Bdecker

I'm having an intermittent issue with Perfectpass triggering before the entrance gates giving wildly inaccurate times. Seems to come and go, sometimes cycling the key fixes it or just powering PP off/on. The boat has two timers and is a DBW MC (05). I suspect the smart timers and may start trying to isolate it by unplugging one at a time, but if anyone has seen this and knows a fix...

Nice idea, the issue I see would the shortening the rope. Has anyone designed one that addresses that issue? Seems like it would have to mount below the attachment point- perhaps the same concept from the bottom up with the camera mounted up to the side somehow. No way I'd use it consistently if we had to take it off at each end.

What's the benefit of the new rudder? Drove one for our August tourney. Nice boat but the tracking required significantly more input for the same skiers I pulled 2 rounds earlier with a 200. It was a dealer boat so we couldn't tune the rudder at all. I suspect that might have helped a bit.

I was about 18 behind the Dartmouth college ski team's outboard, first time in the course. Allegedly 36/15, but who knows because that pass gave me plenty of challenges when I started course skiing more regularly in my early 20's.

Just went through this with my 6 year old nephew. The barefoot boom is the way to go. Twice holding onto the boom, twice on a shortline off the boom, then back behind the boat and he was good. Actually progressed to having the skis unbolted this past weekend. My 4 year old is still on the trainers - seems he can ski forever.

I get decent exposure to ZO but ski more perfectpass. C2 for me seems to have produced the best results but I haven't played with the settings enough to be sure. Seems the fretting over ZO has significantly declined in the few events I've skied this year. It's worth dropping a perfectpass system into boats without speed control in my opinion. My old Supra ran great with it and I got another several years out of the boat for relatively short money. KX+ or ++ especially if it is carbed, but it should give you a good enough baseline to train from.

Four sets on mine so far- stock numbers, 67" and I'm 6', 175-180. I've been very inconsistent at -35 this year, although I ran a couple just before moving my bindings. One buoy short of PB. Amazed by the reduction in effort. Can still scramble. Blew the tail once but I was way late and really scrambling...it probably would have pulled me through had I not gone so far out front. Seems to have widened my margin of error on all passes just because it's quick and comfortable and cranks when you need it. The feeling is much different than my Connelly which rode so much deeper, but I was comfortable enough to go to my challenge pass on my second set on the ski. I am much more confident in it casting out which stops me from pulling too long (one of my favorite bad habits...) Couple positives in relation to my previous ski (Proph): -I'm not moving back/forth on the ski as much. I assume this is the supportive tail. -No chatter on my off-side like I was occasionally getting on the Connelly. -Driver doesn't believe it's me back there based on the lack of steering input required... -Ski pops out of the water with no effort in deep water starts- why waste energy there! The jury is still out but initial impressions are positive. First tournament sets on it this weekend.

Jody- any conversion potential in an early DBW MC? Specifically an 05TT with an MCX? ZO site specifies 07 and later.

Davemac- mine is on it's way. Will let you know what I think but if you're planning on saving the 20%- I guess you can't wait... D3 claims they'll swap if I can't dial-in.

I have it in my "online cart" trying to work up the courage to click order... Other considerations are a 9960, strada, or perhaps an HO.

I skied two sets yesterday morning, one on my 05TT and one on the 2011TT. ZO was on C1, 05 is still PP. If the boats were identical colors, I doubt I could tell the difference at 28, 32, 35.... I'm in the same boat as Razorskier1 except my wife has absolutely no interest in a newer boat! My 197 skis great and I wouldn't hestitate to buy the 2011 promo running in my neck of the woods.

