UWSkier

Watching the launch videos it seems like a massive pain compared to the way my buddies and I launch.  My trailer is usually in the water for a maximum of 30 seconds when retrieving, and about 10 seconds launching.  Can't wait for the day when the ramp is loaded with these massive things you can't see around that each take 10 mins to launch or retrieve.

I'd definitely want something like a Haloview camera setup to back this thing down onto the three-wide ramp with a 45 degree turn like we use at our most frequent public lake.

2 hours ago, Wish said:

Popped up on FB. Looks like date night. 

@Ryota -san with the pensive, model look. Not sure there's much good water to be had around Shibuya though!

Has @Slalom.Steve started a new trend?  Who's going to be the first to summit Kilimanjaro with their blank ski?

@brooks @Chris Rossi @TFIN for visibility lol

On 11/6/2023 at 7:15 AM, aupatking said:

I agree with @Hortonon the “possibly boots back 1/8”. As soon as I went back with the boots, the world got better. @ColeGiacopuzzi I took my Reflex block screws to the bench grinder and then put them in backwards. 
 

 

Another fresh entry into the nearly limitless "why didn't I think of that" database

12 hours ago, jjackkrash said:

It seems like the GM Gas 6.6 used in the HD trucks would be another viable option.  It looks like a workhorse that runs on 87.

 

https://poweredsolutions.gm.com/products/l8t-engine/

If people love the 6.2 for its torque and response, they'll REALLY love the 6.6L.  It's basically a punched out 6.2 but with an iron block like the 6.0L so weight is probably similar.  I really like that engine in my Silverado HD!

Probably a better wake boat engine though with its much stronger internals.

On 10/17/2023 at 10:46 PM, jhughes said:

Side note- crazy to see the full length rear locker! That was such a trend for so long but you never see it anymore.

I know in much of the country they get moldy and stinky if you use them for ski gear, but not in AZ!  I'd miss my locker dearly if I got a newer boat.

with how much training Nate does in crap conditions, that final was a shocker.  Great wins for both Freddie and Jaimee!  Those fingernails will grow back.

Been on Vapor boots since 2016 after 15 years on Animals and no way could I go back.  My feet used to cramp in those things on longer sets.  The vapors are like comfy slippers.

They fit a tad small for the size, but once you heat mold the liners, I find they're dead on.  I wear size 14 shoes and before molding the toe area, my toes were scrunched up.  Now they're just right.

1 hour ago, BraceMaker said:

Its where you wonder does it make more sense to have the thing sit level constantly with some sort of gimbal mount or to correct prior to the shot.

I would think due to the way this is mounted in the sightline that you really don't want it to be bulky so you would probably want to use some sort of linear actuator to position the shot as opposed to having a large mechanism but then again if you redesign it to work off a bimini or a tower you'd reduce some of the constraints.  Also from my life I think I'd rather have a unit mounted into a Bimini than on my window no offense to the design but I really don't think having that on my boat is going to fly when we pass the sheriff but that could easily be tucked up into the bimini frame.

On my boat the windshield is far more stout and sturdy than the bimini frame.  The off-course is a well-built (not lightweight) piece of kit.  You could do something with linear actuators and Arduino, but it'd need to be able to react quickly and probably unnecessarily complex.  I thought of a gimbal mount also but you'd need to account for wind resistance at 34MPH and effects on position, crosswinds, etc.

I do like the idea of a tower mount, but you'd need to relocate the controls closer.  A tower mount would have the system mounted higher, meaning a leaned-over shot wouldn't go out nearly as wide since it's shooting more "downward" than "outward."

I've heard the slalom mode in Wake edition S is a great pull, but if you're course skiing, you want timing, which means 3 event.

2 hours ago, Windsurfnut said:

That looks like a good solution.  Ours has been very difficult to keep consistent distances.  Whether its boat levelling or scrambling and pulling the boat, it seems to always fire a ball or 2 too far in a set.  The narrow SN196 isn't helping, it seems particularly sensitive to weight placement.  

Short of a gyro, there's no real solution to the "rocking the boat" problem other than to be a smoother, better skier. 🤪

Does the boat have PerfectPass?  I would assume yes.  If so, you can use that to track the hours.  If that gauge is not aligned to what the boat hour meter says, write down ALL your background PP settings, factory reset your PP, and walk through the setup again.  It will ask you current engine hours as part of the setup workflow.  Then go punch in your background settings again.  You may need to remap the courses, but it's a good idea to remap those every couple months anyways.

