Killer

outboards are better than inboards at towing footers long line and a ton of show skiers. That is about it IMO, and I've owned and operated many outboards and have been involved in many aspects of towed watersports from show skiing, barefooting, wakeboarding - more recently 3 event skiing (slalom). Outboards or IOs were about all you'd see in Ontario Canada through the 80s and 90s on most lakes. We had one of 2 or 3 inboards on our lake with probably 500 boats back in the mid-90s. You do see a lot more wake boats now as they are the best small lake runabout for having fun on the water: slalom, wake, surf, tube, foot, etc. Last I checked pretty tough to surf an outboard and not a lot of fun to wakeboard. As popular and growth oriented show skiing is, you don't need twins to practice your swivel or barefoot runs at home... with 40k worth of motor too, defeats the purpose of a cost effective towboat. for Towed watersports an inboard powered craft is choice, unequivocally. I have been teaching my 3 yo to ski this year on the ez-ski - no way I could do it as easily with an outboard, if at all. Being able to get the kid to sit on the ez-ski on the platform and sit on the back of the boat talking to him as I let the rope out was immensely important. Impossible on an outboard, even if you had a platform around the back. my nautique is 17 years old and cost me less than 1 motor on a dynaski... pretty simple boat to maintain too.

Have used them off and on for years, mostly radar vice version. I have the new ones that feel great but the dowel would need to be cut to remove. I've removed dowel on other vice and think II prefe them out. I've hung up a few times so do believe they can cause injury of some kind, definitely not as safe as strapless.. Not certain how severe an injury and Nothing significant on my end.

Just had another set on my RS1s. Still look great and perform as expected.. Been through a few liners. As has been said I ALWAYS remove the liner and dry both shell and liner out of the sun.

Trying to teach my wife now starting with getting a feel for the boat and towing our 3yo at 5mph. Next step driving me on combis! Already I feel she will be a better driver than my main ski partner who I think has just spent too long driving Wally's and tubes and can't break some bad old habits.

@Obrienslalom ya that sure sounds like the ticket doesn't it. Panama is the spot - any skiing around there? :)

@bdecker what is the brace you wear?

I use this, which was discussed on this board years ago: https://www.homedepot.ca/en/home/p.sprayermister-25-pints-translucent-white-polyethylene-tank.1000184279.html Just have to drill out the cap very slightly for the needle insert. I keep it in the boat and can fill a buoy with water and air in a minute or so. It is the 100% best way to keep turn buoys on a floating course. No problem with them freezing in the winter either.

Pretty sure it's MCO they take the oversize on an elevator. Makes me nervous every time I watch my ski go wherever they take it... I have used soft cases in the past and I think mostly, if you can pack the ski well they work just fine, and frankly they are easier for TSA to inspect than a sportube. Ski is obviously not as well protected though, yet I don't think that is an issue MOST of the time. One of the biggest reasons I use a sport tube is because for most airlines they will only cover damage IF your gear is in a hard case.

Yes... buy the vapor binding in the appropriate size. My biggest gripe about the vector and any other "one size fits all" binding is they are often too big or too small. You lose performance and safety when the binders don't fit. Snug is better. My 2

I have a 3 y/o that is now getting comfortable swimming by himself, he's been in ski boats since he was a new-born and I think at some point this summer he will be willing to try skiing. I want to make it fun and easy for him. I've had him on dry land with one of the inflatable trainers last year and am leaning towards getting one. Have seen them used at ski schools with great success. Athough I'm wondering if it may be better just to get him a set of trainer combos or the platform ski? He's small for his age with tiny feet so I'm concerned bindings will be too big for him this year. Any other parents able to share some stories of the trainers they taught their little ones with? I think the Radar firebolts @horton got for Buford are a little big for my guy this year, but maybe not? BTW @Bruce_Butterfield thank you for providing such a detailed write up on getting kids involved in skiing. I read that a few years ago and have made it a mission to encourage my little ones to ride in the boat and get them excited about skiing, since before they could walk! https://www.ballofspray.com/home-page/tech/2598-the-future-of-our-sport-tips-to-addict-the-next-generation here is the inflatable trainer:

I dislocated my right shoulder a few years ago. I was in my early 30s. There are so many variables, tha its impossible for any of us to say you will be able to ski on XX date. It was about 3 months when I took my first ski ride and about 4-5 before I slalomed and started running hte course again. dont rush it, but you need to focus on rehab! aggressive physio will get you back to where you need to be and back on the water.

