Ok folks. I promise and I deliver... Here are some more pictures of the Hydrodyne at work today. Here are the stats: Deep water start, 6 big guys with a total human body weight of 1,175 lbs. Four guys were pulled off of the pilon, the two heaviest, outside guys were pulled off of a stern-eye mounted harness/pulley. Trim all the way down (19 degrees total with the wedge), 60 lbs bow balast (but only 1/2 tank of fuel), five people in the boat for the pull. Used the 19 pitch Mirage Plus prop. Here's the photos: 1. Getting everyone ready on the dock. 2. Everyone in the water - ropes, ropes, ropes 3. THE PULL 4. Everyone's up!! 5. Com'n Across the lake.... 6. Coming home with 11 (yes, 11!) people in the boat (one of my brothers fell because he had to screw around....). A loose rope then caused havoc and everyone else let go. 7. A tired driver (me). Hey, I don't do this every day. This was a tiresome event for a regular guy. Makes you appreciate the work ski teams go through with the ropes and logistics - easy to overlook that from the perspective of the audience, I think. Hope everyone enjoys the pictures. MarkBano
WOW, I'll bet the throttle did not feel sensitive on that pull. Pull the loose ropes in a little. jim
You're right, Jim. Next time 'round I'm going to try to have someone in another boat to pick up those who fall and also have a spotter who is ready to pull in the loose ropes. We had a mess with ropes and people. What amazed me was how little my boat seemed to care when I had 11 people to bring home in it. The pull was actually surprisingly easy, even with one of my nephews purposely fighting the boat for his amusement. I have a lot of other photos to share... more later.
You don't have to pull the ropes all the way in, just enough to prevent them from hitting the skiers. I have never understood where this hull gets all the lift. jim
Looks like too much fun!! Six guys,, so how did the 3-2-1 pyramid building go?? Enjoy the rest of the summer. Kevin
Hey Mark, If you will roll into a nice lazy turn the unused handle should migrate to the inside, and out of the way. The inside skier might be able to pick it up and hand it to the guy in the water. jim
Try skiing over dancing ropes with a 4 tier on your shoulders. Eventually, you get used to it and it gets a little easier. Always a pain though. Ever drive a hot pick up? The boat may not have cared much, but try maneuvering with that much weight. I was driving some ATB's last week with an extra 3 people in the boat (total of 5 with me and spotter), and it was very noticeably more sluggish. Also had to have the heavier extra people stay as far forward as possible to keep from hooking the rope on the bow light with shorter people going around. You sure that's under 1200 lbs of meat back there? Nice work!
That is why I have the plug in lights and no cleats. And, I have hung a rope on the almost flush cover for the plug in light. jim
When my wife's daughter was 14 she wanted to learn ATBs. I never had any problem with ropes getting caught on my 18 because when I built it I used pop up cleats in all four corners and the low profile bow light. I wanted to use the newer pop up style bow lights that are out there, but I couldn't see spending the outrageous amount of cash they wanted for them back then. Greg
I've done hot pick-ups but only pulling doubles with an experienced person still up. No chance of a pyramid with these big heavy guys... you'd never get anyone willing to be on the bottom! It was fun pulling my brothers and nephews all at once. I know six guys at once doesn't sound like much to the show ski guys but to little 'ol me it was thrilling! I have more pics of from last weekend but will have to find time to post them later... opcorn:
