July 30, 2008

Oh How I Still Love You, Original Liquid Force Squirt

Back in the 90's when all was well with the health of the New England wakeboarding scene, there was a Pro Tour stop in Hartford, Connecticut. My riding buddies and I attended each one, and rode in expos, demos and Pro/Am events. In one case my #1 riding pahd-nah and I took first and second (I took first, a'hem) respectively. But then it ended - the powers that be who run the Pro Wakeboard Tour decided Connecticut was not the right place to have the event.

Canada was.

Running up to that last tour stop in Connecticut, I saved around $500 for exclusive splurge purposes, knowing I would not have many chances like this to get wakeboarding and boating items that aren't normally carried in catalogs. I wanted items that were sold exclusively at events like Surf Expo and Pro Tour stops. That weekend I purchased a 500lb ballast bag, a zero-stretch line, and an original Liquid Force Squirt from Tony Finn Himself. He literally handed it to me. OH YEAH IT'S NAME CHECK TIME! I met, as mentioned, Tony Finn, Tara Hamilton, Thomas Horell, Darin Shapiro, and Gregg Necrason that weekend. I also saw a super young Shane Bonifay raising hell with a squirtgun. Last, I met Chris Bischoff and he asked us if we were competing - and we were. I think that made him think we we're cool. Fooled you Chris!

For the better part of the first morning of the event, I walked around with that red, original press Squirt all sorts of proud of myself. A young, very punky Scott Jobe made a wise crack about the board as we walked by a booth he was staffing. I think it was Scott Jobe anyway. But enough about that.

After the event, and witnessing a level of wakeboarding that we'd never seen before, we were severely excited. We got home, filled the ballast, linked up the new zero stretch rope and headed out on my old Ski Nautique 2001. I instantly felt at home on the Squirt - almost bizzarely so. That week I got half cab rolls down solid. And in the next 2 years, I learned every single invert I've ever managed to ride away from on that board, except for backside backrolls which I landed first on an original run Hyperlite Pro, the very day my high wrap bindings arrived via FedEx. The original Squirt is also the platform on which I learned various spins including wrapped and handle pass 540's (I prefer wrapped thank you very much).

I later replaced the Squirt with a Super Squirt - Gregg Necrason pro model and swiftly snapped my tibia and fibula on a roll to revert gone horribly wrong behind a horribly weighted "Wakeboard Edition" Tige with "Taps" set to "Wakeboard" .

Now, in anticipation of my 2008 Liquid Force Watson limited setup from Liquid Force and Boardstop, I gave my 2007 setup to a good friend who upon taking his first set on it, immediately reported that he'd be unwilling to part with it. In short - he loves it (a 138 Substance).

Now essentially boardless, I checked the rack of blank decks from years past. 1992 Hyperlite Pro? No. Skurfer Rage? No. Skurfer Blast. No again. What about that Super Squirt on which I shattered my leg? No thanks. But the red, lonely, unused original Squirt was sitting there and I decided to set it up, and give it a whirl. I would have taken out the 138 Liquid Force Helix on which I did my rehab riding, but it is wall mounted and signed and thus too sentimental to take out just yet.

As I've said on here before, I worked as the Pro Shop manager at a waterski/wakeboard shop during summers through college and had a chance to demo - and pro-form everything that most of the top manufacturers have to offer. Despite that, I am a Liquid Force guy - 10 years strong, and we did not carry Liquid Force. It is amazing to me that a board nearly as old as the company itself was still up to snuff when it came to mildly difficult tricks and a compliment that I could not extend to other manufacturers' offerings from 1997. A lot of people will drag their old boards out for funzies, but in this case I really had nothing else to ride, and I am not complaining. What Jimmy Redmond designed in 1996 or so, remains a board that I can take out and quite literally use as a dependable backup until my new equipment arrives.

Bottom line - the board is still phenomenal. I can do all of my difficult (for me at least) stuff on it without any issue. It has a pretty unforgiving rail and rides a bit squirrely, but I can throw that thing around like it's literally nothing. There's no question that it is one of the of the best wakeboard shapes ever made. Not unlike what I said about the Correct Craft Sport Nautique - maybe it was all we ever needed, not to say that very important improvements haven't been made. We of course like our new boards and fancy boats as much as the next guy. I've toyed with the idea that perhaps I am perpetually caught in a wakeboarding time-warp that makes me assert that board and boat design started getting it just right in the late 90's and thus keeps me happy because that means a lower point of entry for new people entering the sport. I'd love to ride my Squirt behind a brand-new Super Air Nautique 230. Would the advanced, new age design of the 230 and the old-school vibe of the Squirt collide like matter and antimatter in a breif flash of light leaving me with nothing but my Boston Whaler and a pair of burnt boardshorts? I won't know until 2010 when I take delivery of my 230.

