Portable slalom course questions

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   I have "custody" of a portable slalom course, Instaslalom, I believe.  Two questions.

When deploying it, of course its not straight until you stretch out the anchor at one end.  Twice now, in an effort to get it straight, we had to pull so hard that we actually buckled one of the arms between the boat gate bouys (and both times, it was ball one arm when pulling the anchor at the ball six end.

(This is after straightening it our from the roughly 135* angle it was)

Question on this.  In the old days, when I laid out courses with my friends in MA, both anchors were on the bottom, with one anchor having another rope to pull on.

Down here , the  folks I ski with said stretch the course out with the anchor  at the boat and drop it when straight,  I find that method flawed, but its not my place to say.  Could that be the problem.  (They have a ski rope handle with a carabiner on it attached to the anchor (a 30 to 50 ish pound mushroom)  The anchor sits on the platform and we hold that handle till we cant hold it any more and the anchor flies into the water)  Seems when we did it with the long leader down to the anchor on the bottom in the old days, the course straightened out much more easily.

The guys I was putting it in with today suggested trying to stretch it out as each arm is deployed.  Any merit to that?

Another problem.  At the boat gate end of the arm, there is only an inch or so of PVC to put the loop of the nylon main line over.  Sometimes the loop has slipped off the arm, some where during deployment or stretching.  Im sure that may be contributing to the alignment problem if it happens during the stretch effort.

Any suggestions how to avoid these?

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75 Tique Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Visit Members Homepage Add to Buddy List Grand Poobah Joined: August-12-2004 Location: Seven Lakes, NC Status: Offline Points: 6097	Post Options Post Reply Quote 75 Tique Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Topic: Portable slalom course questions Posted: June-30-2018 at 9:43pm
	I have "custody" of a portable slalom course, Instaslalom, I believe. Two questions. When deploying it, of course its not straight until you stretch out the anchor at one end. Twice now, in an effort to get it straight, we had to pull so hard that we actually buckled one of the arms between the boat gate bouys (and both times, it was ball one arm when pulling the anchor at the ball six end. (This is after straightening it our from the roughly 135* angle it was) Question on this. In the old days, when I laid out courses with my friends in MA, both anchors were on the bottom, with one anchor having another rope to pull on. Down here , the folks I ski with said stretch the course out with the anchor at the boat and drop it when straight, I find that method flawed, but its not my place to say. Could that be the problem. (They have a ski rope handle with a carabiner on it attached to the anchor (a 30 to 50 ish pound mushroom) The anchor sits on the platform and we hold that handle till we cant hold it any more and the anchor flies into the water) Seems when we did it with the long leader down to the anchor on the bottom in the old days, the course straightened out much more easily. The guys I was putting it in with today suggested trying to stretch it out as each arm is deployed. Any merit to that? Another problem. At the boat gate end of the arm, there is only an inch or so of PVC to put the loop of the nylon main line over. Sometimes the loop has slipped off the arm, some where during deployment or stretching. Im sure that may be contributing to the alignment problem if it happens during the stretch effort. Any suggestions how to avoid these?
	_____________ “So, how was your weekend?” “Well, let me see…sun burn, stiff neck, screwed up back, assorted aches and pains….yup, my weekend was great, thanks for asking.”

Orlando76 Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Grand Poobah Joined: May-21-2013 Location: Mount Dora, FL Status: Offline Points: 3108	Post Options Post Reply Quote Orlando76 Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: July-01-2018 at 8:22am
	I see a few flaws with most portable courses. And ski partners can never agree on how to set one up, heck I lost a good ski partner because we couldn’t see eye to eye on set up. With the loops on the end of pipe, see if you can put a crimp in the loop to tighten it up more. Then take 1/1/4 or whatever size pipe it is and glue and end cap on it and then drill a 7/8 or so hole in end cap to let water in and out. That’ll give a lip the loop will have to go over to fall off. I found straightening course on pole at a time harder. It’s less stress on equipment but you have a tendency to zig zag more. Just put the whole course in. Drop anchor with a leader rope like you prefer because I agree with you. Then go back to each turn buoy making sure they’re straight with the boat guide. If not then pick turn ball up and move it well beyond the direction it needs to go then it might settle back to where it needs. Once you align all 6 balls with guides go back to anchor with leader, pull it up and tug it straight 5 or 6 bumps with the boat until it’s good enough. Pulling too hard will always bend the boat guide at entrance or number 1. Now that you’re all rested up from fighting course installation and you’re full of energy, go find a place with a permanent course, it’s much easier.
	Please support The Cystic Fibrosis Foundation 1976 Ski Nautique 351 Escort 1993 Ski Nautique purple and black 351 HO PCM

91NaughtyQ Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Senior Member Joined: July-27-2015 Location: NC Status: Offline Points: 287	Post Options Post Reply Quote 91NaughtyQ Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: July-10-2018 at 10:03am
	I have an insta slalom course and it works great "for a portable course" . As you suggested I would snug it each time you drop a section. It really helps to keep it straight through the process. You don't have to kill it with force, just idle forward and snug and drop on each section. Gary
	1991 Ski Nautique (Previous)1984 Ski Nautique 2001

91NaughtyQ Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Senior Member Joined: July-27-2015 Location: NC Status: Offline Points: 287	Post Options Post Reply Quote 91NaughtyQ Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: July-11-2018 at 6:31am
	This method works great too. Either way don't rush it and don't force it.
	1991 Ski Nautique (Previous)1984 Ski Nautique 2001

Keith Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Visit Members Homepage Add to Buddy List Admin Group Owner / Operator of CorrectCraftFan.com Joined: October-20-2003 Location: Pepperell, MA Status: Offline Points: 1917	Post Options Post Reply Quote Keith Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: July-11-2018 at 10:56am
	Larry, you are doing it correct by having the 2nd anchor in the boat and stretching the course. Unless you have a strong wind or current, the course layout should be fairly straight as you lay it out. You should stretch the course a little with each section of PVC you place on line so that you minimize your end-of-line stretch. When you are done, you slowly pull the course with the 2nd anchor in hand while standing on the platform. It's a slow process, as 91NautghtQ mentioned, don't force it or rush it. When you are happy with the straightness, drop the anchor. -Keith
	Former: 97 Sport Nautique 1994 Ski Nautique 86 Silver Nautique 79 Mustang

Portable slalom course questions

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