🚀 go-pugleaf

In article <595@adelie.UUCP> :
>
>I hope to purchase a boat this summer.  The only use of this boat will be
>for water skiing.  I live by a lake and would not have to worry about 
>ease of trailering.  I am concerned with maintenance, cost and of course
>finding a good ski boat.  If anyone has any suggestions as to what I should
>expect to pay, what to look for or what to avoid, I'd appreciate hearing from
>you.
> 
>-- 
I assume you do not intend to fish with this boat.  When you say you intend
to use it for waterskiing, you must define what type you intend to do.
If you mean general recreational skiing, you could generally use most runabouts
with enough horsepower.  You must ask yourself if you intend to pull one, two,
or three at a time and if they are going to slalom or go mixed (slalom and 
doubles).  There are no boats available that will give you the best for all
conditions without going into the boats which are designed only for 
waterskiing.

If you are into serious recreational waterskiing:
    Stay away from jet drives:  they eat gas and do not leave a good
     wake for various skiing.
    Stay away from flashy low and long boats with big engines  and chrome
     headers sticking up in the air.  They are only for speed, showoff,
     and making noise.
    Stay away from boats which use a foot pedal for the gas.  These are
    not easy to maintain a constant speed, particularly when the boat
    goes over waves, etc.  Besides your foot gets tired.  Get the kind
    with the throttle mounted on the side that you use your hands to control.
    
You want an engine which is quiet so that you can have communication
between the driver and the skier at the end of the rope.  

Generally, the length will be determined by how many people you will have
in the boat and what kind of performance you want.  Personally, I'll ski
behind anything except a jet. (too much spray in the face).  I just want
it to have enough to get me up or at minimum, to get enough speed so that
I can jump off a dock and keep going.  However, I would recommend a boat
somewhere in the 16-19 foot range.  Power depends on the size and whether
you want an I/O or outboard.  Either is fine.  You want the boat to be
able to go 35-40 mph while pulling one slalom skier.  (normally you don't
go that fast but it allows you some headroom)  If you want to try barefooting
and you are a little, ahem, heavy..... You want one that will do between
45-50.  
If you intend to do some trick skiing or ride a kneeboard, you want a boat
that will plane and maintain a constant speed from appx 15 mph - 23 mph.
Most boats will not maintain a constant speed until they are planing and
that usually occurs above about 18mph.  That is about normal trick speed
and believe me, you want a constant boat speed.
On a 16 ft. boat, I would want an outboard with a minimum of 90 HP
and an I/O with a minimum of 140 HP.

On a 19 ft boat, I would want an outboard with a minimum of 150 HP and
an I/O with a minimum of 200 HP.
I currently use two 19 ft boats with I/O's (I prefer them.  less hassles,
problems, easier to maintain, no adding or mixing of oil).  One has 200 HP
and the other has 230 HP.  The 200 will pull three 180# slalom skiiers
if they know how to get up.  My rating system says that is minimal.

Prices should be available below $12K for the 19ft w/230 HP. (new).
A good boat should run you (complete package) between 7-12 K$.  (They
do here in Portland).

Now, if you are a serious skiier and that is all you want to do, then
you should consider one of the tournament type boats.  These are:
Ski Nautique, Ski Supreme, Mastercraft, Supra, Hydrodyne, Ski Centurion,
Malibu Skiier, etc.  These generally run in the $14-$16 K range.  They
generally have 250 HP.  A little spendy, but I'll guarantee that they
give the best skiing of any type of boat.  Best control, Best power,
and best wake.  Note:  these are inboards with side fins to keep them
going straight when a skiier cuts hard.  Truly fine boats.

There have been some good articles in WATER SKI magazine describing 
good boats to use for skiing - in the last couple months.

Hope this helps.

Jim (H2O-SKI) Boland
Our season started March 2. 
Ya' gotta' love it!