buechsr

true...forgot about that. I'm not crazy in recalling that Bill was a part of it when built, though, right?

Does this mean OWC now MC, too?

Same engine, same symptom here. Crank position sensor did the trick. '08 excalibur

It's fine to get it compounded up and then maintain once every couple weeks with 303 or a spray wax to keep it easy. However, there is nothing impractical about using one of Skip's waterline covers even if you're in and out frequently. You can literally put it on in 1 minute.

If it's all sized correctly I don't understand the concern? There's cable lifts in use that pick up WAY WAY more weight than a prostar and boards. Am I misunderstanding your concern? I've got a buddy who lifts his 40 foot Yellowfin using a cable lift...thats pushing 20,000 #s rigged!

Got a Waters recently. Nice suit, and Brandon is a super guy.

From my perspective, a cheap one, IF the call from the towers were bad calls (and I've yet to see any video proving they were), then that's unfortunate, but not an injustice unless the rules were not followed. (In addition to several others depending on angle/site/configuration) IWWF Rule 8.13 d says: "When boat video is used, the boat video will be monitored on the tower by another Judge who will advise the Chief Judge if he disagrees with the event Judges decision. In which case the Chief Judge and the review Judge will again review the video file to determine which score is correct. If they both agree on a score, that will be the given score. If they disagree or agree that the video does not clearly overrule the score given by the Judges, then that score will stand." It seems apparent that the tower judges (however many there were) (at least enough to overrule BJ per Horton) called 5. Maybe its a bad call (by multiple judges), maybe not. But the video was obviously insufficient to overrule the scored 5. Unfortunate, but it's not like he got called 5 based on the (bad) video, there just wasn't enough evidence to change it to 6, it would appear, if the rule was followed. Freddie's score didn't just affect Freddie, it affected the rest of the field, particularly JT. Again, call me naive but I trust that the judges tried to do their best to make an accurate call. And yes I realize JT is obviously a Nautique skier but I still trust that panel of judges to call it as they see it. I have no opinion on whether Freddie should or shouldn't be allowed to ski this year, but I'd like to have seen him.

Link to last year's officials: https://usawaterski.org/rankings/view-tournaments_usa.asp?pvar=TourInfo&TourID=22S091&olrds=enabled&rg=6&sl=on&tr=on&ju=on&wb=&ws=&wu=&bf=&kb=&hy=&sExclude= Pretty much an allstar list of officials. Rhoni's career speaks for itself, I note an ACJ for 2021 worlds, a USAWS Distinction Award recipient, among other highly respected officials. I wasn't there, didn't see, and can't tell from video, but I have confidence that the rules were followed in light of the judges' perspectives and calls. No doubt stinks for Freddie and us as spectators, but I can't subscribe to a conspiracy. Call me naive.

While I certainly respect your opinion and perspective Mike, it's still a prestigious field, even with LCQ to fill half the spots. I can appreciate the prestige of Brooks Koepka playing in the golf Masters notwithstanding playing half of the events of the PGA tour on the LIV tour. It would appear that goal of Masters is to have the most elite field. Seems reasonable to award some spots to winners of other credible events, while saving some for who's skiing better the next May. There's ways to get auto-invite based on performances during the previous ski year, save for Moomba being current year: https://www.masterswaterski.com/news/2023-masters-water-ski-criteria

@VONMAN runs ppass on his outboard and as i recall has posted his setup/mods here.

2001 was the first year they offerred diamond hull on a Vdrive, but they did so the ensuing years of that era SV23, just got called the sunscape, which remained in the line until 2004 when it got longer and phatter. You can even find 02-04 wakesetters with the diamond hull. As for comparing that hull to a VTX, they're very similar. I had a 13 (VTX) and as I recall, an 18 (maybe a 17). The big difference in my experience was that the Vdrive ratios changed, and Malibu was running the same reduction in the "newer" VTX as they did in the bigger boats. That resulted in extraordinary RPMs, and with a big prop, it was churning a LOT of water. IT wasn't so much that the wake was bad but the propwash was significant. I had a slalom tug also at the time so I never did switch props but I recall several people on the Malibu Crew doing so with good results. Try searching for a guy on the Malibu Crew named "ahopkins (something)" who is an admin and has a VTX of that era. As to comparing the 2001 sunsetter VLX to a VTX, if you'll be doing anything other than skiing, get the VTX, hands down.

