Does size really matter? 3" too short!

[cheburashka]

OK, now that I have your attention--I'm trying to learn how to use a single slalom ski. I'm skiing behind a 19' Glasply with a Merc 140 I/O. I've never been able to get up on one ski. If I'm up on two, I can drop one and ski all day on the other, but on one ski, I just get pulled under. Current known problems:

I've been using a 21 pitch prop. I've just ordered a 17 pitch, so I think I'll be able to get up to speed more quickly.

I'm 5'9 and 180 pounds. From what I've read, I need a 69" ski. I've been using a 66" ski that I picked up at a swap meet. I'm not sure how much difference that extra three inches would make. Is length a big deal when getting up on the ski, or just when trying to slalom?

I've read all the other threads and I plan to try to foot-dragging technique, but I want to make sure the problem is with me, and not my equipment.

Thanks

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: Does size really matter? 3" too short!

well, you don't have a lot of power with that tow boat, for that situtation. my suggestion is use a double handled ski rope. toe of ski in the Y of the handles. and hold on. you are going to have to take a lot of spray for that rig to get you up.

 

[cheburashka]

Re: Does size really matter? 3" too short!

I'm pretty much stuck with the boat I've got, so I'm left wondering whether the length of the ski makes much difference in getting up.

I will get a double-handled tow rope and give that a try.

 

[tommays]

Re: Does size really matter? 3" too short!

There are a LOT of big foot salmon skis on the market as both of MY BIL are 6'5" and they are a LOT wider


We have always done the 1 foot in the binding while dragging the other foot for stability which dos take a lot of strength in the leg

 

[cheburashka]

Re: Does size really matter? 3" too short!

Any recommendations on which of wider skis works best? I'm pretty much limited to what's on Ebay right now, which consists of:

One pair of Wellington Wide Tracks (Never hear of them)
One single Connelly Sidecut (Which looks VERY good)
One pair of Hobie Kahunas (Good brand, but I've found no information on them at all.)
One pair of Hydroslide wide body combos--both set up for slalom (More expensive than the rest, but they look nice)

I have a perfectly serviceable set of double skis, so I only need the one slalom skis. Anyone have any recommendations from the above?

Thanks

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: Does size really matter? 3" too short!

to be honest, i learned to ski and slalom, 45 years ago, still have original skis. after learning, i always went narrower and shorter. thats when it really gets fun. i have a Ski Skat, is it and 24 inch long slalom. you have to get up with a helper ski, and drop it. talk about fun, and spray.

to answer your question wider and longer, give you more surface to get up.

the double handle rope will give you a great advantage to get up. have them pull you slowly, with the tip of the ski about 6" out of the water in the V of the rope. get the fell of how it pulls. it will pull you in a straight line, verses the side pull you get with a single handle. also when you tell them to HIT IT, they are going to have to go to wide open, until you get up, no easing the throttle up, it will kill you.

also proper loading of the boat will help in getting you up. get the load out of the stern.

 

[cheburashka]

Re: Does size really matter? 3" too short!

I'll try getting the weight into the bow. I have Smart Tabs, so the boat gets up on plane quickly. Right now, that 21 pitch prop is killing the hole shot. Also, it's an old and somewhat tired motor. You can't just dump the throttle and expect it to take off. It needs a bit of care. Hopefully, we'll get it all dialed in this season. I love the feel of the single slalom ski, but I'm tired of going back and searching for the one I dropped.

 

[OhWellcraft]

Re: Does size really matter? 3" too short!

That ski is fine for you to learn on. I have taught many people to slalom and have always had the best luck with the drag a leg method. First try to make sure your arms are straight out in front of you not bent at elbows, get your hands and face down close to the tip of the ski as the boat starts to pull you up. Keep your center of gravity low makes it a lot less tippy as the boat is pulling kick your free leg to help keep you straight and help get you out. Once the boat is going fast enough to plane out your ski stand up and insert rear foot. Sounds like a long process but really isn't dont try to stand too quickly as it leads to sinking don't lean back and push too hard as it leads to washout and boat struggling to get you up. If this doesn't work for you look into an easy up rope they work very well. You insert the tip of the ski into a triangle by the handle which makes the ski track straight until your up then your ski comes out of the triangle and your going. Also if you are using a 75' rope tie a loop into it about 15-20' shorter than where it is the responce is soo much better and much less slack in corners and wake size is usually smaller in a bit closer. Good luck and keep at it you will get it. I almost forgot to mention when getting up as decribed above keep the leg that is in the ski bent at knee and locked that way until your up.

 

[evin268fs]

Re: Does size really matter? 3" too short!

Agree with most that is said above, however, I always start with both feet in the binding, drage a little more but much more stable. The 17P prop will probably be the ticket. When/if the ski gets squirly on the way up just put more pressure on the rear foot, will staighten things out considerably. I would say NO WAY on the wide ski, they may be easier to get up on but they are not nearly as fun to ride and during a hard cut, the ski is more likely to lose bite and go rolling.

 

[cheburashka]

Re: Does size really matter? 3" too short!

I already bought the wide ski. I figure I can learn on it, and if I outgrow it, there are other folks who ride in the boat who might want to give it a shot. Once I get the technique dialed in on the big ski, I ought to be able to get up on a single slalom ski a bit more easily.

Thanks for all the help. Now I just have to wait for the water to get warm enough.

 

[OldMercsRule]

Re: Does size really matter? 3" too short!

Hey there Che.

I have skied for many years on a 67" Kidder Redline, (which was state of the art in the early 1990(s)), and I am 6' 0" and 210 Lbs.

I generally ski behind old inline6 outboards on light hulls that really have a very strong hole shot.