In the end I kept my bindings, but handed over my 2007 board. I am very much ready for my 2008 Watson Limited Setup, but before it arrives, I have to say that I am quite pleased with the Squirt after all these years. It is a board I can say with 100% honesty, is still relevant today, 11 years after it was designed. You can't say that about many wakeboards. Hell - you can't say that about some boats! Once again, thanks to Jimmy Redmond and Liquid Force for shaping and building boards that clearly stand the test of time.

Posted by erik at 03:19 PM | Comments (1) | TrackBack

May 29, 2008

The Nightmare Wake Boat of My Dreams: The Wake Dragon 9000

I make no secret that I think things have gotten pretty off-course in terms of wake boats and what #1-Pay for their new wake boats and #2-Receive in terms of a wake. Despite common belief, wakes can in fact be photographed, and thus demonstrated as large, and while I am not a Naval Architect, I bet they can scientifically be measured too. This is not Bigfoot or an the Abdominal Snowman that we're talking about after all, it is behind us every time we hit that 20-26mph sweet spot and at that point all you need to do is turn around and snap the picture.

It seems that the focus has gotten away from the actual wake, and yet I still see countless instances of people bragging about their phenomenal brand-new wake boat that cost them $70,000, and then make the mistake of showing the wake. Whoops! I have certain loyalties to Wakeboarder.com, their advertisers, and the people that post there, so generally I need to hold my comments to myself. But clearly making the best wake is not the top priority it would seem, in some instances, for some wake boat manufacturers.

So I have decided that The Wakeboard Report's new entrepreneurial venture is in boat building, since all we're really apparently after is accessories - and as for the wake, heck, to a person who has never seen a wake before, I am pretty sure I can convince them that the wake on the WAKE DRAGON 9000 has the best SHAPE ever. Today we introduce the WAKE DRAGON 9000! It comes with everything that our focus group tests have determined a wakeboarder wants.

F e a t u r e s

Best shaped wake ever
As for size - well - just open the valves on the built in, chrome ballast "tanks" that the boat sits on and get all the ballast you need. That will make the wake bigger - promise.

Awesome Graphics
Your choice of Buzzsaw plate, tribal star, or Alien spaceship logo (reflective tape on alien spaceship logo, add $250 USD).

LED-enhanced swim platform and glow-effect rubrail
Find the boat in the dark, incase that ever comes up.

3 articulating mirrors arms
Each flip up to reveal an LCD screen.

Rope retractor with on-boat landing platform
Never fall again. Never need to. Hit the retractor and slide back on board for a beer and a slice of quiche.

GPS/Lowrance Satellite Navigation and Triangulator
Does not interfere with rope retractor.

Personalized nameplate
Suggested names "Sshyeah" "A-ite" "Aquawesome" "Melted Ice".

Storage Tubs.
17 storage tubs actually. People are apparently bringing their entire record collection onto their boats now. Why leave your stuff at home when you can load it up onto your WAKE DRAGON 9000.

Comes with Manta Ray Flying Tube
Come on. Stop it. Just stop. You know you wanted to try one of those things.

Super Loud Hi-Fi Stereo System
You will win those on-water SPL contests, FINALLY!
Stereo details:
- 8 Infinity 6x9s powered by 2 600 watt Planet Audio 4 channel amps
- 3 18" Planet Audio subwoofers
- Alpine CDA-7995 head unit with remote
- Two 7" LCD Screens in upholstery with PS2 mounted in bin
- 7 Street Glow Neo-Blue Neons throughout boat....4 under seats, 2 in front console, and one in the port of the sub box
- Stock throttle removed and covered with flamed plastic with red light and skull knob
- 4 Street Glow strobe lights and 4 APC strobe lights throughout the pontoons...sorry - ballast tanks
- Blue Plasma Lights in Highs and lows

Dual Axle Trailer on 22's
To match your cliche white Yukon/Tahoe/Denali which ALSO rolls on 22's

Taking preorders now for our 2007 North America release. One of our prospects is already offering the following testimonial:

I think the wake dragon 9000 is the most extreme wake boat out there.

