mtnskiskate

Thanks guys, great info. I will start with the thin liners and go to #12s if needed.

Anyone out there with an 11 wide foot riding Reflex 5.0? I measured my foot (11.25 inches) and ordered #10s. They sent an Intuition Aqua and it is way too tight ( as is the rear hybrid boot). I can't see a thin liner working either. Am I going to be swimming in a #12? Thanks

@wish Can you elaborate on driving thru Fla with a boat in tow?

This is GOOD info. Thanks everyone.

Thanks everyone, I will proceed.

Hopefully you have answered my question. I am all for saving the planet and keeping my lake clean. I have searched for any info (positive or negative) on the cat engines and just haven't found anything. Thought maybe the guys with the 200s would chime in and say after x amount of hrs, no problems. Certainly wasn't trying to belittle technology, just looking for input.

Thanks for the reply. I am mostly concerned about the longevity and complexity of a cat engine. I started with an 81 nautique (carb 351) and worked my way through gt40s and the ex 330. All straight manifolds and very reliable. Just wondering........

Anyone have thoughts on the 343 EX with the Catanium option? Problems, longevity, advantages. Totaled boat forces upgrade. I assume the base block is identical to my 330 excaliber, just not sure about the newer technology. Thanks

Our country has changed due to social media and the pressure to have the coolest stuff even if it is beyond your economic reach. Kids don't want junky boats that are falling apart. Social media and advertising don't show anything other than $100k wakeboats. My first boat was a tri hull Orlando Clipper with a 135 hp Johnson. We drilled a hole in the transom and mounted a 1" piece of galvanized rigid for a pylon. We watched ESPN Hot Summer Nights every week. We made a homemade slalom course with 2 liter coke bottles (painted orange) and concrete blocks. We had NO money but we improvised. This would never be allowed today on a public lake nor would anyone attempt it for fear of embarrassment from their peers. Also, we knew that it was going to be a long road to shortline in those days but we had the time, the focus and the drive. We all watched as wakeboarding took over because it was EASY. Now we have wakesurfers with 12 people in the boat, we can have you up and going in 5 minutes and even if you can't let go of the rope, you still get your trophy and post it on social media ( I am at 56 still an avid East Coast surfer and the line up out there is getting older because like 3 event, surfing is HARD and takes a long time to master). Maybe the lack of attention span and the fear of sucking at something for a long time has pushed our sport into the shadows. Add in the public lake problem, the cost of a decent used boat ($20k), a partner who is willing to put in long hours between driving and skiing and you have a very limited amount of young people to recruit. Look around at the young people on the starting dock. They are all your kids and grandkids and our skiing population is pretty minor. We had trouble getting people to watch in the 80s and there was a whole lot less to compete with then. Someone wrote that it's a country club sport and they hit it right on the head. A basketball, a pair of sneakers and a hoop if you're on the lower end of the spectrum. Fellas, don't look for a big resurgence, just be happy and go ski.

Will stay with the closed bow, thanks. Anyone looking to sell a 196? Would prefer a hydrogate model as our 02 has (guess I should say had) a crappy trick wake. My daughter and I have an occasional trick battle just for fun. Thanks.

Our 02 196 (closed bow) got blasted by a tree during a recent storm. Insurance is going to total it. We are predominantly course skiers (28 to 35 at 34mph). Would a sport nautique be way different than the closed bow ski? Probably can't afford a 200 so another 196 is my thought. Thanks.

Nautique ski vs sport wake

15 minutes on a gt40 impeller (taking your time, four bolts). Whatever.

Just curious if anyone is skiing 38 and beyond with older boats (96 and older) and still content. I'm mid 38 on a good day. Will the BOAT actually improve the buoy count? Don't have access to anything remotely new. Thanks for all the interesting and informative reading.

Matt P, Where do you ski. I live up in the mountains of N GA.