Siouxcitysmitty

Thanks to all for taking the time to provide the great and detailed feedback.  Whether working on technique, shopping for a ski, or looking for a boat, tapping into the knowledge base on Ball of Spray is invaluable, and I really appreciate it. 

 

Dear Ballers, Happy Holidays and thanks in advance for your guidance!  I’ve searched and read thru several threads on this topic, but the info didn’t seem conclusive for my somewhat narrow requirements, so, appreciate your indulgence on yet another “best slalom wake” thread.

 

I’m looking to update my current boat (’04 Malibu Response LXI) while seeking an improved slalom wake in the 30-34mph, 15-22 off range.   I’m obviously familiar with my RLXI wake, and also ski on a friend’s ’06 Nautique 196 and LOVE that wake.  I’m not familiar with the wakes on the newer Prostars. Nautique 200’s and Malibu TXi’s and would appreciate any insights.   

 

Ignoring other considerations like price, driveability/tracking, ergos/amenities, trick wake, etc, how would you rank these boats for slalom wake in the 30-34mph, 15-22 off, range.  I put them in my perceived order (loosely based only on web research) from best to worst, and would love your feedback/corrections.   And hopefully, I have the correct years for hull-generations. If not, please correct me

 

1-Prostar 2021+

2-Prostar 2014-2020

3-Nautique 196 TSC2/TSC3 with zero off

4-Nautique 200 2010-2018

5-Nautique 200 2019+ hull

 TXI?

 

My overall goal is to get a newer/nicer boat with all the positive attributes that come with it while making sure the wake for my specific range is as good or better than the 2002+ 196 (my known reference point).  Thanks so much!!!

Loving my Offcourse. Fun trying to improve beyond my 32/15, but, also fun to change it up and when we were done today, had a contest skiing the course in "C" mode on the Hovercraft ski. Makes it fun for anyone in the boat who can get up on one and make a reasonable wake crossing. Best of all, it has my son hooked, and he's about to blow by me and my struggles at 32/15.

I bought the Big Daddy for the occasional guest on the boat who's a newbie or hasn't got up on one in a long time. Haven't tried it myself, but, nobody likes it. Even strong slalom skiers that have tried it describe it as difficult/clumsy to ski on. And apparently not that easy to get up on. I bought a "deep-v" handle that helps some, as apparently the ski it so wide that starting with the rope on the "inside" of the ski is offset so far, it adds some difficulty. FYI - just passing along the feedback that I've collected.

Have had my new Offcourse out twice now and am really enjoying it!

 

I have a question for those seasoned users in follow-up to the discussion about leveling. Rather than using/moving inanimate weights around when going from spotter to no-spotter to level the boat, why not just use a small shim between the windshield and the right-side offcourse clamp to level the offcourse, rather than leveling the entire boat?

 

I plan to give this approach a try, but, was wondering if anyone had already tried it?

Apologize if this question has already been answered (have read most, but not all 13 pages of posts :)...what boat speeds does the device accommodate? ie obviously the timing of launching the balls needs to be different at 30 vs 34 mph.

Just had the storage hatch lids for my RLXI done for me by Gabe's. Look great! Be ready to provide your VIN, as apparently he has an arrangement with Malibu to color match. Also, prepare yourself for 6-8 week leadtime.

FWIW, we have a couple of Senates in the family quiver, and a couple of Vapors. I'm pushing 60 and am just a recreational free skier at 30-32mph (I can make a 15 off pass on the rare occasion that I'm around a course). I bought a Senate years ago because it's highly recommended, and marketed to my type of skiing. However, I happened to try the original green Vapor and liked it much better and bought it used. A few years later, I bought another Vapor a few model years newer, and handed the old one down to my 16 yr old son, who was coming off a Senate. He likes it much better. I have a numbers of guests that tag along for their only 2-3 ski outings a summer. Not beginners but somewhere less capable than I. None of them choose the Senate after skiing both. All prefer the Vapor. Just FYI. It's quite a bit more universal than marketed.

