Baller rodltg2 Posted September 10, 2012 Baller Share Posted September 10, 2012 I have been on the fence about purchasing a new boat for next season and which one ( as you may know from previous threads) . I have two reasons for wanting one, added room and comfort for family days on public lakes and a ZO boat . However the boat I currently own is in great shape for its age, skiis relatively great for my use and most importantly , paid for! But its to small for the family , low freeboard for kid safety and the pull is Im sure different from what to expect at a tournament. So my question is, does a newer style boat really help for training purposes? I just skied my first two tourneys at my home lake this year and I'm really liking it. In fact I may ski two more . I would have to sell my boat and take out a loan for the balance to purchase a newer one. I have always had a boat loan since 2000 so I am used to it but it sure feels nice not to have one now! Would a new boat help my bouy count at all? My kids are to young to really now the difference and my wife could really care less one way or the other, so thats not a factor. http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b265/rodltg2/IMG_0944.jpg Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller Not_The_Pug Posted September 10, 2012 Baller Share Posted September 10, 2012 Rod, It all depends on your plans for skiing, if it is just to go out and have fun with the family and ski a few tournaments, then it doesn't make sense to upgrade. If the plan is to ski more tournaments and move your focus towards that, then yes it makes a difference to ski/train behind a current boat. Kevin Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller_ The_MS Posted September 10, 2012 Baller_ Share Posted September 10, 2012 Yes Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller Razorskier1 Posted September 10, 2012 Baller Share Posted September 10, 2012 Yep. If you can make it work and you care about tournaments, a ZO boat helps. I was considering buying one this year, but I'd really like to wait for the next MC. I get unbelievable service from my dealer (lives 5 houses away from me) and I just can't bring myself to buy a Bu or a CC and lose that service. So I'll ski another year or two with my 2005 197TT with Zbox and see what the boys at MC come up with. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller_ Wish Posted September 10, 2012 Baller_ Share Posted September 10, 2012 Helped my count. Spent some time with @MS and finally had a chance to really ski all the ZO settings about mid season. Been struggling a great deal till then. Once I had the setting I needed my scores shot up by six buoys (I was really struggling). Basically got back to and at times bettered my PB. With that said, I still run PP classic. In some ways, the classic makes me ski harder and it's harder to get down the purple line. But when I get to ZO at a tourny, it feels slow and easy. Still have not run it but skiing inside 5 actually makes me feel like I can. I score higher at tournys then practice lately. Not sure I want to get used to a ZO system and get lazy and over confident with it. Id say find someone with a ZO you can spend a day or two behind and test all the settings. Don't trust the "oh...just use B2... It's like PP". That maybe so but I found C1 and man what a difference for me. Maybe you will find that easy feel setting. Then you'll know if that's what you really want. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller jhughes Posted September 10, 2012 Baller Share Posted September 10, 2012 To me, it's not just one pull over another, it's consistency. ZO interacts directly with the engine's computer on a DBW engine. Reaction is pretty much instantaneous and I know that the boat is going to be totally settled in and consistent time and time again. That, for me, would be the reason to switch to a DBW boat with ZO. Extreme consistency, especially with a short setup. Just driving my PPSG-equipped boat the other day in the course I was surprised at the inconsistency I had into the gates and through the course- sometimes I'd over-run, sometimes under, and sometimes have dead-on runs. Sometimes I'd engage in the turn, sometimes not. As much as I love my old boat, I can't argue with the dump-it-and-forget-about-it throttle work required for ZO! Especially if water time is limited- I need each pass to be what it should be and be the same as before for the most part. Nothing's worse than running a great pass, then hearing that it was slow or even worse, hand throttled since PP for some reason did not randomly engage. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
itch2ski Posted September 10, 2012 Share Posted September 10, 2012 "But its too small for the family , low freeboard for kid safety and the pull is Im sure different from what to expect at a tournament." Sounds like there are more reasons to upgrade than just tournament performance. I'd be interested in your Skier if you do decide to sell ;) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller Ilivetoski Posted September 10, 2012 Baller Share Posted September 10, 2012 Dosent matter to your wife if you buy a new boat? Your answer lies in that sentence. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller 6balls Posted September 10, 2012 Baller Share Posted September 10, 2012 I would if I could and I believe it would help, but won't take the loan so "no go" for now. I could cash flow it, but I'm paid off on boats/vehicles right now and liking it...hoping to finally nuke my student loans by year end. You have a cool boat, I'd ride it one more season, ski some more tourneys, get some more ZO time and then decide. Start pocketing some cash in the meantime. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller_ Wish Posted September 11, 2012 Baller_ Share Posted September 11, 2012 @6balls debt free.... that's awesome...there's a lot to be said for that in this day and age. Great job. Don't lose sight of that goal. @rodltg2 that is a stunning boat. And you just got so I like 6balls idea but @Ilivetoski has an excellent point!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller 6balls Posted September 11, 2012 Baller Share Posted September 11, 2012 @wish, it's taking a TON of discipline as it's really not me!! I look at boats/vehicles online near daily, then talk myself down. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller liquid d Posted September 11, 2012 Baller Share Posted September 11, 2012 Why not just sell yours and pick up an 07 MC with ZO? Minimal investment, you get zo on a great boat and you can upgrade in a few years. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller Ilivetoski Posted September 11, 2012 Baller Share Posted September 11, 2012 @liquid d ZO boats must be 08 or newer i thought? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller 6balls Posted September 11, 2012 Baller Share Posted September 11, 2012 '07 MC TT has zero off and SG. It's the white with red letters on one side, black on the other and the gray stars. When your boat is as old as that ski west or my centurion, they don't sell for much so still a decent investment to pick up a '07. