Finally got a gps to test the speed of my ski. I'm pretty happy with the result, but would like to know if I'm where I should be for the mods I have (see sig)

Temp - 85-90 deg
Humidity - 80%
Light 1-2" ripple with very light headwind
Full tank of gas (topped to the rim)
170 lb rider

Ran several sprints for about 1/2 mile each, with the average being 68.5 mph. With a few tenths of a mph variance between runs.

Didnt get a chance to check it with little gas, I assume I would see some slight improvements.

One more thing...this "braking" feeling that you guys talk about was experienced by me this weekend with painful results. I was WOT & let off the throttle completely, the ski went right, & I went left at well over 60mph. OUCH!!! I was dazed for a few minutes, got a black eye, and lost my sunglasses. That stuff is really dangerous. What can I do to get rid of that without loosing speed?

intake grate, its worth lossing that .5 mph

Deffinitly get an intake grate. This has happend to more of use than will admit.

Will

gradually let off the throttle

I tested my GPr for that reaction but it did not pull right at all. I have the 13/19 w/billet cpls and the ppk sealed Ferco way.

ADAM-1200R
-SOLAS 13/19 W/BILLET CPLS
-PPK SEAL FERCO WAY
MORE TO BE ADDED

An intake grate (either Single or Double bar style) will keep your craft sucked down on the water during acceleration or cruising speeds; But I don't beleive it will aid in reducing the braking sensation your experiencing.

When I changed to a more aggressive intake grate, the first thing I noticed was that un-comfortable braking sensation. An it makes sense (to me anyway), because a more aggressive grate is going to channel more water to the pump, and consequently provide increased drag when letting off the trottle.

Riva's sponsons will keep you running in a straigt line. But, will do nothing to reduce the braking effects. Good luck.

[ 05-27-2003, 12:54 PM: Message edited by: Gilbert ]

Gilbert, where do you live in tulsa and what lake do you goto? would like to see your ski.

Gilbert: I agree, my intuition tells me the same thing, a more agressive grate will load the pump even more when you let off the throttle, and hence increase drag...more brakes.

The turning combined with the braking is what threw me off. I almost fell off several times, but only ate the water that once. New sponsons may keep me in a straight line, but wouldnt that require having them in the down position & hence slow me down?

As far as letting off the throttle slowly, f-dat! I dont want to ride the ski all gentle like a panzy. I run my ski hard and I want it to respond with agressiveness, but not so much where I'll end up killing myself.

Here's the real issue, I often drink heavily when out riding the ski. And that ride home drunk is what I'm concerned about. When the spill happened, it totally took me by surprise. Luckily I didnt anyone on the back. I could end up hurting someone by doing this.

(No, I will not quit drinking, so save those comments)

Any input on my speeds? Am I where I should be?

Thanks!

The 2 bar grate will solve the problem in the XLL/XLT and GPR. Intuition nothing. The two bar grate solves the problem on the single pipe ski.

Get one before you ended up tunning your electric wheel chair

Here's the real issue, I often drink heavily when out riding the ski. And that ride home drunk is what I'm concerned about. When the spill happened, it totally took me by surprise. Luckily I didnt anyone on the back. I could end up hurting someone by doing this.

(No, I will not quit drinking, so save those comments)


You sound proud of this. Do you realize that you are putting other people in danger!!!!!

2k2Coupe:

I certainly hope you are pulled over very early in the season and issued a BWI and then get a second one not too soon after and lose the ski. Your problems are not from the boat suddenly turning on you, your problems are above your shoulders.

I am glad I live nowhere near Louisiana!

Larry

Ferch: No, it shouldnt have sounded as if I was proud. Its just that after a few hours of riding, I typically quit riding the ski & hang out at the lake & have a few drinks & socialize. And sometimes I get a little tanked. But thats my business. The rides home have always been fine & I would never drive the ski if I thought I couldnt handle it. The accident that happended this wkend would have happened whether or not I had a single drink.

Larry: I'm a safe driver, and if you think that I dont know when I am or am not in condition to operate a watercraft, then you are poorly mistaken. And as for your perception of what my problem is.... who the f-k are you to tell me what my problems are? SMD!

Now, I don't want to start any bad blood here. I appreciate this forum and thank all of the users for the valuable input which they provide. And the comment about being drunk may have been a little much, but I hoped you guys wouldnt have gotten so uptite. I would hope that noone would operate a ski sh!tfaced, but if "I" can handle a good buzz/light drunk and ride my ski home safely, then so be it. Larry: Relax a little, dont get your d*mn panties in a wad; and stay out of Louisiana or I might run over your sober a$$.

hey 2k2coupe,how many hours do you have on your ski?also did you touch or tune your carbs at all, or are they still factory set?just curios cause i have the same mods you have and i am curios on how fast i'm going.how is the waveater setup working? i'm ordering mine this week.

NJG: I havent touched the carbs, they are still as they were when I bought the ski. I would imagine I could see very slight benefits from rejetting, but I have had no problems with the ski since I bought it, so I see no need to rejet being that I have no engine mods.

Waveeaters clips/couplers are great, they are easy to install, and clearly provide the protection needed to resolve the PV problems. Although some guys have seen 1-2 mph improvements from the clips, I have not, but for 100 bucks, its definitely worth the piece of mind.

Oh...my ski has about 78 hrs on it, bought in July of 2001, new.

2K2coupe

There are those on this forum that chime in any chance they get ....whether they know the answer or not.
I understand they are trying to help but in reality they are just confusing the issue and making it harder for the REAL facts to come out. I suppose that is what a forum like this is all about … the good, the bad and the ugly.

If you do a search you will find that the gpr and xll/xlt have put many people in the hospital when they modify and INCREASE the STOCK speed of the boat, WITHOUT doing the recommended top loader grate. And NO you can't control it or let off "easy", and those of you that say you can, haven't gotten their boat going fast enough to manifest this problem. Make no mistake here; it is a speed related issue.

It is a no brainier. Every major aftermarket company recommends a top loader with any package they sell that increases the top speed of the gpr.
$hit, even master tuners like Dana and Carl agree about this issue…. that has to tell you something.

Losing ½ mph is not the issue here, safety is. Unless you think it is safe to get run over by your own boat, after going over the bars at high speed.

2K2coupe I got a ? for you, would you get on a high performance motorcycle after "drinking heavily" and run WOT?

jmho

I'm gonna get the 2 bar riva top loader. Is this the grate of choice for mildly modded gprs?

thx..

2K2coupe.....you drive a Vett? curious as to what your handle means....I'm from BR and would like tohook up for a brew or two one day when I'm coming over there...(which should be soon)...where do you ride? Amite River? (yuk).......let me know, I might bring my ski to....

tiger: naw, dont drive a vette, currently driving an S2000, I guess my handle should read 2k2convertible, I wanted to change it to "revs29k" but didnt want my post counter to start over. Although I often admire the taillights of my good friend's C5.

typically I ride at blind river & end up at the sand bar at the mouth of lake maurepas, every so often we go to tickfaw, and sometimes to False River, thats pretty much all the choices around here. There's been a good crowd at blind river lately, and quite a few skis that ride. A couple of them with yamis visit this board.

drop me a note @ mabreo22@hotmail.com when you come to town, and we'll grab a few drinks.

2k2,

I drive a 2003 Z06, that's why I asked....

I learned how to water ski on Blood river, Tickfaw.....used to park at the mouth of the river at Marepas myself....will drop you a line sometime...

Later