Detailing product-opinions are like...you know what. Gelcoat color has a tremendous effect on the best product-selection, in my opinion, but you've gotten great suggestions. I'd only add that a great mid-season spruce up is collinite's marine cleaner wax. If time, of course follow it up with a proper coat of wax but the cleaner wax is a great combination of enough cleaner and wax to both do the job and provide decent protection mid season. For what its worth, I just graphene ceramic coated my boat after prepping with 3M finesse-it II. Curious as to how it wears this year. Have had great results with ceramic on my cars.

@VONMAN Lawyers "want" coverage, not the opposite. This is an action of carrier underwriting. Like most things that will work themselves out, market will see a void (opportunity) and fill it.

Agreed on just cutting and replacing the tubing. Maybe the lower part as well to mufflers. 1) they're stiff as hell as they age and 2) can be broken down from heat internally such as the case with an overheated engine causing obstruction. Not saying yours has overheated of course, just that with time and prolonged heat, it's the perfect time to just do it.

bad coil wire? tried new cap yet?

Jim, I know you said you replaced cap earlier this year. However, assuming this is the flat style cap, there was a run of bad ones. I had one with inexplicable ignition behavior and at the time did not know of this defect. Internally, the caps were allowing "Cross contamination (my words)" of electricity. If you're ready to start throwing parts at it, I'd do a new cap (definitely marine....someone said earlier its the same as auto...that at definitely not the case), and also a crank position sensor which was already suggested early on. I had a no fire situation just a month ago that was CPS.

I think it's pretty clear he's talking about the barefoot wake given he specifically cites propwash. That entire thread was about SSP and barefoot wakes. But in any event, I've never ever heard anyone suggest running SSP to help the ski (presumably SLALOM) wake. What would make a more desirable barefoot wake through use of the SSP, is directly contrary to an "improved" slalom wake.

@InboardfixI put one of these in a 196 3 years ago. Running good (after I replaced the crank sensor this past weekend that left me dead on the lake lol)https://marineengines4less.com/marine-engines/new-marine-engines/new-base-marine-engines/new-5.7l-vortec-marine-base-engine-replaces-years-1996-present/

In...3 junior skiers

I'd suggest this:https://www.ski-it-again.com/php/skiitagain.php?endless=summer&topic=Search&category=Slalom&postid=64098 super easy starts, slow the boat down, rip it up. But nothing wrong with the Omni or CX as well. My fam has all 3 in the quiver.

I've bought several boats sight unseen. facetime is great for this purpose. I disagree in the value of a shop inspection. At best they're going to look at things that can be seen visually (which can be done on facetime) and check compression and maybe a leakdown test. True those might show a glaring mechanical problem, but they'd likely manifest themselves on a facetime on water demo. If the seller is honest about cosmetic flaws, to me, that builds credibility as to candor regarding mechanicals. It's a used boat, not a garage queen ferrari. Good pictures of the bilge are important. They'll be telling if it ever "sunk" on the trailer. uship will bid the transport. I would NOT recommend going with the lowest bidder. I did get somewhat burned doing that. In his defense, it was a boat in literal pieces, with the engine in the truck bed and the interior duct taped to the roof. No lie. Perhaps you want to post the boat here. A lot of eyes will give you feedback on their impressions.

fuel pressure regulator.

I want to say behind.

They never did for us. Mixture of longliners to 35.

@swbca Malibus in that relative era had damper plate issues. I know little about Mastercrafts, though both likely used the same hardware from Indmar. That said, my question was when you last changed the strut bushings to which I didn't hear an answer. In any event, if you've stethoscoped that the sound is coming from bell housing, throw a damper plate on? Perhaps we're on the same page there? Why the repower questions in addition? If you really feel now is the time to repower, my last engine came from these folks: http://marineengines4less.com/marine-engines/new-marine-engines/new-base-marine-engines/new-5.7l-vortec-marine-base-engine-replaces-years-1996-present/ It's run good for about 250 hours in a 196, save for a bad "new" distributor cap from PCM that made it such I couldn't get it to run (at first, until replaced).