I/O vs OUTBOARD

[robopath]

Re: I/O vs OUTBOARD

You should be able to have a good Slalom run with an 18' runabout w/ 135HP motor. Run about 34-36MPH (s/b 3/4 throttle), as the skier likes, fast enough to make the skiing nice and light.

With an experienced slalom skier, on the last 25-30% of the course, I crank my speedboat up to near 40MPH. Helps them to "rock and roll" in the "anchor" portion of the course. And in addition, if it is your wife skiing, it makes them "putty in your hands", afterward.

I don't know of anyone that likes speed adjustments in-course. The max speed in competition is 36 for men, 34 for woman. If they are skiing lets say 15-20 off at a reasonable speed like 32 then they obviously will not finish the course at 40.

 

[Home Cookin']

Re: I/O vs OUTBOARD

so bottom line....is a 18' sea ray bowrider with a 135hp mercury outboard with a stainless prop going to do a decent job pulling up average size (150-200#) above average skiers?

it's not a SS prop that matters when we talk about type of prop; it's the pitch, primarily, as that is the most important variable of the choices (there is also diameter and # of blades, starting with the base that's right for your motor and adjusting from there).

 

[Chris1956]

Re: I/O vs OUTBOARD

Gee, You guys switch back and forth between beginner skiing and tourney skiing. I was discussing recreational skiing, not running a course. Clearly if the skier likes to be pulled at a particular speed, that is what I do. However, my wife likes the last part of her run to be at higher speed. It allows her more control, with less effort, which she likes. Of course she is on a 75' line, and not running a course.

 

[oldjeep]

Re: I/O vs OUTBOARD

Gee, You guys switch back and forth between beginner skiing and tourney skiing. I was discussing recreational skiing, not running a course. Clearly if the skier likes to be pulled at a particular speed, that is what I do. However, my wife likes the last part of her run to be at higher speed. It allows her more control, with less effort, which she likes. Of course she is on a 75' line, and not running a course.

Stop while you are behind. No beginner should be skiing at 40MPH, and I doubt that many advanced skiers have an interest in skiing at 40 either.

and you said: With an experienced slalom skier, on the last 25-30% of the course, I crank my speedboat up to near 40MPH.

No experienced slalom skier wants a driver to be altering the speed or course of the boat while they are skiing whether in open water or in a course, it is a recipe for injury and disaster.

 

[Chris1956]

Re: I/O vs OUTBOARD

Oldjeep, Live a little, and allow us to set our own skiing speeds. Slalom skiing is not the same as skiing on two, as a beginner does. Very much a different sport. I need to pull my friend at nearly 50MPH, when he barefoots. The horror of it all!

 

[oldjeep]

Re: I/O vs OUTBOARD

Oldjeep, Live a little, and allow us to set our own skiing speeds. Slalom skiing is not the same as skiing on two, as a beginner does. Very much a different sport. I need to pull my friend at nearly 50MPH, when he barefoots. The horror of it all!

LOL, you don't say. I'll have to try this slalom skiing you are talking about sometime

 

[Chris1956]

Re: I/O vs OUTBOARD

Yes, the most fun is when slaloming and your "mind writes a check your body cannot cash", or in other words, you cut back across the wake too hard where you are not strong enough to snap accelerate you body up to the necessary speed in time.....Nah, that not the fun part.

 

[robopath]

Re: I/O vs OUTBOARD

Ah, as old jeep said I was referring to you saying "course". I am OK with drivers cracking the whip with a little more speed, but only when I'm about to bail out. If your wife likes that speed and she is a good skier, I'd suggest taking that line down to 55-60 ft. She'd get that same feel of a steady pull and less slack on the line that she's getting at 40. But it's more gentle coming across the wake and safer if she eats it.

 

[Maclin]

Re: I/O vs OUTBOARD

I lost it and hit so hard slaloming one time that when I came "to" the ski was nowhere in sight and I literally thought I came up thru a wormhole in another lake because no landmarks looked right. The tow boat had gone up around the next bend to turn around, could not see or hear it for a bit. That was very disorienting. I was glad the guys in the boat were having a good laugh at least, as they had talked me into trying out their favorite hot-rod ski with lots of bow and skinny rear taper, ouch.