To see hours on PP Stargazer 9+, press menu and up arrow together, go to System info, then Menu to hit page 2 of system info.  Hours should be there.

3 hours ago, Mastercrafter said:

If somebody could mount this to a gyroscope and make it auto-level....

yeah, already been researching that for a while.  :)

After using it for 2 years though, that juice isn't really worth the squeeze IMO.  It would have to be able to react and settle in quickly if you have a spike on the boat at shortline.

We just use a 50 lb weight.  If you're running late and that next ball splash is way out wide, don't try to round it, just use it to tell you when to turn and go inside of it to try to get back on schedule.

48 minutes ago, rawly said:

Radar + Mastercraft = The Boarding School.    I’d assume that Joel will be required to mostly train behind the Pro Star now. 🤷‍♂️ Something else is about to happen. 

gonna have to train jump somewhere

absolutely.  The splash is super obvious.  In two years of OffCourse ownership, I think I've missed seeing a splash once or twice and that was only due to a very low sun angle and blinding glare.  Complete non-issue.

Congrats to Joel!  Does Matt have a second boat slip at his dock?  🙂

Adding to the complexity further is the fact that 6.2L is a Gen5 Direct Injected engine which responds to changes in throttle inputs faster than a TBI or PFI engine.  You are correct in your guesstimation that these new engines are next to impossible to approximate with an older setup.  The mechanical nature of PP with ZBox will never be able to respond quite as quickly or as forcefully as a Gen5 ZO setup.  But you can get close-enough for all but the most hardcore skiers.  Set the KX to ++ and prop your boat down to get a torque multiplier, and you might get close.

But at some point, the only way to get the "new boat" pull is to buy a "new boat."

I'm in for a 1.183 bent also!

2 hours ago, Dano said:

DBW upgrade kits are listed on their website.  

There was a 1-2 year period in there where manufacturers were switching over to DBW but didn't support Econtrols.  The 2006 Malibus come to mind.  They had DBW throttles on those boats, but supposedly only the '07+ supports the Econtrols ECU swap and ZO.  A ZO 2006 Response LXi would be a phenomenal boat.

Rising from the ashes like its namesake Phoenix! 🙂

I heard that when I was out at Spring Mountain this past weekend.  Glad to hear the dirty bird is back in action!  Also hearing it may not ever need to close for the "Interstate" project at all.  Great for the city and great for ASU if that's the case!

Now I wonder about the drag strip and raceway...

20 hours ago, DW said:

@UWSkier - the only thing that should rub or wear on a drysuit in Arizona would be the marks from the hanger in the closet …

55/55 air/water pretty much from Dec to late Feb here 

On the issue of Camaro durability, I ski year round here in Arizona and am on year 8 with my Camaro.  It has nicks, and the original rubberized coating is GONE from the right armpit where my bicep rubs on my ski vest, but I've been spraying those spots with copious amounts of FlexSeal Spray and that seals them right up, including the 2" by 2" rubbed spot on the right armpit.

I expected to need a new suit 3 years ago, but the flexseal has let me get a few more years out of my beloved Camaro.  Now the only issue with it is the wrists and ankles just don't seal like they used to.

1 hour ago, Wish said:

Wish the 1997 196 mold was laying around for someone to do the same with. 👍

I'd LOVE to see someone find the '99-04 Sunsetter LXi molds and build those again.  I'd bet they'd sell a surprising number of those if they did what Sanger is doing.  '04 SSLXi with ZO would be an amazing family boat.  Should be able to do it around the same price point.

1 hour ago, swc5150 said:

It's confusing to me...and not trying to earn a panda here, but for real.  Are we lucky ski boats are still being made, or are there really 5 people behind me ready to pay up if I don't buy one?

I think we're lucky the manufacturers aren't using the build slots for more profitable models.  Direct drives used to be "watersports boats" that people would start out in, then maybe move into V drives as families grew, interests diversified, etc.  Now people starting out wanting a "ski boat" are buying used or bare-bones V drives to start with, and graduating to big barges.  It's also why the newer DDs seem to be more utilitarian than their predecessors.  My '01 Malibu RLX came with all the same luxury amenities as the highest-spec V drive of that year.  They still marketed it as a boat for a skiing family, kinda.  You don't see any marketing anymore with a direct drive as a boat for the family man.