Bdecker

I’ve got 5 sets on @jercrane ‘s C75 (medium/ standard flex). He was kind enough to let me try it while he heals up. Currently at 28.5 on the front boot, 6.790, 2.50, and .90 dft. On my 2020 vapor I was pretty darn consistent through 35 last couple weeks, but getting nowhere at 38 (1.5-2)... Interestingly enough, I had removed the Denali fin from my Vapor in favor of the stock blade in August and found my consistency improve with a more predictable on-side turn with no loss in top end.

 

The story on the C75 really isn’t much different so far in terms of where I am getting practice score-wise. What is interesting is I’m running passes @35 often in spite of some massive mistakes, maybe associated with still getting comfortable on the ski. This thing turns like crazy. I just can’t tell whether it raises the bar for me or if the same attributes that get me out of trouble so quickly are putting me there in the first place. I plan to keep playing with it until it gets too cold or the water gets too low. Should I go somewhere else settings wise?

@"Keith Menard" Count me in! I’ve got lots of reasons to take the plunge. Might have some contacts to get some coverage too.

@lpskier - I got some numbers from Corey that are working great on my 2020 67”. Very similar to @bigtex2011 . I’d assume you change dft slightly and obviously the boot position.

Has anyone transitioned from the reflex r-style to an HRT? Is it the same just without the complexity of another liner? I just replaced my r-style rear liner, so I’m in no rush to change anything but curious if the HRT is a better mousetrap...

Thankfully Goose survived this encounter

 

MCX? Powerslot? Single or dual puck ZO? Would love to hear about the ZO install. I’ve been told it was a non-starter on 05-06 MCX.

@jordan - thanks for sharing. I wonder if/how it works when the wind is going. Looks really cool but I think I’m leaning towards another canopy.

I’ve been spoiled with a lift canopy for many years but it looks like I need a new solution. Has anyone had experience with the Sunstream automatic cover or something similar?

https://sunstreamcorp.com/swiftshield/

@jjackkrash - I know but it really comes out the same way. They are forcing you to pay to transfer so it might as well be an extended warranty as it is not included in the price of the boat. Seems crazy high for a transfer fee. I know all MFG’s do it but it seems to be a very shady piece of warranty fine print...

So $2k to avoid the chance of having a $4-6k repair in a defined 3 year period? The $2k would stay in my pocket, but I tend to skip extended warranties as a general rule. I’ve probably lost out on 2 of 10+ vehicles I’ve bought new. 2011 BMW 335d and 2016 Yukon Denali XL were the two losers, but over 25 years of buying boats and cars I’m way ahead. Those programs are incredibly profitable (extended warranty, Certified Pre-owner, etc). I’d role the dice.

@Bh0pp - very cool design, love the integrated bench. Perhaps add an umbrella holder so we can keep these carbon skis out of the sun?

Update, I did the impeller replacement yesterday in between sets on my buddy’s SN2020. It is much easier on the 2016 to access the pump from the driver’s side. I had to pull the front and side kick plates and the footrest, but in total it was only 10 screws. The pump in our boat is next to the driver’s left foot, so the “up and around” strategy I suggested earlier would have been brutal.

Our 2016 CarbonPro feels like it’s ready for a fresh steering cable (860 hours). I can’t find any useful markings on the original one from the helm side. It might be marked down by the rudder attachment point. Has anyone done one and have the part #? Hoping to just pull the motor box and rear floor once when I replace it. Thanks in advance!

Clearly that thing drives sweet. Can’t wait to try one next month. @horton - was this test ride in Alaska or something? Long sleeve heater top in July? Nice skiing too

@lkb yes it is up on the driver’s side. I reached out to Paul Crawford and he suggested crawling up and around from the observer’s side. If only I could get my 11 year old trained on the fix!

Love the ballast tank. Best feature that is too rare in ski boats. Ours needs a new impeller at 840 hours and I need to take a few yoga classes before crawling up there to replace.

I have an 05 and I think it skis great. Never had any wake complaints, and my kids who ski/skied at slower speeds don’t hold back. Our other boat is a carbon pro, so they are used to some incredible wakes. That said, I would strongly recommend a power slot and mcx, and I would doubt someone would order that config and cheap out on perfectpass. Mine was a tournament team boat and I’ve upgraded it to the latest perfect pass with zbox.

@Horton, the only problem with my strategy is following through on the refinance. I’ve made the mistake of paying Ford Motor Credit twice already.

@VONMAN i did a top end rebuilt on my 2016 6.2 at 70k miles because AFM malfunctioned, not to mention a lousy transmission, leaky radiator, etc... rolling my dice on the ecoboost this time.

@Horton - good luck, both are very nice vehicles. When we bought the Ford our best deal was actually to take the cash back in lieu of 0%, and their higher APR. You can then refinance that through a credit union a couple months out. Navy federal is currently 1.99-2.39 I think.

My wife loves our Expedition Max. I fear she’ll start commuting in it(120 mile round trip) if that ever becomes a thing again.

@BraceMaker - this post is timely as I am about to finally address this issue in my 05 Mastercraft. If I update the ground as you describe, does this save me from needing to splice into the perfectpass harness? I have been very hesitant to splice in as it just seems to be asking for trouble.

I love the sound! I put 1200 hours on my 89 too. Beautiful boat!

Brand loyalty aside, if you are going Ford or GM, buy the Yukon xl, suburban, expedition max, navigator L vs their shorter siblings. I made that mistake on our first Yukon (06). That had a reliable 6L and a 4spd auto that would’ve run forever if we didn’t outgrow it with 2 kids and two dogs. The Mercedes GL was the only other option we could find to possibly fit a dog behind the 3rd row, and that would’ve been extremely tight.

I’ve recently moved from a 2016 Yukon Denali XL (6.2) to an Ecoboost Expedition Max 3.5L. In fairness, the Expedition is reasonably new in the cycle whereas the Yukons are getting refreshed this year. That said, I prefer the Ford over the GMC in just about every possible way so far.

 

We had significant 6.2 issues at 70k miles (cylinder deactivation malfunction causing a top-end rebuild), the 8 spd transmission shifted hard from early days (I found out after warranty that GMC filled them with lousy fluid with high water content), the radiator needed replacing in under 4 years... the list goes on.

 

Given Covid we have pretty low miles on the Ford, but the ride and driving feel is vastly superior so far. The interior also has a much more solid, high quality feel as well. We have the 3.5 in the 400hp tune, but not the heavy duty tow package, and it handles a ski boat just fine (6k limit). If I had ordered it vs taking one off the lot, I would’ve gotten the tow package for the beefier 3.73 axle and I think an 8k limit.

@roger - I’m curious if you noticed any impact of the 4th fin around turn islands or settling at the end of the course? Does the boat still turn sharply?

I have run more with the r-style. Hard to say that it is because of the r-style, but I do believe it has allowed me to get more consistently up on my front foot.