Man, that's just how it happened to me, except I got in the truck t try to start it, but by the time I closed the door, the truck slid far back enough that it wouldnt start, then I realize the windows are rolled up and wouldn't open, the truck was so far in at this time that the door would not open either. By the grace of God the sunroof opened and I was able to get out as the water reached the top of the truck. It was NOT a good scene man and it was a Ford Explorer, 4X4. I've never felt so helpless.

Inimical

Where on A1A in Pompano is a boat ramp??
Do you mean 14th st .If you do mean 14th st, it has the very slippery algae Mario is talking about. I have seen a few cars and trucks sink out of sight be careful, Mario and Ray are giving good advice to you about boat ramps in s fl.Just saw a French Canadian tourist in his boat with his wife backing down their explorer, trailer and boat.We turned our heads when we heard, "stop honey, STOP"….but the brakes where locked up and she kept on slipping down slowly very slowly then the only things floating was wife and boat. Not good although every one at the ramp had a laugh. I was in the wellcraft picking up some friends at the dock and we didn't see the humor in it. Wife was crying hysterically.

Yeah, actually the 14th street bridge IS the one I was talking about.

Well **** ... where do you suggest I go? I mean, I have a FWD car, you think I'll still have that much of problem during low tide?

Update on my purchase progress:
I've pretty much narrowed it down to 1 of two final choices; the XLT1200 and the FX140 (not much progress, I know)

I want something fast, yet nimble in the ocean, I want the four stroke, but I'm afraid it'll be too heavy and too little power. Grr... can't I just find a decent review of the two (or atleast of the FX140 as the 1200's been out for a while and I can see it's a great ski)

*sigh* now I'm just being picky...

No, it is not a problem to use 14th ramp. IF you take the time to walk down the ramp and look at it. Note how far you can go down the ramp and you should be fine.
After you launch if you go south under the bridge there is a 25mph speed limit unless it is manatee season then it is no wake on the weekend and or during certain hours, read the signs they are confusing and the marine patrol changes them without notice then there is a whole new set of rules.BSO and the marine patrol use radar to enforce the speed limit and love to hassle pwc.One pompano marine patrol officer told me most of our accidents involve a pwc, they are way to fast and good for nothing but accidents. I told him 3 of us on pwc just helped rescue 4 airmen from a HH-60 helicopter (Blackhawk) that crashed 100’ behind us on the Kissimmee River. General Folkerts USAF saw fit to give us a letter of accommodation so they are good for something, don’t you think, that shut him up. We are not well liked on the intercoastal waterways of Broward County.
If you go north to the inlet you’re in a "slow" speed zone that means you can't be on plane but you don't have to idle speed as long as you don't make a wake 15" high? My wellcraft with 2 big blocks makes a 15" wake at idle, although I haven't seen a marine patrol with his ruler out trying to measure my wake ...yet.
Going north towards the inlet after the big bend I am 3 houses in off a finger canal. Another 1/2 mile and you are at Hillsboro inlet notice the sign before you go under the bridge "LOCAL KNOWLEGE REQUIRED” respect this inlet it can be VERY treachorous.In the winter it is not uncommon to see 6-10 foot waves breaking in the inlet. These are not regular ocean waves they are thick and have unbelievable force behind them if you bail out in the inlet there is a good chance your boat will be on the rocks along with yourself. When the tide is just right on the south side of the inlet there is a sand bar and rocks inches under the water. They have ruined many a boaters day that did not have "LOCAL KNOWLEGE".
Don't get me wrong, me and my buds have spent hours jumping waves at or in the inlet. Sometimes when a hurricane is offshore and there is a westerly wind, huge glassy swells come in big sets and break perfectly too bad this only happens a few times a year. Most of the time it is the tidy bowl out there, massive chop.
What I am trying to tell you is Hillsboro inlet is not a good place to go for the first time if you have never rode before and you are on a new ski.
Take a little ride and go to lake Ida in Delray about ½ hour away or Markham Park and get used to your new ski before shooting the inlet, it couldn’t hurt. Just some rambling from a guy with a little local knowledge.
If you live in south Fl the only place to buy a ski is Riva.

Allcool - talk about a small world!!!!

One of those airman you helped rescue is my best friend TSgt Jon Carpio. He was the Hawaiian guy who was the last one out of the helicopter after it had already settled on the bottom of the river. He told me he'd seen some jet skiers on the river - they were passing over you guys and the air boat when the pilot banked too hard and it dropped like a rock out of the sky. He was in the doorway about to wave at you guys when the next thing he knows, he's in the water fighting for his life to get out of the sinking helicopter.

Jon was stationed with me at Kadena Air Base in Okinawa Japan and is now at Moody Air Force Base in Georgia.

Fortunately none of them were seriously injured. Its a good thing you guys and the airboat were there to help.

I'm sure he said it, and I'll add mine too - Thanks for your help that day!

enjoy!

Ya it is a small world Ray,unreal huh?
Thanks humbly accepted but no thanks needed Ray, Me and my Yamaha PWC are proud to be able to help the boys that keep us safe.
I was running on instinct, the hh-60 sank in under 30 seconds.
After the flying cloud of debris past by us (Luckily nothing hit us) me and my buddy mgultra were there in 3-4 seconds, the hh-60(is it an airhawk?) was smoking & hissing then it was uder the water... Ray it happened so fast.
One of the airmen I dragged to shore hurt his back,glad to hear he is ok.Your buddy looked like he had a broken jaw it was swollen like half a grapefruit, almost went to the bottom looking for him then he came up.
Not only are Pwc a lot of fun, they seem to be very handy for some things.
We seem to be a good target for the boys at Avon Park bombing range,they chase us thru the twisty old rivers and oxbos.Glad they don't have live ammo... or do they??

All - I don't know if they use live ammo or not - I don't think avon park is a live range though so probably not. My bud said they use folks like you all the time as "the enemy"...in fact, the day of the crash, they were acting as cover for another helo practicing a recovery when they saw you guys and peeled off to "protect" them...the guy with the hurt back was the door gunner...

enjoy...

well,heres my opinion,,,,,,i bought a new ski last month. and i had the same questions as you,although i have 4 big jacked up 4x4s and not a car. so the pulling the ski is no prob. i had to drive like 2 hours,,but i bought a 2001 GP1200r brand new for like dirt cheap. its me and my girlfriend on it every weekend. i love it. i found if the ride is a lil harsh,just trim it down a click or two and you will be ok,,,,,i weigh 215,and she weighs 105,and it will do 67 with both of us on it(if the speedo is right). i am really happy with it

FWD makes no difference dude, read my post, I had an Explorer, 4X4, always on 4X4, won't help.

Ok, all things remaining the same... I'm going to buy the XLT1200.

I read a lot of reviews on the FX140 and it just doesn't seem to wow anyone enough for me to spend all that extra cash on a ski that's slower and doesn't have anything more than the XLT other than cupholders (oh, and a 4-stroke engine)

Just not worth it to me, for my first ski. Besides there's already a great aftermarket for the XLT (not that there won't be for the 4stroke very shortly...) but I figure my car will love me for every pound of weight I can save it even if it's only 18lbs.

So what's a good price on an 2002 XLT1200 if the msrp is $8,499? What would you pay? What goodies should I ask for to be thrown in?