vtjc

LPSKIER, thanks for explaining the difference between the 2nd gen(red) Fogman’s and the Stealth’s. When I hurt myself in the Fogman’s I had them setup as safe as possible following suggestions from the H2Osmosis crew(tight boots, loose releases), since I had sprained my ankle the year earlier. I miss the feel of the hardshells.

I broke my front ankle in Fogman’s, having sprained it earlier in the season and spraining it again the season after breaking it. I haven’t skied in the Fogman’s since, the second sprain. I miss the tight feel and edge control, but I think your feet need to be able to release individually. I have switched to Radar Strada Boots which work well. I don’t think there is a perfect binding on the market, I have friends that have broken their ankles in HO Animals, Goode Powershell(too much Velcro) and rubber boots. So its picking the system that you feel most comfortable with.

I agree the availability of used bats does seem to small right now. Perhaps it’s a sign that the economy is doing better, since people are able to afford to keep their toys.

How about using the same or similar lower hull to make two different boats? I envision one model having low freeboard(MC 190 & BU Sportster)closed bow for private and small lakes. A second open bow with higher freeboard. I guess I envision something like Response and Response TXI/LXI, but where the hulls are similar to save R&D and productions costs. Perhaps the weight difference would be too great to use the same hull bottom. I am generally against open bows for safety reasons(blocking/distracting driver, falling over the front, swamping…), but I did see advantages of the high freeboard my 99 MC SportStar CB(95-97 Prostar Hull) had for keeping kids and dogs aboard. It would be great to get lighter more fuel efficient power plants, but the GM blocks are just a great value and their power levels are needed for the heavy hulls, with lots of drag being produced.

I bet we will see a 45th anniversary boat with the new hull, it worked great in '98, but it’s only a guess. I hope they make a 19’ dedicated slalom boat, that is available with a closed bow.

If I were in a position to buy now I would probably spend close to $15k on this if you could confirm its a fresh water only boat. Trailer is a bit funky with two pairs of guides, but appears workable. Wrong coast for rodltg2's, friend though. http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=261142291786 http://www.southfloridamastercraft.com/pre_owned_detail.asp?sid=08049585X12K16K2012J8I00I30JAMQ5821R0&veh=2907246

correctcraftfan.com/forsale/details.asp?ID=6683&sort=&pagenum=2 I suspect its been used in salt though. Good luck in your search.

Saw this VRBO listed in another thread, that looked good. I have no personal knowledge of it: http://www.vrbo.com/182514

Thanks for the post. I am excited to hear others feedback on Infinity’s. I have two friends that love Infinity’s, one of them wont ski behind anything else. I occasionally ski with them but rarely drive their boats. I found an ’01 ZX-1 for about ½ the money of an equivalent year/condition SN or MC that I am considering buying, but it’s on the opposite coast from me. To do a little research I drove and skied behind one of the friends boat, it drove well, better than the ’99 MC SportStar(95-97 Prostar Hull) I used to own, but didn’t track like the ’05 197 or ’07 LXI I more regularly drive. The space inside the boat is great, especially since I don’t like open bows. The drivetrain is a chevy PCM, so hopefully getting parts to maintain that wouldn’t be bad, but as others mentioned other parts could be hard to find or require fabrication. Part of the reason the price should be allot lower than one from the big three brands. For my next boat my priorities are for tracking(so my wife can drive easier), good long line wake(’15-28’ off 30-34mph), closed bow and good resale. I am not sure an Infinity fits those criteria. But getting an Infinity for less than $10k, feels better than $14-17k for a ’97-99 SN which are 15 years old, with an antique looking dash.

Malibu got an exception for the TXI to pull some tournaments prior to the formal test. Should be an issue for one of the big three. I am excited to see the new MC hull when it finally comes.

I love my Oneill Assault Hybrid. Its one of the favorite things I own, helps extend the season and make the beginning and end fun. Allot more skiable than the BFI baggy suit I had before it.

