rfa

What @SkiJay said...LOL

Good luck with Goode...wonder if it was already like that at Oakham last weekend...have a great trip to Coble's...tell April I said hi...

We have the "mini-course" green buoys (10ft from the turn buoys)...they do double duty...learning the course and support the PVC arms

@ski6jones...yes i suspect that was the intent of the original question. Without "any math" i think the qualitative answer is "narrow course easier than longer rope". This only important at the skier's limit not on "easy passes" (if you run 35off it's not a big deal whether the rope is longer or the course narrower at 22off...). I think it's the amplitude "thing" as @than suggests. Let me "offer" two pieces of empirical data. I have the green mini-course buoys on my course...10ft short of the regular turn buoys. My wife cannot ski the full course at 15off but enjoys running the mini-course at 32off/32mph. At a more relevant level, my older son can run 28off/36 (full-course) only on a "good" day, yet can run 38off/36 on the mini-course 'all day long"...so in my son's case, running a 10ft narrow course with a 10ft shorter rope is much easier than the 10ft wider course/longer rope. I suspect this trend holds true across varying line lengths (may be not linearly), such that if given a choice, skiers of all levels would choose a narrow course over an equivalent longer line.

can't help much on the comparison (older vs. newer LXis), but i have a '08 LXi which i truly like to drive and ski behind. The torque tab on the rudder is set about 45-50 degrees for a good amount of "pull" and i feel it tracks quite well. A couple of higher ranked drivers than myself have told me that it drives and tracks great. At 5' 7" ish tall, the seat is a bit on the low side, but a very easy fix, so a non-issue IMO.

@rayn, @than, @chef23, Mystery solved! Now I know why my Cochituate friends are so much better skiers than their Quinsigamond counterpart...they just gas up and ski, while I clean the boat...LOL. Truth is I don't "clean the boat" that much (covered lift keeps it in good shape). Ok I got it...you ski better, because you are...better.

Sad beyond words...sincere condolences to the family.

watched you all weekend @TRS01...take this only as "half" a compliment...the other half was the weather in MA (lol)...great job as always! You even pronounced my compatriot junior girl Marta Simoes' name correctly. Good to see you (even if only on screen). Best regards!

@chef, I just got a titanium shorty...skied at home yesterday...truly excellent, like @ob said, warm and super flexible

Tried my new titanium shorty today in 55deg water/64deg air...Awesome!!! and let me say "thank you" to @waterskigirl...exceptional customer service!

@chef23 and @rayn, always welcome! actually will be out your way sunday... Chris has a game in Framingham...busted my drysuit and just bought a Camaro Titanium shorty...hope it'll be enough to get in the water soon...lets plan an early spring set...

@Than, here's the perspective from about 20 miles west...all water, docks/lift in, boat in tomorrow (planned), course up since Sunday...looks like way ahead of you. HOWEVER, whether you "see" -38 in May or June, it will still be INFINITELY sooner than me...greetings to you and my Cochituate friends.

same question on size. Also BlackTec or Titanium for cold, MA spring skiing (water <60). thank you.

@KM. I have the 3-plate, aluminum, screwed to the factory inserts. As you know, the front adapter plate uses a slot for the final distance adjustment. It was movement of the front Fogman release on the slot that I failed to check until too late.

2008 RLXi in MA...ACME 515...very happy...I have ZO on mine, but my "recollection" from PP was that yes, you would re-calibrate for a new prop.

@bracemaker - points well made...well taken! It is that "split-second" time when one foot may be loaded more than the other that causes Fogman injuries (other than when/if they don't release at all). Proper tension/alignment of the system is key.

Horrible photos...sorry about the injury! I'm going on 10 yrs on Fogmans and still believe they are one of the (if not "the") safest systems available. This, despite my son breaking his ankle last summer (one of the friends @chef23 mentioned) on his new Diablos (out the front, stuffed tip, released a split second too late - he was only about 115lbs and I may have had the release tension set a bit to high...). In my own case as I have mentioned previously, great record...two pre-releases (one due to releases moving on adapter plate - my bad,- and one unexplained). not bad in 10 yrs. I may have misunderstood @bracemaker point about both ankles releasing from the ski, but that is what necessarily happens w/ Fogmans. They either release or they don't...but one can NEVER release w/o the other. As for the installation and maintenance of the system, yes it must be very accurate (location and spring tension) and one must keep the releases in good operating condition. Best wishes for the injured skier. (as a Portuguese skier, let me wish the Brazilian gentleman quick recovery in his native language...rápidas melhoras!)

Same as @PatM (hi Pat, hope all's well!). Had and loved a '99 SN for 10+years. But for ZO might still have it...

I don't know @Than well enough to comment on the goatee, other than to say it was a little more "trimmed" when we talked at regionals...great skiing my friend (on the video and yes, at regionals...), and great site you have there now that I finally skied it this summer. "Hello" to all my friends at Cochituate!

I got the answer...(need to remove cover). Sorry for posting a "silly" question...it should have been pretty obvious to me...

it seems to me that the only way to remove the thermostat ('08 LXi) is to have a special socket wrench (one that would fit under the cover plate) or to remove the cover plate (which doesn't seem like a simple task)...which it it? or am I missing some other obvious approach? thanks in advance!

Called indmar back...told them i "could" do it and they sent me an instruction brief...on my way to Radio Shack...thank you all very much!!!

Thank you @skier2788 and @rodb! Yes the motor goes into a safety mode...I spoke to Indmar and they said the '08 sensors were problematic...presumably changed them in '09. they said the fix might be a bit more complex than i might be able/qualified to do. Is the "20 cent" part easy to install?

Who can save me a trip to the closest dealer (not that close)? Just put the boat (2008 LXi) in the water from winter storage and got an "Engine fault/Service Required display... i followed the manual instructions and was able to get the fault code...."Oxy heater B2 SPN 442CM 0 - voltage short or above normal rng FMI 3 OC 6". i get that it is an emissions control issue and am wondering (hoping) i can somehow diagnose/reset w/o taking to repair. cannot find any fuses that relate to the emissions system, nor have any idea what to look for...any thoughts? Much appreciated! All major operating parameters (Temps/voltage/oil pressure) are fine rui

About another half hour west of @chef23 and @than...course (public lake) is in but not enough water to get there w/ boat...lake coming up slowly this year. Spring "hello" to @chef23, @than and @Ali...nice you have already been in the water...I'm jealous