I'm struggling with the choice of the Fusion or the X7. I have found memories of the X5(@36) and it seems my scores were more consistent then. The last several years have been on an F1 and now a Prophecy (both 67"). My scores have equaled those on the X5 but it seems the consistency is gone. The Fusion sounds great but the "small performance window" concerns me a little. It seems like the X7 is the safe choice but I'm looking for a breakthrough (like everyone else switching skis...). Given all of my time on Connelly's, do you expect the performance window on the Fusion to be smaller than the Prophecy? I left the X5 in search of more buoys, perhaps that is why I am having a hard time going with the X7. D3 is recommending a 66" in either ski. I'm 6', 175 occasionally running -35 @34. I'm planning to pick one and ski it a ton for 30 days and if it's not the one move on. Where should I start?

I'm planning to ski one tomorrow. Strongly considering a change to either a Strada or Fusion, perhaps an X7. If I don't take it I'll let you know where it is :)

skimech, That would be the end of tournament skiing for me! Can you imagine how long a tournament would take if you had to have multiple boat crew changes to accomodate everyone's pick. A small 2 round slalom takes most of the day as it is. Everyone in the same class is typically on the same boat, fair enough for me. It's a variable just like wind and water temp in my opinion.

@ scottchipman- I'd rather not say... but it looked like they just fiberglassed it to the floor. The 06 had a plate there so maybe they just "forgot" on this particular 2011. Haven't seen any other 2011's and they make it hard to check with a panel between the motor and pylon base.

I have skied behind 2011's with the Ilmor and MCX and had no issues that I could blame on the boat... Admittedly, I have an 05 TT as my boat so perhaps I'm used to it, but I don't feel a significant difference. Neither boat has a tower or extra weight in the nose. After watching a pylon break in one of the other "big 3" with <20 hours on it, I would still have MC on my shopping list.

Great skiing Than! Good luck at Regionals. Hope to see you next month at Dubes

18" or so. Long enough to secure to the collar of your vest in the back and reach each ear comfortably.

+1 on proplugs. I've done this many times and these work to prevent it. Seems to get less painful after you do it a dozen times... Make sure you get the ones with the leash, I had it sewn to my vest at one point.

I'm thinking of going with a Wally-sinker for a public lake install. It probably won't get much use as I have a great site for 90% of my skiing, but we often spend weekends at a larger public lake and this option would be attractive if it's reliable. Anyone using one? How's it working out?

Personally I would find a way to get on something different. I ran dual approaches for many years and had many ankle tweaks due to the total lack of release. There is no perfect option, and far less if you can't come up with several hundred bucks. On the other hand, orthos and PT aren't cheap either...

I'm in the single sole Quattros and very happy with the release. There is a bit too much monkeying around with the hardware to get the fit right on a standard Connelly ski (Proph) for a premium product, but after some grinding, filing, etc my bindings are in the right spot, pin gap right, etc and I'm happy. I got a sneak peak at Connelly's upcoming boots and they are very nice. Super supportive and less moving parts. Might move in that direction in the future.

I have the same setup (O5 MC with MCX) and I don't think you can swap the ECU for the eControls due to the change in the catalytic converter in 07, and they haven't developed one for the 05-06 motor. Perhaps that's not a deal killer, but certainly complicates matters.

I am not an interlock fan because it is a very unpredictable release. Because it is the only attachment of the binding to the ski, you're forced to err on the side of pre-release or no release. I've gone through 2 years of rehab on my left (front) ankle after a nasty crash in 09 where it released late because I used too much. I'm now the FM Quattro single plate and have been very happy so far because I don't have any fear of pre-release and thus don't need to run the spring crazy tight. You can test release them on dry land because the tension of the spring really isn't even a factor until you are out of skiing position. A bit of a pain to adjust and the mounting wasn't quite as clean as I expected for the money, but overall I have been happy and have tested the release plenty...

Definitely ski the local tournaments, INT and USA Waterski. They are a great way to meet other skiers and I'm sure you can find something that makes sense. Dubes has a 3 round in late June and late August- my home site and it skis great. Wolfeboro has 4 per summer, June to September. I don't know the INT schedule but there are a couple sites in Mass now, the site in Plymouth is very nice from what I hear. Truly private water is tough to come by, but there are a number of courses in Mass and NH.  - Brian -  skidecker at gmail dot com