That said, I learned on a very under powered boat (as many of the middle aged fellers here also learned on).

Draging the one foot was how I learned on the underpowered boat and I have never skied on a ski longer then 67".

I think your boat with only the 140 hp I/O on a 19' boat would be a fairly slow drag from a deep water start and a larger wider ski may help on the start but will not be nearly as fun or responsive once you are up.

I hope the smaller prop helps the hole shot, and some have used the "whale tail" bolted onto the anti cavatation plate of the lower unit for quicker hole shots. Those "whale tails" do cause additional strain on the boat if your boat is older ya may want to ponder that prior to installing one.

Good luck. JR

 

[cheburashka]

Re: Does size really matter? 3" too short!

Thanks Murky,

With the smart tabs on, I don't think I'll need the whale tail.

I got the skis today-- a pair of O'Brien Freecurves. That's one fat pair of skis. They do look like they'd handle poorly, but at the very least, using one of them as a single will teach me a bit of technique. I hope I'll be able to get up on a single slalom ski after a couple of tries.

They also look like they'd be a good bet for a first-time adult trying out two skis. I keep trying to convince my wife to get out and ski, and having these suckers stuck to her feet would probably be like standing on the dock.

 

[OldMercsRule]

Re: Does size really matter? 3" too short!

Thanks Murky,

With the smart tabs on, I don't think I'll need the whale tail.

I got the skis today-- a pair of O'Brien Freecurves. That's one fat pair of skis. They do look like they'd handle poorly, but at the very least, using one of them as a single will teach me a bit of technique. I hope I'll be able to get up on a single slalom ski after a couple of tries.

They also look like they'd be a good bet for a first-time adult trying out two skis. I keep trying to convince my wife to get out and ski, and having these suckers stuck to her feet would probably be like standing on the dock.

Ya Know Che, I haven't checked the prices on the Seattle-Tacoma craigslist recently, but with the high price of fuel I bet you could pick up a light ski hull with either a v-4 Johnnyrude, (a few more $ fer the Rude), or an inline6 Black anchor fer very VERY low $, (ya would just need to head over to this side with yer tow rig n' snatch one of 'em n' take it back to where the sun shines a lot more ).

If ya ever got up behind one of my very light very fast ski boats (with very strong hole shots) and 1" wakes you would never want to ski behind an underpowered I/O with a huge wake the rest of yer life!!!!

Jus' thought I would tempt ya!!! If I go to Vantage or Moses this summer maybe I'll hook up n' pull ya fer a few runs (ta set the hook in ya fer life on a REAL ski boat). JR

 

[cheburashka]

Re: Does size really matter? 3" too short!

Ya Know Che, I haven't checked the prices on the Seattle-Tacoma craigslist recently, but with the high price of fuel I bet you could pick up a light ski hull with either a v-4 Johnnyrude, (a few more $ fer the Rude), or an inline6 Black anchor fer very VERY low $, (ya would just need to head over to this side with yer tow rig n' snatch one of 'em n' take it back to where the sun shines a lot more ).

If ya ever got up behind one of my very light very fast ski boats (with very strong hole shots) and 1" wakes you would never want to ski behind an underpowered I/O with a huge wake the rest of yer life!!!!

Jus' thought I would tempt ya!!! If I go to Vantage or Moses this summer maybe I'll hook up n' pull ya fer a few runs (ta set the hook in ya fer life on a REAL ski boat). JR

You might be disappointed at your boat's performance in Moses Lake. That green algae pudding we call water doesn't allow anything to run very fast.

I've thought about a different boat, especially with the price of gas where it is. You're right about the prices. Craigslist has had a couple of ski boats with running six-cylinder ouboards for less than 2 grand. Here's one: http://spokane.craigslist.org/boa/681257426.html

But heck--if the seller can't afford to run it, how could I? They don't pay teachers a heck of a lot these days.

 

[OldMercsRule]

Re: Does size really matter? 3" too short!

You might be disappointed at your boat's performance in Moses Lake. That green algae pudding we call water doesn't allow anything to run very fast.

I've thought about a different boat, especially with the price of gas where it is. You're right about the prices. Craigslist has had a couple of ski boats with running six-cylinder ouboards for less than 2 grand. Here's one: http://spokane.craigslist.org/boa/681257426.html

But heck--if the seller can't afford to run it, how could I? They don't pay teachers a heck of a lot these days.

Nah Che, my primary ski boat, (16' Jolly Roger with a 1150 Merc), will still run 55 MPH plus in Moses or any other low altitute Lake, (algae or no algae), and the 0-35 MPH hole shot will make yer eyes water, (if you have the hair and the upper body strength to hold onto the rope).

Now; would I rather ski in the Lake (where my island is) that is clean and clear and fresh, (you can see down 30 feet)? Yabetcha!!!

That said, it rains a lot on this side, (that is why the lakes are so much cleaner), so if ya want warm weather ya may have ta settle fer a bit of algae in yer Lake of choice!

As far as gas/oil cornsumption, I'm shure yer rig is more frugal. At WOT @ 6,000 RPMs, (which is 55-60 MPH), my 1150 drinks 11.5 gals per hour, but I never run it WOT non stop fer an hour as the speed limit in most Washington Lakes is 40 MPH. Two six gallon cans of mid grade and one quart of oil, (a pint in each can), will pull a lot of skiers fer quite some time since most skiers want to run a 33-35 MPH which is jus' a wee bit above 3000 RPMs, (where she doesn't drink nearly as much fuel as the WOT full tilt boogie running does).

If ya get a good runner fer $1,500; (boat motor n' trailer) $50.00 worth of gas n' oil will entertain ya and yer ski buds fer quite some time. Me overpriced $.02. JR