Congrats on the new boat! I am not sure where you are in Wisconsin, but I sold my boat in the fall of ’10 in Vermont. http://www.bbbtransporter.com/boatslayout.html hauled it to Michigan for the new owner. Kaz the owner of BBB who I dealt with seemed like a good guy and runs a good group. They might want to bring your boat back as a back haul, since they are based nearby you.

Any part number suggestions for grainger liners?

I used to regularly ski behind a friend’s 99 Sunsetter Lxi(until he got an 07 LXI), it skis great for a larger boat. It would be on my short list for an open bow ski boat if I desired such a thing.

I have used Goode Bouy's on public water. After a windy day often they need to be burbed but otherwise have been fine. Jamie

Wish I was in a position to buy it. It would make a great that could suit me for the next 10 yrs. The colors you have are the best for the CP IMOP. Good luck with the sale: ski-it-again.com/php/skiitagain.php?topic=Search&category=Comp_Boat&postid=20371

New one in FL: http://orlando.craigslist.org/boa/3130631926.html

Similar discussion here: planetnautique.com/vb3/showthread.php?23645-196-asking-prices

I don’t know how long you have owned the boat, but a close friend has a ’07 be bought new. It’s had its windshield replaced three times. This spring he was able to get Malibu to pay for replacing it. The dealer had done one prior under warranty, and he recently learned had done another prior to delivering the boat to him(which explained the previously unexplained week delay of delivery in ’07). Good luck, I am actually surprised given my friends issues, that I haven’t seen more chatter about this issue on the forums. Jamie

I saw somebody using this http://2x2cycles.com/products/bicycle-rack/ to carry a mtn bike the other day. Perhaps the Golf Bag mount http://2x2cycles.com/products/golf-bag-carrier/ could be re-purposed to carry a waterski.

In 2001 we had a lot of snowfall here in VT. In the spring I went to check on my ’88 MC Powerslot that had been stored in my parent’s barn, only to realize the shed roof off the barn had fallen down onto the bow of the boat. I found a replacement boat a ’98 Moomba Boomerang in FL, so a friend and I flew down and rented at Ryder truck to tow it back. We stopped for fuel and to switch drivers early one morning (2:30), some where in Georgia. We pulled out of the fuel station and waited for a green light to turn left so we could return to I95. After we cleared the intersection a car following us got hit by somebody running the light from the other direction. We stopped to ensure everybody was okay and the boat didn’t get hit. I left my business card with the Asian American gentleman who got hit, his English wasn’t very strong. Almost a year later I got a call from his attorney, apparently the guy who hit him blamed it on the guy who had followed us through the green light, fortunately we where easily able to straighten things out over the phone. The ’98 Moomba was a great fun boat, which was later replaced by a ’99 MC SportStar, which my brother towed north from FL. He got a flat on the trailer on that trip, so along the way be bought a spare inroute. Unfortunately the loose wheel tipped over in the truck and locked it while he was getting fuel, locking the keys in the truck. I am currently without a boat and hope to be looking for a CC 196, once our new house is complete.

I ski with a friend with an 05 MC 197 with the 310hp w 1:1 trans, its the slowest boat on the lake out hole, I would recommend the PowerSlot or larger motor as others recommended above. The 197/X7 hull is fairly heavy for a ski boat with a fair amount of drag. I had the 310hp w 1:1 trans in my '99 MC CB SportStar(95-97 ProStar Hull) and it was a very strong boat.

I skied Saturday in my O'Neill Assault air was in the 60's and the water still had some ice on it. I think its the best skiing suit available. I loaned it to a friend for when he skied and now he wants one. Jamie

Most of the ice went out on Lake Iroquois in Vermont Friday; we skied Saturday afternoon in excellent conditions despite the southern still having a bit of ice/slush. We have been experience an week of record breaking weather with temps in 60-70s, maybe 80 tomorrow.

Those Sunsetter LXI’s are hard to beat for space and ski ability. I used to ski behind a friends 99. I agree with others and will never own an open bow boat. But if you want a larger $10-20k ski boat those Sunsetter’s or a versatile MC 205 are hard to beat IMOP. Jamie