@oldjeep old ones are. Somewhere around late 80s early 90s they went to standard rotation and a reverse gear reduction drive. Which means most all GT40s are std rotation. & They appear to be available in both configurations from that site, incl. With the reman GT40 heads. The ECM really is the only obsolete part but like I said there is a remedy for that now.

@oldjeep I haven't looked recently because my 351 is nowhere near needing a new block, but 351w marine reman engines are readily available from the aftermarket. Granted, not as available as the 350. The PCM GT40 isn't really anything special, as I understand it, its essentially heads and MEFI system, so unless the heads are warped you can save them, or by chance you need new they are also available aftermarket. I think the cam is slightly different from standard 351w, but you can use a standard cam and likely notice zero difference.

@oldjeep that's utter garbage and most likely something a brand loyal person would say, so touche.. I've owned a bunch of different (older) ski boats, both with 350s and 351s, and currently a GT40 equipped Nautique. I loved my Malibu with the base 310hp carb'd 350 and never any issues with it, great boat and motor. But my bubble butt nautique with the GT40 is light years a better ski boat. Motor is rock solid and easy to work on. 351W are known as being uber reliable for obvious reasons. Prior to me owning it, this boat was not cared for as I would have liked, basically driven hard and put away wet. Yet my 17 year old GT40 still turns over 4800rpm as per spec, idles perfect and holds speed damn well. All I've done is replace the fluids. Did plugs, rotor, cap and belts this past year, all were factory original from the previous owner. A ski buddy has a 95 and similar story. @jjackkrash all of these parts are readily available from either ski boat stores like skidim or nautiqueparts and many can be cross referenced to motorcraft, ford or other aftermarket parts. The only issue I've heard is the computer program is PCM, while the ECM is ford and PCM no longer services them. The file is available and new or remanned ECMs are available to be programmed. Not a common problem, but with older boats, and a marine environment I assume we'll begin seeing more issues.

I've been using the masterline 8 loop rope. No line markings and only $50, goes to 39.5off. Same quality as their other ropes but your boat crew needs to know their colors! https://www.masterlineusa.com/collections/ropes/products/masterline-10-75m-slalom-rope-39-5off

I've been using the masterline 8 loop rope. No line markings and only $50, goes to 39.5off. Same quality as their other ropes but your boat crew needs to know their colors! https://www.masterlineusa.com/collections/ropes/products/masterline-10-75m-slalom-rope-39-5off

@6balls my thinking too. Got the boat last year with under 200hrs but it sat a lot. Spark plugs were original, as were just about every other wear item, except fluids and impeller. I assume everything else is original too so might as well go all in! @LeonL I think you likely can; I can grab the hose from muffler to exit, but would undoubtedly be easier with tank out. Good thing is it looks like the tank is not that complicated to remove

@Drago I have to keep checking. Sometimes I feel it's warm others cold. Deoends on where im checking. The factory speedo is long gone but the pilots and hose are still there which has me thinking it's a possibility. I only get water when were underway too. @Bruce_Butterfield I think I'm challenged by this fuel tank to take the muffler out too?? I assume the connection to the hull is interfered with as well by it? I need to service the rudder anyways so might as well take it all out.

Thanks @mwetskier might as well go full Monty and do steering cable too while I'm in there. Think I have a leak from either speedo pickup/tube or muffler is cracked.

I think I know what's up, but thought perhaps the ballers may have a trick? Trying to access the rudder and speedo pickups from inside my '01 196. The gas tank appears to be in the way...

@ski6jones boom, thank you!k knewthere had to be a trick to it

2001 Nautique 196. I have what appear to be all screws out of the drivers (starboard) console where the stereo and throttle are located. Can't budget it and I'm afraid to force it; Seems like the armrest is stuck where it meets the fiberglass? Any tips or tricks on getting it out and servicing the items attached to it? Pic for reference

Guess I missed this one! Ha

Thought this would be a good thread to resurrect. I have an 01 Nautique W/ GT40 and new PP9 w/zbox. Was super easy to get setup and I am seeing times at all buoys no more than .02 from perfect and +/- .02 at end course, skier, no skier and different speeds. My issue is the boat feels excessively strong and I'm having difficulty running my easier passes. I'm used to skiing new ZO boats in the course so not sure what's going on. I've tried using lighter skier weight and that has minimal effect. Anyone able to share some changes they may have made in the background settings? I'm at all factory values right now.

the late model Malibu Sportster, easily one of the best looking tow boat ever made. simple 2 color gel. http://www.tablerockboats.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/6311062_1501042578_2.jpg the non-racing stripe 200s too.