Ski Supreme Knowledge base?

My buddy that was looking at inboards picked up a 1985 Ski Supreme!

351w 240 hp just like most of us. I'm sure he is lurking around here somewhere following our threads. He is a Nautique fan...but couldn't afford one just yet.

Who knows what kind of prop is great on this boat? I'm clueless. Sent an email to ACME to see what they think.

Looks like a fun little boat, it had a stringer rebuild from bottom up, new floor, new carpet, wet sand and trailer had been sand blasted and painted to look new as well.

Right now he is struggling with a problem like most of us have seen, after the boat gets hot it has a hard time starting. Coil, Solenoid, EI conversion, running lean, carb issues, etc etc...

Trying to help him out best I can, it's also his first inboard. Taking him out on a training session this weekend!

Thanks Tim!

Just talked to him about that. No fuel dripping, full carb rebuild last year (that I was unaware of)

We'll check out the 541! Anything else for the hot start?

Try AMskierboats.com Ron Tanis who worked for and owned American skier for years was a design engineer for ski supreme for a few years. He is one of the most knowledgeable guys around when it comes to ski boats in general and will be more than willing to answer any questions he can.

Thanks Tom, have any idea what size shaft is on them? I'm assuming 1" but you never know...

He will probably NEVER slalom ski competitively behind it, and if he does it'll be simply for a fun ski run. Comments are still appreciated. Thanks for all the help guys, keep it coming!

Yes, 1" shaft on those.

I only recall seeing a 1 1/8 shaft used with a 1:1 tranny on the Sangers.

By the way Chris, no, no tower that I know of...

Yikes...will have to resize those later!

nice looking boat!

Thanks, will be taking this thing to the Mississippi tomorrow. This will be my second time out, and I'm just hoping I don't have a repeat of the no starting incident!

Tonight I'm insulating the gas lines and replacing a seal in the carb that was leaking fueling into the engine compartment. So maybe the insulating will clear up the potential vapour lock.

I'll be getting my official inboard boat driving lesson too!

GottaSki wrote: Don't bother with the insulation, there is no vapor lock on those boats. Its either getting gas, or it isn't. Describe the symptom in delail...

I have agreed with Tom and commented on it several times. Our engines run cool compared to autos. We have millions of gallons of water available to cool or engines. We are not talking about a stretched black colored limo with a 220 T stat, sitting out in the Los Vegas sun with the AC on full blast!!! DO NOT listen to an auto mechanic (sorry, they call themselves "techs" now!!!)   

Jeremy,
What seal is leaking fuel?

I took the Supreme out and drove it for about an hour straight, we stopped and swam for about 45 minutes, hopped in the boat and it wouldn't start. We assumed I flooded it, but we checked the plugs and they were dry (and very white, lean?). We also checked the spark and were getting that (otherwise I assumed the plugs would have been wet). Gas was going into the carb fine when I pumped it.

It finally started after 30 mins of tinkering (all unsuccessful). I finally got ticked and pumped it like 5 times (in anger) and it started. I'm not sure if it was timing or the pumping that actually got her going.

Drove her all the way back for 30 mins, shut it off for 20 mins and she started just fine.

Question answered

That is a nice looking Ski Supreme. Hope you get that issue fixed, and welcome to CC fan.

I remeber when I went to ski school up on Possum Kingdom lake at Camp Grady Spruce, all they had where Ski Supreme's. They where lots of fun and enjoyed learining how to ski behind them. Enjoy the boat

Ski Cat 2001

8122pbrainard wrote: GottaSki wrote: Don't bother with the insulation, there is no vapor lock on those boats. Its either getting gas, or it isn't. Describe the symptom in delail... I have agreed with Tom and commented on it several times. Our engines run cool compared to autos. We have millions of gallons of water available to cool or engines. We are not talking about a stretched black colored limo with a 220 T stat, sitting out in the Los Vegas sun with the AC on full blast!!! DO NOT listen to an auto mechanic (sorry, they call themselves "techs" now!!!)    Jeremy, What seal is leaking fuel?

Thanks for your assumption, I'm not an auto mechanic.

To continue, do you not realize it takes very little heat to vaporize fuel? Perhaps if it was turbine fuel (also known as kerosine or diesel, for the "boat tech") there wouldn't be enough to vaporize it.

Next, put a thermometer under the hood of your boat vs hood of your car. A car's engine is completely open on the bottom! Your boat is practically sealed when the hatch is down, thus the reason for a blower to clear the fuel. I will give you this, Pete, we do have access to an unlimited supply of cooling water. But riddle me this battman, exactly where does that water cool the fuel? I can't find a single heat exchanger on my boat like I can on my JT15. Then finally, have you ever noticed how the temperature of your engine increases after shut off? Especially with the hatch down, again because there is NO ventilation like on your car. It is because of this the fuel in your metal fuel line can vaporize. It takes very little heat to cause this problem.

Everyone is welcome to do what they want, take my advice, or don't. Frankly I don't care, it's your boat. And Pete, you often give good advice, like your alignment video. Top notch. However, you also act like a prick a good bit of the time.

Sincerely yours, the "auto mechanic".

Larry,
I'm sorry you feel that way about me. Yes, sometimes when needed I can be on the abrupt side. A good example would be when someone posts a dangerous situation with say using auto parts. Other times I feel it's just a communication problem. It can be real difficult to express feelings/emotions in the written word and I'm by no means an expert with it. Thankfully someone came up with the great idea with the "emocicons" and I try to use them whenever I can.