markn

I do use the + setting. Without it, I always get a 7:15 split, with it a 7:13. I am 185 lb. 34 mph skier.

If you go to Skiitagain and find an ad from Susi in Spartansburg, NC, she has numerous older but new skis for sale. We picked up a pink Radar Strada for my wife and it is a great ski for a great price.

My open water course is at least 300 feet off shore and ranges in depth from 12-17 feet...and we do not have 55 meter buoys. (never use them as a point of reference) Several people have skied the course and they do find it more difficult. Some because of lack of 55's, but most just find the course more challenging having skied primarily on small, private ski sites. Perhaps it is easier for an open lake skier to ski at a private site, than for a private site skier going to open water. MWN

Is this a "charitable contribution" or an investment opportunity with potential ROI?

Run C2+. With it, I get a 7:12 2 ball. On C2, I get a 7:14 or sometimes 7:15. I am 34 mph skier @ 185 lbs.

Was extraordinarily lucky at my first Nationals in 2004. Ran 2 @ 39 for second place in M4. Have only done one other Nationals and missed my 35. Best of luck to you. Ski and have fun.

Jody Seal (Florida Inboards) converted my 2004 several years ago. Still works perfectly. If you have a 196 Limited, the cost is higher. The Ski 196 is a less expensive conversion. The $4-5K estimate looks realistic depending on what 196 you have. Also, you can recoup some of the conversion cost by selling the old PP. MWN

Head over to Clermont and grab some sets at Swiss Ski School. Beny is going to Moomba, but Vincent or Patrice will be there.

Found a 2013, 66 inch Radar Strada (new display model) on Ski-it-again for a great price for my wife. No course skiing, but she loves it. Easy, forgiving and more ski than she will ever need. I slapped on my binders and after one practice pass, ran 28, 32, 35. I was shocked at how it generated speed and was stable in the turns. Very versatile ski.

Great story. As much as I love slamming through buoys, a greater fulfillment is teaching all my nieces and nephews to ski. A while ago, I trained a niece and nephew for a tournament at Lake Grew at AWSA. BOTH of them made all four passes in the "fun" group. Watching them accomplish this was better than a tournament PB! Their sense of accomplishment and excitement was incredible. Taught a great nephew this summer behind a pontoon boat. He did not care it was not behind a ski boat....he got up and skied. The smile on his face was priceless! Maybe chasing buoys for so long we forgot we all started skiing for fun. Best wishes to all for a Merry Christmas and a happy, healthy and prosperous New Year.

Since my wife does most of the driving..."gear" then "love you"...

With -10.5 correction, soft contacts are a requirement. Not sure I could even see the lake without them! Spray does cause an issue from time to time, that just makes for more of a challenge. I must be one of the few skiers who does not use the 55's.

Interesting evaluation. Spent almost all of my sets this summer behind my 196 on C2+. Went to Swiss yesterday for a set due to wind. Skied behind a new 5.3 on C2+ and thought it felt great. It seemed to allow me to be a little more free of the boat at the buoy. Clint thought I could drop to C2 as the engine was revving, but the 38 off pass felt easier than my 196. I did ski behind a 6.2 and that did seem firm. I dropped to C2 and felt better. Just one man's opinion.

Steel framed boat cradle for use in boat house lift. Price: $400.00. Pics sent upon request. Located in Clermont, FL. Thanks, MWN

C2+

OK. I officially feel like an idiot. Still hot and getting hotter after checking all the above, Even put teflon tape on the strainer treads thinking it was sucking air. While checking, touched the belt and it was extremely hot. Changed the belt and temps never above 158 degrees now. Oh well, have a new impeller and thermostat, and now new belt for the season. Thanks again for the help and insight.

Thanks to all for the responses. Guess I will just monitor closely. MWN

Boat has always operated in the 155-165 degree range. Recently noticed after several slalom passes while at idle, temps increase to 180 degrees. Once under load again, it declines back to around 165 degrees (slowly). I have changed the impeller (which looked good, but replaced anyway), checked the strainer and o-ring, replaced the thermostat and checked the transmission cooler inlet/outlet. The only thing I have not done is change the belt. Any ideas or suggestions on what else to check before calling in a mechanic? Thanks for the help and insight. MWN

Skied my second set in just a vest down here in sunny Clermont, FL. 12/16/2015

Skied my second set in just a vest down here in sunny Clermont, FL. 12/16/2015

I very rarely follow doctor's orders and I'm married to one. She's an OB/GYN, so not much help with my orthopedic issues! Having had numerous broken bones, 3 knee surgeries, I do think most doctors are too conservative when it comes to athletes. We are in far better condition than the average individual, heal faster and have a higher threshold for pain. We know our bodies, what they can and cannot do. I will gladly ski with some pain if necessary. MWN

I too have a 2004 Limited 196 with key-less ignition. With the help of Jody Seal, it was converted to ZO back in 2009. The performance of the conversion has been flawless since installation and every time I consider buying a 200, my conclusion is why? I need a great slalom boat with ZO. I have it with my converted 196. Also, consider you will recover some of the cost when you sell as a ZO equipped boat is more desirable than a PP equipped boat for tournament skiers.

Why not buy an older GM powered 196, 2003 or 2004 and put in ZO? With your skiing goals, a ZO boat is what is needed. Several people on this forum have converted an older 196 to ZO, myself included. Excellent option.

If the strainer bowl is empty with no water in it, there is nothing to freeze. You are good to go. If there are a few drops of water still left, there is plenty of room for expansion. Living outside of Orlando, IF we get a freeze warning, I just drain the block, trans-cooler line, freeze plugs, water line to impeller and strainer. I have never done the anti-freeze protocol.....it always warms up in 2 or 3 days and we are skiing again! Based on the above sequence, it appears Chris is "flushing" the engine block with the anti-freeze solution, then draining that solution. Once the engine has been rinsed with the solution, you can drain it, then put the plugs back in. If the block is drained and all points are properly drained, there is nothing left in the engine to freeze. I suppose if it gets cold enough, (below the freeze point of the anti-freeze/water solution) that could freeze. If there is no liquid in the block, there is nothing to freeze.

Did you also drain the water intake strainer housing?