jhughes

It might be best to approach this from the perspective of: "What are we expecting when we invest in a new ski?" I'm curious so let's hear it!

At the extreme end of that expectation, imagine that we are expecting that a ski simply always makes it to the end of the course and we never fall on it no matter what. Put it on, tell the driver any speed and rope length, and you'll always run the pass no matter what. Is that what we are going toward with ski technology? If so, what fun would that be, right?

Since that's a fairly unrealistic expectation, here is what I look for in a ski, 34mph mid-35 skier ATM:

1. Does not want to kill me, aka a "non-homicidal ski". If I'm in a very poor position out of a turn, I should probably fall or be able to re-point. If the ski instead wants to keep going with me on it in a lean lock with no recourse, that is not something I actually want to experience. 

2. While adhering to rule #1, the ski will turn, with me on it and in a recoverable, re-pointable position if needed, (particularly onside where I'm most likely to approach the buoy more separated and directly), with a WIDE array of pre-turn antics, alignment, and positions.

That's really it. It's a "game improvement iron" expectation in golf-terms. Most of the skis I've tried have satisfied requirement #1 lately, and the extent to which they do #2 without doing #1 has been what makes them better or worse particularly onside. For example the XTR team is bonkers onside. I like that. More than previous ski. It wins, that's a worthwhile upgrade for me. The rest of the course feels pretty similar to a lot of skis- gate, offside, etc.

If you look at any submarine or ship, they all kinda have to look like a submarine or ship. To some degree, we are probably reaching a point where a slalom ski is going to look like a slalom ski and do slalom ski things across the board just due to physics and material science.

No comparison between the 91-94 MC and the 97-01 SN. Use the SN. The SN drives, tracks, and keeps spray down like a modern-ish boat, the MC does not.

I'd be worried about the interior condition with that many hours and at that age. More expensive than an engine potentially.

The trailer, additionally, is not a small point. Even trying to order and then receive a trailer is a complete PITA and they are surprisingly expensive. My replacement trailer for our 2000 at dealer cost was still $4500 plus transportation (another $1000) in 2016- and again you would think I was ordering a space shuttle for how much  of a hassle it was.

1.5 Blacktec is all I use into water temps in the 50's. Alien technology, none of my other wetsuits get used anymore.

Been on the CC and Team at that level and they are both absolutely great skis, can't go wrong. CC would be available used, Team is the current XTR model. I believe you will benefit from a top-level ski at this point vs. lower price point skis.

What a fun tournament to watch, incredible performances. For Freddie to consistently knock out 41 like that under pressure from Mr. Smith, who was at the top of his game, was amazing. Great job FW!

Amazing scores, Nate is back for sure. Smoked that 39 and the 41, walk in the park. 

You definitely start the move out from too far out, most people start in the left spray of the wake so that you're able to take power from the boat right off the bat. Lots of good stuff going on though, nice!

@Horton The last time I had that exact feeling about a ski (albeit with less skill than now, but still) was the 2016 Vapor, that was really something  different and I'll never forget how cool that felt on the first ride. Amazing to hear they have caught lightning in a bottle again! Very interesting...

I still see the original 2018-era NRG at tournaments to this day. I've never seen a Neo (first gen) in the wild. I've seen many in stock, unsold. My hunch is it was not a hot seller and not for everyone.

Additionally- I've been in that position where I'm making a ski buying decision because the ski is on closeout and I'd caution against that approach. Been burned by that in the past. Though tempting, the price of the ski is should not be what makes it the ski for you. For how much we spend on this sport it's worth it to find the right ski for you regardless of cost (within reason of course but not the primary factor, is what I'm saying here). Otherwise we buy the tempting discount ski then back into trying to make it work for us which can be a waste of time.

Agreed, this was a great one.

@coach3TXI is about 3650 at 34.2

She had to have safetied 5 specifically to seal the WR. Would have sucked to fall at 5, big time! Amazing feat after that full re-point at 1!

Ski boat will be way better. You have the swim platform to work/troubleshoot and no engine in the way back there at the transom. The spool of rope sits perfectly on the engine box.

Deploy with the wind, retrieve against the wind (if there is wind). Driver not even required for retrieval as you pull yourself along with the rope anyway.

In between each rope diamond, I prep each arm by putting the 3 sections across the gunwhale, unclipping the buoy lines, clipping on buoys, while they are still not telescoped out. Then when the rope diamond comes out of the spool, put that on the center section, then extend the outer section (with turn ball on it already), connect to middle section, extend that, connect to boat lane section, and then extend that. Basically telescope, connect, telescope, connect, telescope. Drop in, start staging the next arm.

20 minute process once you get the hang of it.

If you get on the back of the ski somewhat often, as I occasionally do out of offside on my toughest passes, the overlays will tear on the front within a couple months. In my experience it's inevitable. A leather punch and zip ties are a permanent fix at least for the binding, maybe not for my technique!

This is a bit of a weak point where you have two different materials joined with tight stitching intervals, in rubber no less. 

This is a sport where hearing the right words for you, those words that cause a lightbulb to turn on, is key. Each Spraymakers episode is doing a great job of this. There are really only a couple of fundamental concepts that people don't get, or refuse to get, and they say the same thing in very different ways in each episode. Front foot is the same as balance, not over pulling, alignment, efficiency, pre turn, handle control, line tension, etc etc etc. just said a different way. Great job by these guys, this is the best material out there right now.

53 minutes ago, wawaskr said:

Great broadcast.  My only gripe was the "you know" phrase, like some people use the term "um" or "ah".  If you were participating in a drinking game, and took a drink every time you heard "you know", you would have been blacked before the end of the first round.

Ha I said the same thing in the other thread. Other than that, awesome show!

Great webcast. For Kevin and Brian my only feedback is lots of "you know" as filler, this got better in day two. Day one was like you know you know you know you know you know you know you know you know you know you know!

Altogether an awesome production, we really enjoyed it at our house!

@tru-jack in general it drives really well IMO, for a TXi. It was a good day at the factory for sure. The general feel of the boat is good. I can feel the skier in my fingertips, it's got good mojo. Hard to quantify. 

Of all the things a boat can do, tracking is what the 17+ Malibu does the worst of all. We call them the "bars of soap". I drive one nearly every day. This is not a slam, it's just the patent truth on this matter.

I don't know what kinda crazy 200 these guys are driving but that is what the 200 does the best of all so that's a shocking take IMO.

PM'd. Our 23 in IL is a great boat this particular year and a great deal. 

@Stevie Boy I don't think you understand: there isn't a traditional packing gland seal in this year of boat. It's a dripless seal (a graphite lip seal rides on the prop shaft and is cooled with engine water) that needs to either be totally replaced, or the seal portion replaced, as Jody Seal included the part numbers for. This is a fairly major repair for most people.

Dripless from the factory. OJ is the supplier. They work either 100% or 0%. Will require dropping the rudder and pulling the shaft.

Maybe just sister on some double capped sections of PVC as floats, maybe 24" long with big zip ties, on the middle section.  Assuming this is in the water semi permanently at least. This is how the floatation is done on the permanent courses.

Unknowingly ran a perfect experiment this morning. Malibu 5.3DI. Tried B1 then instantly forgot I was trying it the minute I hopped in the water. Whole set was a shit show and I didn't know why. Particularly gates, move out and glide. I thought I forgot how to ski. Every gate was different.
 

Climbed in and the driver reminded me- B1. Flipped it to B2 and skied a normal buoy count. Particularly the gate felt right. Amazing difference.