Bruce_Butterfield

@thager 1/4 to 1 inch is kind of a standard move for the Denali guys😁

Ooof!  Based on your description, a leak in the speedo tube is a plausible, if not likely culprit.  I see 3 options:

1. live with it and balance the boat with counterweights.  But be aware of the high likelyhood of mold building up in the foam. I don't see any realistic way to ever dry out the foam without pulling up the floorboards and removing the foam.

2. tear out the floor and remove the waterloged foam.  Yes, I've done this and its a bitch.  For an 82 yo gentleman, best to find a dealer, enthusastic kid or handyman to take it on.  If he doesn't, the next owner will have to.

3. Sell it and replace with another Nautique.  

I know they used outboards for jump on the pro tour in the early '90s.  Better throttle response with the 2 strokes, but I can only imagine tracking was crap.

Great idea.  All we need is a few thousand people the night before the event (maybe offer free adult beverages) and get a mascot or 2.  What is cooler than a real reindeer?!.  

Sorry I'm not poking fun and I do think it would be a great idea, but would be hard to pull off without some huge promotion and huge fan base on site.  Good out of the box thinking, but would need alot more details to be feasible.

@Wishasking for medical advice on the internet 🤦‍♂️

first step is a PT or real doc. All situations are unique. You should know that by now. 

Oh man there is lots of good stuff in the bowels of BOS.  Its too bad the bad stuff in the bowels outweighs the good.😬

Anyway there are several still valid concepts in this 10 year old thread:

1. That's a BIG Hydraulic Force Generator.  62" at 70lbs and 30 or 32mph(?) shortline.  Bigger is better especially for the kids

2. If you just let kids ski (with subtle coaching) they will naturally find effective body position.  Its a fine line between "you need to do this to get better" and just letting them ski and figure it out naturally.

3. Whatever happened to @SkiJay?  He always had solid insights.

4. RTP for anyone starting out.  

@dchristmanthose are for back when getting on the water and playing around was fun.  That's not allowed anymore.  Unless of course you have a few adult beverages beforehand:)

@swbca ok if you don't win quote of the day, WTF is a "perfect Minnesota January"?????  That should be a poll:

1. a case of burbon

2. 10 cases of burbon

3. Everyone in Minnesota freezes to death and raises the average US IQ by 10 points

3. 10 cords of firewood

4. 2 days in row of above 0F

5. MS moves back to Southern Canada and is never seen again

@6ballsif you only have 1100HP in your garage, you need to step up your game and call DW😁

I lost track of how many timeless words of wisdom about half way through.  Kris is definetely one of a kind.

@lpskierdon't you mean the 50's?

@ktm300 yes that's definitely a benefit.  I distinctly remember some 30 odd years ago reading about one of the top speed barefooters who had an intense weight training program specifically to keep all the body parts together in the event of a crash.  A short time before, one of the other top guys was killed in a high speed crash.  That was 100mph+ insanity.  So while you probably won't die doing an AirCaldwell, your recovery time will absolutely be better if your body is "stronger".

It sure makes me think about how truly awful some of today's "music" is.

Simple question, simple answer: No.

I know that is not what you were looking for, but if you want a nuanced answer, ask a better question.

I have broken in more drivers over the years than I can count.  By far the most important aspect is the new driver must understand he has alot to learn and be willing to take feedback - the good, bad and ugly.  I'm happy to work with any driver, no matter the level, who is willing to learn.  There is no substitute for time in the seat and being comfortable in that particular boat.  Some boats are just way easier to drive than others.

If the driver thinks he is doing awesome while running over boat guides and no clue what is happening on the other end of the rope, its a lost cause. Save yourself the frustration.

For the skier, you need to keep all feedback positive and encourage the proper things to do differently.  Run easy passes until the driver gets comfortable with whatever pass or how you happen to pull the boat around.,  Both of my kids started driving for me when they were 10, BUT they had spent alot of time driving tricks, then driving each other and mom for slalom before they drove for me.  I ran lots of 28s and only shortened when I thought they were ready.

If your new driver happens to be your wife, forget all of the above and just say "you are doing great dear".

@ricoWhat took you so long to get yours?  @Jody_Seal got his last week.  They both look the same to me😁

I'll take a MegaMagaTerra Krispy Creme and Cord's 4 Tequilla shot fin settings😁

Check your airline's oversize bag policy closely.  Most allow "skis" without a ridiculous length fee.  If you say they are "waterskis" you are likely to get a confused agent that will try to quickly read the policy.  If you just say its "skis", most will have seen that before and know how to handle.

If you are worried, try the skycap route with a couple of $20 bills visible in your hand.  Some skiers swear by this method.

@Horton the little heart icon doesn't show up at the bottom of any of your posts, but shows up on everyone elses.  IDK if its just me or if anyone else can see it on your posts.

Ok, @Hortonwhy can't I give a dislike or WTF to your posts?  I get that you are king, but that needs to be on the to do list for your new web guy. 

At any rate, the vast majority of ski lakes were built well after the rule change to allow skiers to drop after each pass, so that's not an issue.  The real problem is how much dirt to move and how much can the lake builder/owner afford to get his "ideal" lake.

Bonehead, or whatever his name is these days is right.  Covington is probably the best designed lake I have seen.

@Than_Boganwow. If you think turn islands are sketchy, whoever designed/ built that lake should be court martialed, shot, and sent to the Russian front 

it’s like every other design / engineering project. Done right, it’s great. Done badly and you end up on 60 minutes. or get a promotion in government services 

As a skier, I absolutely prefer islands.  Much more time to get settled and the boat is up to speed well before the pullout. 
As a lake owner, turn islands are a significant maintenance issue. You want to go overboard on erosion control or the islands will disappear and be in be on the bottom of the lake in just a few years. If you do them right when digging the lake they are absolutely the best way to go.  
Remember the size of the wakes as the boat gets up to speed and goes around the island is the biggest erosion you will face 

8 hours ago, adamhcaldwell said:

His position/timing with the boat and ZO throttle input plays a huge factor in his path through CL and the trajectory into the ball.   Disrupt that timing and you'll see him start to pull and lean much longer.

Doesn't hurt he has a surface area to weight ratio the rest of of may never have the luxury to experience.

C'mon @adamhcaldwell get off your butt and get going on the 72" C95 so the rest of can experience that luxury!😁

Very valid observation that unfortunately I don't think will translate well for the non-skinny crowd.

@MISkier you are in the 32-35 off middle zone where the 6 buoy delta is a fairly normal.  The problem I have been trying to get across is that a 6 buoy delta is NOT typical in the 38 and 39 off range - its typically 1-4 buoys.  That's where the "competitive" M3 through M6 skiers will be and will be putting themselves at a disadvantage if they don't ski 36.

My example was also for a 22 off skier not a 32 off skier like yourself.  Point being that the buoy delta changes significantly as the rope gets shorter or longer.  Also every skier will be different.

Bottom line is still that pretending there is a consistent 6 buoy difference between 34 and 36 or 32 and 34 is simply not a valid comparison and creates an apples to oranges playing field.