baja

I can attest that @Doug is the expert on these Malibu ZO conversions. He did my 2007 Response LXI in mid June 2013. Smooth as silk.

 

As the only ZO boat on my lake along with a half dozen fantastic Nautiques with PP, my boat seems to be very popular on Fridays before tournaments.

I can confirm that Matt's directions just worked on my new iPad Air.

@hogexpress try the medium. The size chart had me at the upper range of the XL for height and chest and I had the same pajama fit and water up the legs and wrists. Exchanged for the Large and I'm snug and dry.

Plus 1 on Robby for great customer service and the BlackTec 2mm full suit for warmth, fit, and comfort. She was great to work with through a couple of exchanges while we got to the best size for me. At 6'3" and 170lbs I'm usually a Large Tall in wetsuits. The Camaro in Large was the ticket for me. Contact Robby before hand and discuss the fit and she'll get you dialed in.

 

@JohnCox said it all above so I'll just add of few other great features. Easy on and off cause it's so light and flexible. Best to have a ski partner zip it up. Almost no water gets in. Exterior skin holds NO water so no wind chill effect. Yes you can wear it between sets and not get chilled. I've let a ski partner try it first, then after his set I got right into it wet and was steamy warm before I could walk to the dock. Even better, I've taken it off, hung it up inside-out and it was completely dry in 30 minutes for my next set. Water temps have been 59-62 F and air 58-70. I expect the BlackTec 2 full suit will handle down to the low 50's.

Reserve the forum slots for the BOS co-branded promos, tournaments and webcasts. Things we might want to participate in rather than stuff someone wants to sell us. Overall seems about the right amount of screen real estate allocated to ads and they are not yet obtrusive.

I believe the determining factor is Throttle by Wire and a compatible ECM interface, which I don't think you have. I upgraded my 2007 Malibu Response LXi a few months back and it required a new Engine Control Modual (about $900) in addition to the ZO. I remember reading that the 2007 was as far back as the RLXi could be converted. Any Malibu Dealer should know the answer concerning your specific boat.

@Brewski, you may be underestimating the crazy amount of money some of the BOS addicts are willing to invest in their passion. Audiophiles can spend $20k on a turntable alone while the rest of us use an iPod as the source. Since you are already at max capacity for a one man custom shop with an Olympic Gold medal reputation that does make it hard to add another distraction. However higher demand for the ultimate experience just makes the price go up. One of my musician buddies just took delivery of his second James A. Olson guitar. These guitars are all hand made by Jim Olson and played by the likes of James Taylor etc. About 5 years ago Jim said he needed to take more time off to relax. After 9 months off, his customer base supported him doubleing the price to about $13k and reducing the number he would make annually to 36.

 

My point is that maybe there is a market for a $3000 custom made über-light waterski boot setup. You certainly have the pedigree to offer one.

It's 95 in So Cal, the water is over 80 and just a few days ago a buddy and I were having dinner with our wives at a sidewalk cafe and we were replaying an epic February 2013 boys road trip to Utah with 4 days of knee deep. Off to the lake...Winter will be here too soon!

I would set the bindings to the stock recommendation and verify that your fin is also set to stock. Then if you want you can experiment with moving the bindings forward small increments and see how he likes it. The fact he is setting PB's for skiing AND wipeouts at the accidental binding placement would have me concerned. Chasing a fin setting to optimize an accidental binding placement seems like a hard way to go. Start with what previously worked and make small adjustments to try and make it better. Then again maybe you have stumbled upon some magical top secret settings.

No wing here. At 28mph into 34mph the Senate C is smooth, balanced, and fast, without it.

I believe that 29 1/2 is the correct stock setting. I'm at 29 5/8 on the 2010 Senate Carbon with 2013 Strada boots on the Radar Sequence Plate.

I teach them to wakeboard first. I teach them good body position on their toe-side pull out which is very similar to good slalom position. Then straight to a slalom. Usually 2 wakeboard sessions on Saturday, one more board session Sunday morning and then a succesful slalom session Sunday afternoon. Mix in 5 minutes of dry land and 5 minutes of in the boat instruction at each stage. Used an HO Burner 67" for people from 100 -180 pounds and pull them up just like on the wakeboard.

I'm on a 67" 2010 Senate C and I'm at 29 5/8

I'm in for a $100 ticket if you go that way.

All good advice above. Also try the yoga "child's pose". Really works for me in stretching the lower back muscles and spine. Google it.

Sweeeeet @bogboy

Three of us at my lake have been getting regular coaching from another lake member. We are all at different stages but his advise on gates has produced results for all of us. The focus is on how you initiate a consistant balanced turn-in, not where. Start with your regular pullout, get wide of 2/4/6, now focus on being balanced over your front foot in the glide, this is key. Then to initiate the turn-in all you do is "think about touching" the inside edge of the front foot. (I think about grabbing the footbed with my toes... Your mental image my vary). This smooth initiation keeps you balanced and the front of the ski engaged. Adjust your turn-in point to suit the smooth angle you are now getting.

In my 2007 Malibu LXi we use four 35 pound weight lifting plates, rubber coated. One of them stays in the walk thru open bow which dialed in the tracking The other three fit cleanly stacked under the observer seat to simulate an observer. Tie a loop of nylon webbing thru each plate so you can pick up easy. We remove the 3 plates under the seat when we have an observer. Or leave them in to simulate the feel of a tournament ride when there are judge, rope handler and driver in the boat

@aswinter05 if you don't already have a digital caliper you can get an 8 inch from Harbor Freight for about $30. The Mapple link will teach you how to use it. Verify the fin is set to the above stock settings. That ski can easily work for you from 28mph into 34mph.

@aswinter05 if you don't already have a digital caliper you can get an 8 inch from Harbor Freight for about $30. The Mapple link will teach you how to use it. Verify the fin is set to the above stock settings. That ski can easily work for you from 28mph into 34mph.

+1 on driver technique. Very light, progressive throttle. Have the driver pretend they are pulling up a 9 year old girl on a wakeboard. Gets most larger folks up easier.

LFF for skiing, wake & skateboard, etc. Right handed writing, guitar, tennis, baseball. Strong Left eye dominance so left handed for billiards, shooting firearms, cameras.

Loves water and snow skiing and knows which season to do them in. The course holds no attraction for her... 6 turns and then drop? Excellent driver for free skiing at our family place and will drive on a man made ski lake when no one else is available. Loves family time on the water. Let's me ski a lot. Like many of us, I'm a very lucky guy.

I'll get about a dozen days on the slopes this year spread between Mammoth, Park City, and Durango. Still hitting the water a couple of times a week in sunny So Cal.

When the boat is running in water put your hand on the face of the impeller case and it should be cool to the touch... If its warm or hot, the impeller has failed. I'm with Alberto Soares and am betting it's the impeller. Easy to replace on most boats.