Sethro

I remember years ago worrying about cutting the combing pads on my 88 Supra. Turns out the holes for the speakers were already there, so all I had to do was cut an X in the material and had the factory install look. Perhaps Nautique combing pads are the same?

I've been told the same thing about needing to upgrade to Stargazer...which I refuse to do since a big chunk of my skiing is on a river with a variable current. Maybe when I'm forced to upgrade, they could have a paddle wheel input and the GPS input could be toggled off when the paddle wheel input is selected. I know, I'm dreaming.

I battled this last summer. I am embarrassed to say someone/somehow turned the display contrast all the way down to where in bright light it could barely be seen. I thought the display was going out like I've read about quite a bit, till one cloudy day when I could see it fairly well I thought about checking the contrast. Turned it up and works great!

Ok, so I'm watching the Moomba webcast and it's got me thinking about this again. I originally thought long ago that Zero Off maintained a speed input (say 36) and adjusted to the pull of the skier/wind/etc. to keep the speed at 36, thus resulting in a good time through the course. I was informed by those here on BOS that it actually maintains the speed by continually timing itself through the course and adjusts accordingly to result in a good time...still doesn't make complete sense to me as Zero Off also reacts to skier input in the course, but I accepted the explanation...further complicating my understanding is it maintains speed while free skiing with no timing input from it's position in a course, and only reacting to the skier/wind/etc variables. So, my question now is how it maintains 36 in a current when it approaches the course? I understand it will provide the correct time through the course, but in a strong current the speed will be noticeably off on the pullout for the gates, and suddenly adjust up or down depending on the direction one is entering the course because it doesn't have the course timing inputs...no?

It's pretty rare that I can't find a spotter, but it would sure be nice to not have to worry about it here in Illinois. Water patrol isn't an issue, but I don't like the image purposefully breaking laws portrays. Our law would have to start with "in counties with a population smaller than 5 million" like so many of our other laws read to separate Chicago. Or in this case, in counties bordering counties with populations greater than 5 million as I'm sure there isn't a whole bunch of waterskiing in Cook County itself.

@Horton you are correct...if free skiing upstream in a 2 mph current gps speed control needs to be set at 32 mph. skiing downstream gps speed control needs to be set at 36 mph to maintain the 34 mph actual speed. This gets terribly, terribly annoying when tricking on a river with a variable current. That is the main reason I have not upgraded to a gps speed control system. Around bend #1 the current is 1.2mph for several hundred yards. The narrow part just ahead is 1.7 mph for 3/4 of a mile. The wide area is 0.9 mph. It's windy around that bend so let's head back downstream. Let's see, I want to ski at 19.2 so set Zero Off at 20.9 please, but don't forget to adjust for the narrow part of the river if I get there before falling. It's easier to just fall and adjust accordingly. Yikes, I think I have more aggression regarding this topic than I realized.

Northwest IL here....I was a bit disappointed not to see -34, as I saw -33 once before about 10 years ago. We apparently set the all time lowest temp for the state at -38 a bit northwest of me.

93-97 Echelon LX would be a true walk-through open bow. The 98 Echelon LX has the step over, playpen style open bow. But @UWSkier is right, the 98 Echelon would be the only model year with the diamond hull....but diamond hull or not it wouldn't be a limiting factor in your skiing.

My next door neighbor has one of those. Thankfully, it hasn’t been out of the boathouse in a couple of decades.

That really is a great looking boat. Every time I see an all white boat like that I say how nice that scheme looks. But I’m not sure I would own one...it’s my mind playing tricks on me.

I don't think $300 is ridiculous if it really is that much better. This is coming from a guy who has a 21 year old boat, 20 year old truck, 18 year old lawn tractor, wife's car is 15 years old, 35 year old flat bottom boat, 10 year old carbon road bike...the list goes on. Everything I have is very nice and well kept, but certainly not new or even purchased new. Even most of my ski equipment is purchased used, except for the one "major" splurge for a brand spanking new 2016 Vapor. But the bindings were used or left over model years. Point being, I'm as frugal as they come, and if the value is there it'd be worth the purchase price compared to all of our other expenses in our sport and life in general.

You can order extra flotation in the front which will snug it up just a tad if you are between sizes.

Strained a bicep reaching back to open the engine cover from the driver's seat once...cost me at least 7-10 days if I remember correctly.

The interior space is not desirable in that electric SN196 that keeps being referenced...judging by the link @oldjeep posted. I wouldn't even consider it based on that alone if that's how a production boat was offered.

That flat pull was produced and “tested” way back around the early 90’s I think, and everybody hated it from what I’m told. Supposedly it kept the speed it was set and that was it. But skiers were used to hand driving, so it was quite a shock I’d imagine. The creator of that system traded the technology to Correct Craft for a newish boat....I believe it was a 1991 hull with a newer engine.

I just watched the walk through video, and noticed "River Mode" on the dash screen. Anybody know the details of how that works? I can only hope it switches the GPS speed input to a paddlewheel input, but I'd be surprised if that's the case.

Now that’s an aesthetically pleasing boat! Well done.

That's my question. Can indentations in a mold, which seem to be there for cosmetic reasons, be temporarily altered and not compromise the mold for future production. Obviously, they aren't going to build a new mold....Well I'm sure they would if the price was right.

I wonder if they'd customize by making the fiberglass a "flat" surface instead of the raised "swoops" towards the back. That kind of messes up the traditional Stars and Stripes look trying to be achieved.

That fact is truly amazing. Essentially 26 years with only minor changes since its 1993 Echelon debut.

Any updates on this idea? I'll be waiting in line when this hits the market as a reliable alternative.

I liked everything about the LXR looking at pictures. It was essentially an updated 93-97 Echelon LX. However, upon seeing one in person there was no recessed area for my feet/legs, so I was essentially sitting on the floor as the seat was even barely elevated. I'm a relatively tall guy so that was incredibly disappointing.

And perhaps get some genuine feedback before it's too late, and the first models are released with something nobody cares for....

I think they'll still sell as many of the new model (2019) as they can make, so what would it hurt to offer a "lesser" model especially if it's under a different name.

Very interesting. We don't have 55's anyway so that part I'm not worried about. Can't wait to hear more about this.