-large that will accommodate a 64+cm head circumference? 

Yes, I would buy a high-hour late model boat for the right price with documented maintenance. 

I believe MasterCraft has a different warranty for commercial use vs private use.  

I got exceptional service from PCM for my fifteen-year-old boat and engine. They replied promptly to my inquiry from their website and answered my question on the phone. More importantly, they got my ECM Thursday morning, updated it, and returned it to UPS that afternoon. From diagnosis to repair, I was back in the water in a week.  

This is a picture showing the hole drilled for the new ECI puck.

Pic of the new puck installed before removing the old antenna mount. 

I complete the dual to single puck upgrade on my 08 CC 196 this spring. I used a Bosch 1” Diamond Hole saw with a centering bit to enlarge the original hole for the wiring to one of the dual pucks.

Freddy Krueger has some tutorials for the ECI puck install, some MC specific information but it should be helpful. Good luck with your project.

https://www.boschtools.com/us/en/boschtools-ocs/diamond-hole-saws-hdg1-34914-p/

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JuER3DoPOtk

My original RGC https://rgcmarine.com/ Sunbrella canopy failed late in 2019 after 15+ years of use. I got a quote then from the RGC dealer in fall 2019 $3,315.00 for Sunbrella, and $2,755.00 for Vinyl.

In 2021 I purchased a replacement canopy in vinyl SR18 from https://rush-co.com/ boat canopy division https://abc-canopies.com/. They provided excellent customer service, ensuring the correct size and fabric selection. In 2021 the replacement (21’x9') canopy was $761. I couldn’t justify 3.5 times the price for an OEM Vinyl or 4+ times the price for Sunbrella. I agree the vinyl is heavier to move and install than the Sunbrella.

3’ mesh sides would have been $550 more from Rush-CO.  @thager thanks for the suggestion of tennis court privacy mesh for the sides, just need to find them in 21’ and 9’ lengths. 

Original worn Sunbrella 

New vinyl, first day installed, still needed to complete bungee attachments to remove wrinkles. 

I do all my own seasonal and tune up work. It nice to be able to winterize on my own schedule. 
 

I feel fortunate to have a great local independent mechanic nearby, he helped with one thing over 4.5 years of ownership of my 08 196. 

Congratulations on getting an 07 196 which you can easily install Zero Off into. It may not be necessary for your open water skiing, but the system is more reliable than Perfect Pass and most of the cost would be recouped on resale.

This may be a bit perfectionist but I would caution against connecting the hot water outlet from the block directly to the cold water intake on the water pump, bypassing the heater core. You would be creating a loop to bring hot water into the cold side of the system. I have put heat into 3 of my four ski boats and really enjoy it. The heater cores are fairly durable if winterized properly, they are easy to replace and don’t cost too much once you know the automotive heater core part number. If you want to take the heater out of circulation I would source plugs for the block outlet and pump inlet. I agree with earlier comments it is a real pain to run the water hoses from the under bow area to the engine bay in a 196, so leave those in place if you disconnect the heater.

This imagehttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20171001/18850370b12d9aeb98deaeeb64f536da.jpgFrom this winterization thread https://www.planetnautique.com/vb5/forum/nautique-topics/maintenance-technical-discussion/539524-step-by-step-winterization-of-pcm-343 shows where the hot water is drawn out of the 5.7L Vortec block. You should be able to remove the brass T fitting and install the black plug into the head of the engine. The intake is on the block-mounted water circulation pump.

I use 50 lbs under observer of my 196. Probably could use a little more.I have an old plastic gas tank filled with old wheel weights.

Odin also helps level the boat and spot when my wife drives solo.

I bought one boat sight unseen and have sold one boat sight unseen. Another I negotiated a deal and flew long distances to inspect and towed the boat home. Before buying my current boat I drove over 12 hours one way to check out a different boat at a dealer for another brand. It had been miss represented, with nearly double the reported hours, undisclosed gelcoat damage, and a cracked floor. I am grateful I drove to inspect that boat before buying it at a distance and having it shipped. After a long time of searching, I was able to find my current boat in mint condition in a neighboring state. I won't buy another boat without seeing it myself. Bringing to a dealer/mechanic for inspection should be agreeable to any seller.

Beautiful boat. Good luck with the sale and search for a replacement.

@BraceMaker my 99 SportStar closed bow and a friends 98 both had three tracking fins. With just a driver tracking was very bad, having a spotter or weight helped. That hull has a great wake for slalom, but doesn’t track like a MC 197 or a CC 196.

"The 1995-1997 ProStar 190 hull proved to be so versatile it remained in production for eight consecutive years (1995-2002) under five separate model names – ProStar 190, 19 Skier, SportStar 19, ProStar 195, and X-5."

https://mastercraft-boats.com/teamtalk/showthread.php?s=2cd2e2c70e63626e2601460854d559e5&p=587690

I had a 99 SportStar, great wake, lacked in tracking.

I would look for a wood-free boat with EFI prioritizing condition and maintenance history.

93+ Nautigue are wood free, some are carb others are EFI with GT40 preferred by many

94+ MasterCraft is EFI, 93 LT1 also EFI, 84+ MC are wood free

99+ MasterCraft 5.7L aka Predator is Chevy Vortec with TBI

It seems the 97-01 Ski Nautique TSC with GT40s are around $15k again.

I had a 99 MC SportStar which uses the 95-97 Prostar Hull with a simpler interior with the 5.7L. Great power and wake, tracking wasn’t great.

WaterSki Mag 5 used boats

https://boatingmag.com/boat-reviews/2010/06/10/5-standout-used-ski-boats/

The brand-specific forums have some more info such as this history of the Prostar: https://teamtalk.mastercraft.com/forum/general-mastercraft-topics/general-discussion/28871-mastercraft-skier-prostar-prostar-190-a-history-1968-2009

Enjoy your trip east. I am up in Northwestern Vermont.

The Google Earth file maybe another resource for planning our route. https://www.ballofspray.com/home-page/google-earth

Congratulations on the new Prostar.

I agree map the course, boats always feel better after doing that.