Indeed! And it isn't even out there yet.

Posted by erik at 02:36 AM | Comments (1) | TrackBack

January 04, 2008

Malibu Viral Videos Surface on YouTube, Hit Mark

In this video, Malibu's "Wally" (who we presume is ex (?) pro rider Mike Weddington) shows us but does not tell us how to behave while wakeboarding as a guest. Perhaps we found this video hilarious simply because it reminds us of an extended cut of something that The Wakeboard Report crew has done on the home lake - or because it is just pure slapstick stupidity (our favorite). Regardless this made us laugh pretty hard so we thought we'd share it with you.

Well Played Malibu. And well played Mike Weddington (golf clap). We still have all our old videos and remain fans!

One thing - are people really saying "Sherpa" as a new colloquial out there on the West Coast? Just checking.

Posted by erik at 06:24 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack

August 22, 2007

Best Boat Wrap We've Seen on a Correct Craft

Wakeboard Report reader and Correct Craft dealer representative Mike from Tobler Marina out of Hayden, ID sent us photos of a 2007 Super Air Nautique 210, dressed up to look like a war-battered aircraft. As you know from our 2007 Wakeboard Report Wake Boat Beauty Awards, we gave the prize of Best Wrap or Custom Graphic to a Supra Launch that reminded us of the Fairchild-Republic A-10 Thunderbolt (Warthog). Well, that Supra has some competition, because from the simulated rivets, to the weathered Air Nautiques logo - this boat's design theme is carried out with amazing detail and commitment.

Permission to taxi to runway B12 Left:

 
She has a battle-scarred transom - but she'll still fly:

 
Those had better not be real rivets...or bullet holes!

 
Excellent interpretation of the Air Nautiques logo:

Having grown up in a Military family, we love the theme found on this Correct Craft, and we chuckled when we noticed the kill markings on the side of the boat. That should start some interesting conversations on the lake from Malibu and MasterCraft owners, but we certainly got a laugh out of it and hope that they do as well.

We've seen a lot of people wrapping their boats lately. Some of them have been garish or questionable (or both), but only a handful have made their way onto a Correct Craft. The Correct Craft owner community tends to be much more conservative when it comes to this sort of adornment. But with that said, it is without hesitation that we claim this to be the best custom wrap on any Correct Craft boat to date, and one of the nicer ones we've seen on any wake boat regardless of manufacturer.

» Imagination Graphics created the wrap
» Tobler Marina sold the boat

Posted by erik at 10:13 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack

July 17, 2007

The 2006-2007 Wakeboard Report Wake Boat Beauty Awards

The other night, my editor wife asked me what has been my favorite article on The Wakeboard Report. It was easy to answer; I told her that the The 2005-2006 Wakeboard Report Wake Boat Beauty Awards article was my favorite so far. It was fun to write, and I strongly believe that each boat that got a 'nod' was important and deserving last year.

For the 2006-2007 model year, we saw a few iterations on boats that were already out and many new models. The aftermarket & mod community has also continued to pump out excellent products, and in general it as been a very exciting year from the standpoint of someone who covers and observes the wakeboarding industry. So looking back on a busy 2007 model year, I think we're ready for this year's version. The 2008 models are surely being prepped for public viewing, so let's get it on!

Best Huge Wake Boat
The Malibu 247, in its LSV v-drive and RX direct drive variants, stands out as one of my top three favorite boats currently in production. Of course this is not the first time we've written about the 247, but it is the first time we've written about it after actually being in one. The boat is just a phenomenal feat of engineering and I commend what Malibu has done with the 247. We recently spoke to a representative at East Coat Flightcraft (New England's largest Malibu dealership) and to paraphrase, he reported having trouble moving 247's. He stated that people don't have a lot of interest in these larger wake boats, or at least not yet. I find that very surprising as there are no fewer than 10 pontoon boats that cruise around on my lake which push 30 feet in length. Perhaps as time goes on, the 247 and other large boats in the same category will take off. In the mean time I assert (and always have) that our boats will never get smaller.