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller Mateo_Vargas Posted September 11, 2012 Baller Share Posted September 11, 2012 '08 was when both systems were included from the factory. There were a few '07s that were converted which required an ECM and wiring harness upgrade. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller ForrestGump Posted September 11, 2012 Baller Share Posted September 11, 2012 @ilivetoski You could get a nautique in 2007 with ZO. If you ordered the ZO with it, it came with the right ECM. If you added ZO later, you had to swap the ECM. In 08, all 196s came with the correct ECM for ZO whether you bought ZO or not. Essentially the same with MC. I know of a few late 07 197s that were ordered with ZO and the factory shipped the parts to the dealer to install because they weren't in the normal parts pipeline yet. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller Ilivetoski Posted September 11, 2012 Baller Share Posted September 11, 2012 @shaneH right, what I meant is that ZO was not standard until 08. After 08, I have never seen a boat without ZO Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller Razorskier1 Posted September 11, 2012 Baller Share Posted September 11, 2012 If MC comes out with a new hull in the next couple of years my 2005 PS 197 with Zbox will probably get sold. It will probably have 1600 hours by then, but the way its been maintained I think the buyer will get a great deal. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ToddF Posted September 11, 2012 Share Posted September 11, 2012 Just put stargazer in your boat. a lot cheaper. Unless you need the new boat! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller rodltg2 Posted September 11, 2012 Author Baller Share Posted September 11, 2012 @toddF stargazer has been in since i started skiing the boat. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller eleeski Posted September 12, 2012 Baller Share Posted September 12, 2012 New boats rock! Debt free rocks too... Save hard for a while then get the new boat? The new boats are worth the money - but the debt?? Eric Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller thager Posted September 12, 2012 Baller Share Posted September 12, 2012 My .02 cents. Doesn't necessarily have to be a new boat with ZO. Just ZO. Until I installed ZO in my 02 SN 196 ZO owned my backside at tournaments ! If you want to ski well in tournaments it's a "must have" for skiers over 190 lbs. As far as Stargazer, rarely did I ski well with it. Razorskier1's 197 is the only SG I have ever skied well behind. In my opinion also the only one ever set up correctly. All the others would take off at 3 ball with max rpms to make the end times. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller usaski1 Posted September 12, 2012 Baller Share Posted September 12, 2012 Shoot, if you already have Stargazer, get the Z-box, and call it that. The z-box does take some fine tuning to get tweaked. Once you do, its pretty awesome. I cant tell a difference, and I bet 98% of turney skiers couldn't too. No zooming at 3 ball. No bad times, ever... Only thing is, you can't spin with it engaged, and you can't over throttle. If you follow those two things, your good. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller_ RichardDoane Posted September 12, 2012 Baller_ Share Posted September 12, 2012 sorry to disagree with @usaski1, but z-box will never be ZO, if you can trade up to a ZO boat, you'll be glad you did, and your tournament scores will show it, spend your money on a newer boat, your wife said it's ok..... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller XR6Hurricane Posted September 12, 2012 Baller Share Posted September 12, 2012 One thing for sure, I wouldn't even let freeboard for kid safety enter into the picture. I grew up in a copy of a 15' Allison (could reach over the side and put your hand in the water when you were 5) on a very busy lake. And I'm still here. And your boat is very roomy by comparison. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller liquid d Posted September 12, 2012 Baller Share Posted September 12, 2012 You only go around once, get a new boat! (not new..just new enough for zo) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller 6balls Posted September 12, 2012 Baller Share Posted September 12, 2012 This thread is like the devil on one shoulder saying "c'mon, do it, you know you want to!" and the angel on the other shoulder saying "no, save the money, it's the right thing to do. you have a nice boat" Uh oh...I've never been the angel before, I must be ill. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller Razorskier1 Posted September 12, 2012 Baller Share Posted September 12, 2012 I love my boat and zbox is working well to make it closer to a ZO pull, but I'm sure it isn't exactly like ZO. Because my boat is DBW and I spend a lot of time tweaking SG/zbox, it skis really, really well. I pull up the skier and push the throttle straight through to the bottom. Boat stops on speed even if it is a short setup, runs perfect times and feels more consistent with ZO. If money were no object would I have sold this one and bought a boat with ZO -- yep. But with a college sophomore, a high school senior (soon to be college freshman), and a high school sophomore to pay for, money is an object (not that I see it for very long before it exits my checking account!) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Taelan28 Posted September 12, 2012 Share Posted September 12, 2012 New boats rock! Debt free rocks too... Save hard for a while then get the new boat? The new boats are worth the money - but the debt?? Eric you say things that make such perfect sense in so many of your posts. Whenever I see your name I get excited and I prepare myself for reading something intelligent. Debt free is the way to ski. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller eleeski Posted September 12, 2012 Baller Share Posted September 12, 2012 PP gives a reasonable pull in throttle cable boats. The paddlewheel and Classic mode with the switch working (and set at + or -) will emulate ZO well enough to keep you from MOPing in tournaments. Debt sucks. And sucks worse for toys. ZO is fantastic. New boats are even better. The best toys rock! Angels vs devils. (Baseball vs hockey?) Eric Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller Bulldog Posted September 13, 2012 Baller Share Posted September 13, 2012 Life is very short, buy the new boat! "Do Better..." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mateja Posted September 13, 2012 Share Posted September 13, 2012 Go with a new boat! You won't regret it especially since your wife gave you the go ahead. I upgraded from a '97 Malibu Echelon to a '10 Lxi for similar reasons. Needed more family room and wanted upgraded speed control. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baller_ The_MS Posted September 13, 2012 Baller_ Share Posted September 13, 2012 Get a 2002 Nautique and put ZO in it. It is a better boat than the TXI, MC and 200 and will come in very cheap compared to late model big 3. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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