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@Taynton - I have a complete Perfect Pass Stargazer setup, including Z-Box. Version 9.1 software. Send me a private message if you're interested.

Building the shim for our '98 SN now. @sgregg has graciously helped me with some of the details and @Doug tells me we're waiting on ZO to ship. I'm hoping one of the engines he mentioned is ours....

@DW 351 Ford to PCM ZR 409, which is based on a 6.0L GM Vortec. My understanding is that PCM is no longer offering the 350-based Excalibur.

@MDB1056 More to it than just ZO. The old engine is a 351 HO, which is carbureted, and we've been running in saltwater with no closed cooling. A rebuild will only get us so far. This new setup gives us modern ignition and fuel delivery, closed cooling and 110 (120?) more horses. I know the boat very well, and my wife and I both love to ski behind it. In fact she's totally into doing this. I'm a lucky guy. Most importantly, @eleeski told me he won't ski with me until I get ZO or a paddlewheel for PP. So there's that.

@sgregg We're on Doug's list to do this to our '98 bubble butt, and it can't happen soon enough. The original engine is showing signs of giving up. Would love to see more pix -- dash, throttle handle, etc. It looks great!

skidim.com or nautiqueparts.com. Local Nautique/Malibu dealer is helpful for small things. The guys at DIM are knowledgeable, and always seem to have the time to help over the phone. That's a rare treat these days.

Trashed a brand-new Acme 422 beyond any hope of repair. The rear guidepost on our trailer broke off as I was backing the boat off. This allowed the stern swung over far enough for the prop to hit the trailer. We're still on the 422 that replaced it. @Zman I suspect @Horton is hiding something. Otherwise a fairly random question...

@Jody_Seal thank you very much for pointing me in the right direction. Turns out the part simply unthreaded itself - it wasn’t sheared. I pulled the assembly out of the boat, cleaned and lubed everything, and screwed that part in with a drop of Locktite. We’re back on the water with a throttle that’s smoother than before, and I learned how that throttle/shifter works - very cool. Teleflex made the right move by replacing the spring-loaded dwell mechanism with this cam-driven version, don’t you think?

@Orlando76 - you rule!

@killer - thanks - you were right on it. @eleeski you’re more than welcome. Always a great time. I love this site.

@Jody_Seal thanks! Replaceable or whole new unit. I owe you!

Found this on the floor of my ‘98 Ski Nautique, behind the driver’s seat. It appears to have sheared on the threaded end opposite the slot. The brass ‘roller’ slides off. Nothing unusual happened prior to finding it and everything was operating normally. Any ideas?

@horton thank you for clarifying. We'll be trunking it tomorrow, maybe a heater shirt.

@radarboy32 I just PM'd you. It's tough with no boat, but not all the regulars at Mission Bay or San V own boats. The best part about having Mission Bay as my home site is that I suddenly ski amazingly well my first few sets when visiting a real ski lake. Seeing dolphins and sea lions in the course is pretty cool too.

Not wasting effort on aesthetics, a practical study.

Saltwater isn't that big a deal for your equipment or boat with a little extra care and rinsing, like @skispray and @Onside135 said. The water in Thunderbird, however, is far more corrosive than seawater. A buddy of mine has had his boat in both and he said it's night and day.

@sunperch you have a very good point. @Bruce_Butterfield I agree with almost everything you wrote, and I thank you for your candor. I would respectfully add that Nationals is way more than just determining the best in the country. I aspire to slalom in the Nationals because I've busted my butt and I'm now just a half-buoy from qualifying, and I want to celebrate advancing to that level and immerse myself in the whole scene. I don't have any chance of getting on the podium, but I'd sure like to participate.

@gdetray and @Thomasasher - thank you very much for the practical advice. Yours are words to live by -- perhaps literally -- should I decide to go through with this. @LLUSA If Nationals isn't about inclusion, why do we have a grassroots program, a junior development program, and ongoing membership drives? We host seven 'Class F' tournaments a year in our little corner of the skiing universe, and we're trying to include anyone who's interested in getting better.

@eleeski the temperature in Chile is the same whether measured in F or C.

@parkerc2112 VERY interesting story. And you had prior experience. Thanks for sharing.

Thanks for all the thoughtful posts. So awesome. @Bruce_Butterfield I am getting pretty good at knowing when to listen to @eleeski and when not to. The guy is incredibly generous of spirit, has a twisted sense of humor and is a lot of fun. I cannot imagine a better person to help me set up my new/used trick ski. When I drop at the end of the slalom course, however, his coaching sounds just like Charlie Brown's teacher.... @dnewton - thank you, I think! To quote a semi-famous song, "...and you know that you're over the hill when your mind makes a promise that your body can fill..." @igkya @andjules @Chef23 Thanks for the insights - I am only looking to plop and would only consider more aggressive training depending on how plopping goes. And I have some great coaches right here in town. Most importantly, I have a wonderful, understanding wife who loves her time on the course. I wouldn't consider this if she was truly concerned. @Than_Bogan nice to hear from you. As a fellow engineer, I always enjoy your contributions here. @Horton genuinely curious about the problem with novice jumpers at Nationals...

I’m looking for opinions on taking my first trip over the jump ramp. This isn't a difficult decision except for the fact I’m 58 years old. I have a couple of experienced three-eventers who think I’m all but guaranteed to get injured in the process. Several other experienced competitors, including @eleeski , think I’ll be fine. I’m in good shape, I’m fairly limber and I have no back or knee issues. Just some gray hair. And I'll have some very capable coaching if I choose to go for it. Should I give it a try?

Prefer the first one. Second one looks like a promo boat for Good & Plenty, which isn't a bad thing if you're into licorice. We were once a Caillou household. Still can't get that theme song out of my head.

@UWSkier Version 9 is very hard to overshoot - you really have to bury the throttle. This assumes your mechanical linkage is operating smoothly with a good return spring (or springs). Upgrading to 9 from 6.5 and adding ZBox will come very close to making your Response feel like a ZO setup. You might have to make some tweaks to the background settings. Mine was great out of the box. @BraceMaker nailed it: it's a whole new product.

@Tdub - Is the boat actually surging? RPMs fluctuating? Or are you just reading the speedometer during an otherwise-normal pass? If it's the latter, I would ignore what the speedometer reads and trust the times. My speedo reads high and low, but the boat's locked in solid and not surging. I attribute this to the speedo displaying a single, instantaneous reading off the GPS system. I would also call Mark at PP and tell him what you're seeing. Make sure you know what version you have because Mark will ask. (The version flashes on the screen when it first powers up and can also be found under System Info.) If you have a more recent version, it's only $50 to upgrade to version 9. I've upgraded two boats to version 9, both with outstanding results.