That is a sweet looking 34 yr old boat!

 

Regarding the question on "criteria for next ski purchase" (brand, graphics, technology, etc), for me, by far the biggest factor is the reviews here on BallofSpray.

Used to drive by there on the way to work every morning in the early '90's. Something therapeutic about the smell of fiberglass resin and the sight of stacks of crated V8's.

I had a '93 and it was good...perhaps not great. The NWZ hull went from 91-96. '93 was the first year that it came with all fiberglass stringers. I'd stay away from anything earlier than 93. and the hull before the NWZ had a beast of a wake in my opinion.

Although there's been a few comments that you don't "need" speed control, I'd highly recommend it. I have an '04 Response LXI and primarily free ski and the perfectpass is a marriage saver. I always get the speed I want, and it's great when I'm driving the kids surfing (with wedge), or wakeboarding, where maintaining speed at half plane is a pain. And probably not too hard to find in your target vintage/price range.

I can't directly answer the usable life question, but, I replaced my original set at 650 hours (proactive change, boat was running fine). I notice that I picked up ~2 mph of top end just with the wire change. So, although my boat wasn't missing, there had obviously been some level of degradation.

My guess is that the seller is confusing cubic inches (350) with horsepower. I have an '04 Response LXI with the Monsoon 340hp (350 ci). As far as I know, that was the max horsepower for the Monsoon at that point in time (short of the hammerhead, which I don't believe was branded Monsoon). Pretty sure there wasn't a 350 hp monsoon available in '99.

 

BTW, have ski'd a friend's Sunsetter LXI and love it. Was shopping for one but ended up with my RLXI, as the SSLXI's are very rare. As others have stated, be sure to get the diamond hull.

Only thing better than having that new boat is the 85 degree temps to go with it. Couldn't be more jealous! And 1.1 hours on the meter :)

Nobody told him that you don't tip it up to drain the ballast tanks!

 

Attached is my approach for balancing out the boat :)

I've had good success using the boom. As already mentioned, progress from the boom, to a short rope handle off the boom, and then to behind the boat.

 

However, I have a tower and always pull from the tower initially when behind the boat. Definitely makes a difference with the rope pulling them "up" out of the water. After a few times off the tower, it's usually a high success rate off the pylon

 

And with this process, the skier can figure out on the boom whether they like both feet in, or not.

Love my '04 RLXI. That's a great looking boat for a great price!

FWIW, 54 yrs old and I've had a couple shoulder surgeries, the most recent one about 5 yrs ago that included a bicep tendon re-attach. The recovery takes time, but, once recovered, it doesn't bother me any for water skiing. More than anything, I worry about taking another OTF snow-skiing fall on it.

 

Specific to the OP's question, until now, I was not aware of the Powervest, but probably wouldn't bother at this point for $600. If one happened to be on the boat, it would be interesting to try a few pulls with it though.

Nice!!! Love the color!

 

And impressive financial analysis (rationalization)! That deal was clearly so good, you couldn't afford not to jump on it!

....you climb into the boat after your first pull and notice the auto-bilge kicking it. The wife sez..."well, come to think of it, I did notice a big clunk while you were back there skiing". Scramble back to the ramp before the boat sinks to confirm a tracking fin is missing.

"...The colder the water the higher the tail rides compared to the tip which puts more ski in the water and more resistance....."

 

Make sense, but, if this is true, it would seem that the "conventional wisdom" of moving the bindings forward, is the opposite remedy for a higher riding tail.

Love the search feature! Not only did I find relevant info...the first hit happened to bring me to this thread covering the exact same problem I have, on the exact same model/year boat. Those pics look identical to mine.

 

Only difference is that I'm not in Minnesota.

 

Anybody have a fiberglass repair guru they recommend in the Denver area? Any ballpark guidance on what the repair has cost others? (I understand the replacement fin in about $130).

 

Thanks!