learning to barefoot

Valid. You don't like the TBX wake?

lcgordon wrote: Hollywood wrote: Don't worry about the value of the hull you can always take the engine with you. The less cash you're out on the fiberglass the better! If im gonna spend that kind of money I adleast want a boat that puts out a freaking awesome wake.

So lets go with a hypothetical question then.
You can get your dream boat and wake for $15K and still be begging for more speed to barefoot with or....
You keep your boat which still has a good wake and you build a motor to put in it to make it do everything you want it to do and more for a total of $10k invested.
What do you do????

Not so sure those numbers work if he's keeping multiport EFI, Eddie. Not so easy or cheap to upgrade that animal.

Personally I'd probably opt for an older carb'd boat (like a NWZ) and make some upgrades... And jet it just fat enough for the lowest altitudes I typically run. Then just live with slightly fat jetting at higher altitude rather than swap jets all the time.

Either way I'd be starting with a hull I liked a lot that I could afford (regardless of engine) rather than buy a newer hull I was less than thrilled with just to get EFI. Again, just me!

I think the NWZ is a fine slalom rig but that wasn't my point... You seem unwilling to invest more money in your existing boat because you're worried it that you won't recoup your (extra) investment. This is understandable... when looking at it purely from a financial perspective. On the other hand, your boat doesn't *quite* do what you'd like it to do (hold 1-foot barefoot speeds at high altitude). That sort of thing would drive me nuts. But perhaps you're not too concerned... I think many of us are of the same mindset as me, hence the comments/recommendations on how to address it if you so wish. There are a few ways to reconcile that, the 2 basic options were laid out by Eddie above. The down side of the lower cost option (older boat with modifications) is that you over-invest in a boat compared to what it is worth. My point was that if you are really happy with how the boat performs in all other aspects (short of speed capability), then the potential sale price of the boat (after mods) is pretty much inconsequential... Because you'd be so happy with it that you'd have no reason to sell. That's all.

Tim - GREAT point. There is nothing wrong with having an old hull, that you have juiced up IF it meets the needs of all your missions. Somewhere along the line (in this thread) I got the idea that maybe there are a lot of little things that need attention (as is often the case on older boats) and I get the sense that you are happy with the boat, maybe be cause the investment was small but with so many other things to fix, you can't justify to yourself the cost of increased HP - and that is a valid opinion as well. If that is the case, we are all happy to help scout out your next new (Correct Craft) boat that 1.) either better meets all your mission needs or 2.) is a better platform to start transforming into your perfect boat!

Purely hypothetical Tim but you hit the nail on the head. I know the actual dollars are not realistic for the EFI.
I was thinking exactly along the same lines as you are.
I'd build a carbed stroker with some jet changes and advance the timing for the altitude that I normally run at against that holier-then-thou, do everything MPEFI that everybody thinks is the friggin' Holy Grail of engines and outperform it in every way.

Landis as an American Skier owner myself (albeit an '86 Advance vs your TBX) don't sell that boat short until you get a chance to really put it through it's paces. It could surprise you. You got that thing for a pretty good price. Like Tim said, if you like everything else about it, the performance can be improved. Even with an old school carb and you'll still be way under the price of a TSC.
At least that's what I would do. However, I can do my own work so that does need to be factored into the equation also.

Ok...no slalom skiing this thread. 😳
Ive found that once you put 100 to 150 more horsepower in these older skiboats its a whole nuther animal that is loads more fun to drive.

TRBenj wrote: Yes on gas (efficiency). Who is Pete?

DOH!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lfs-IpkpFG0

Here is a double long line with my buddy adam this saturday. Right after he went to do his tumble we got into some bumps and it messed him up. Was a fun day though.

you guys sure wanted to be close together when the boat started, haha. when you're not moving you can swim to the side. nice cheek out on the left.

Good run, especially good run in cold water.

Yeah It was an awesome day. And normally no power turns but it was so cold he was trying to get to us so we could get warmed up. Nobody else was out there and we were taking our time and letting it settle.

No kidding thats what the hot water off the block is for. I could not get my feet hands and head in the cooler quick enough.

backfoot100 wrote: I assume that's your TBX? If so that wake looks sweet from what we were talking about earlier.. A pretty small double rooster at short line but everything else looks really nice. Nice job. I've skied in water that cold and it's no joy. Something I'll never do again.

Yeah It is. And I do really like the wake. Its not quite as good as some of the newer boats though. I would like a 176 someday. Would be nice for putting it in the garage. Actually I would rather have the Air Tique with the extended pylon.

This video is funny because it makes my buddy look really bad. He is actually really good and the best guy we foot with.

HAHA that is me. Im such a baby in cold water but then I guess im the one that out there doing it. Most ppl are sippin hot coco this time of year.