Best Wrap or Custom Graphic: This Supra Launch
We don't know much about this Supra Launch, aside from the fact that it appears to be inspired by the design one would find on my favorite warplane - the Fairchild-Republic A-10 Thunderbolt. This year, the boat show season showcased countless, and frankly tasteless vinyl wraps that didn't hit the mark for me. Schools, camps and even random promotional efforts have also wrapped their boats in similarly garish vinyl concoctions. My assertion on this site is that boats that cost upwards of $60,000 should make every conceivable effort to stand the test of time. Classic lines, classic and timeless design aesthetics will be our priority when we replace the Super Air Nautique someday. Unfortunately it seems that can sometimes only be achieved only through either ordering a boat without graphics or emblems, or designing a custom wrap. In any case - whether this is a full wrap or simply a custom decal that someone made, we love it. It gets the nod for best custom wrap on a wake boat this year.

Snubbed Last Year But Shouldn't Have Been: Correct Craft Super Air Nautique 220
Correct Craft's Super Air Nautique 220 had already been announced and released when the 2005-2006 WBRWBBA's had it's debut. And at that time, I had set my Correct Craft cheerleader pom-poms down and sulked because I was not immediately that impressed with the boat. But opinions can change, and mine changed last summer as more people got their hands on this boat and began to report their experiences with weighting it properly and their experiences with the modular seating system. As more and more positive reports surfaced, I sought out an interview with the lead designer of the boat, and managed to get it. This conversation was the final tipping point for me. It tipped me toward liking the boat and caused me to believe in Correct Craft's vision for the 220.

Most Valuable Used Boat: 1994-2006 Super Air Nautique/Super Sport Nautique
Should we have gone with "Passing of a Legend" or "Most Curiously Discontinued" or "What?!" instead of the award category with which we went? We still can't decide, but the concept is the same with each title. If you had told us one year ago that today there would not be a Super Sport/210 hull in Correct Craft's lineup we would have called you a liar and would then suggest we have a fist fight. But it is true. My inside source who claimed that the old Super Air Nautique hull would be available in 2007, and that the boat could be ordered as a Super Sport was absolutely dead wrong. I remain stunned. And with Correct Craft occupying an appreciable percentage of the overall positive comments in this article, I feel I can admit that they've really got me scratching my head here. I'll stop there as I could write 3000 words on this issue. That would make this article look very strange.

Most Creative Departure: MasterCraft CSX 220
The fact that the MasterCraft CSX 220 wins this category should be a surprise to nobody. MasterCraft has carved out such a niche market for themselves with this boat and it is not likely to be challenged from typical tournament inboard boat manufacturers. Of course we said that when the X-Star was first unveiled with its "picklefork" design and now Tige and MB Sports both have boats that employ this design feature - so the copycat effect may play a role at some point down the road. But top to bottom, the MasterCraft CSX 220 is the most innovative wake boat currently in production. Considering the severe departure it has taken from what we consider to be a normal wake boat, show me a boat that steps outside the boundary as much as the CSX 220 and I will proceed to regale you with counterpoint after counterpoint until you give up. And wait will you see the 24 foot version of this boat!

Winner Overall: Correct Craft Crossover 236
Not unlike my initial reaction to the Super Air Nautique 220, I found the initial unveiling of the Correct Craft 236 Crossover to be marginally underwhelming. I was disappointed that that the boat followed the lineage of the 211 and 220 models rather than the classic 210, but I have completed reversed my feelings about this boat, enough to presume it may be my family's next boat. I've gone into deep detail about the Correct Craft 236 crossover in an effort to familiarize people with the layout of the boat and what it means for Correct Craft's lineup. I've questioned the fact that they've marketed what Shaun Murray, Shawn Watson and other top Correct Craft sponsored athletes choose as their boat as a "Crossover" model, but that seems to soon be changing. Look to the Correct Craft 236 Crossover for inspiration toward what can be done when a designer sets upon a new, innovative path while keeping classic aesthetics in mind. I can't say enough good things about this boat and the reports keep coming in that lead me to make the assertion that it is Correct Craft's "wake athlete" boat. This assertion is even further proven by the fact that that the company will soon release the Super Air Nautique 230; we'll likely be taking deliver of ours early 2011 but it will be a 2009 model year boat. I don't tend to buy new (at least not at this point) but I do believe that the 230 or 236 will be the next Wakeboard Report flagship (unless a promo opportunity presents itself sooner).

This year's Wakeboard Report Wake Boat Beauty Awards encompasses a wide variety of boats, and as much diversity as we could manage. We hope you enjoyed this second installment of the WBRWBBA's as much as we enjoyed writing it. See you on the water!

Posted by erik at 06:29 AM | Comments (1) | TrackBack

May 22, 2007

Calling Out to EA Sports BIG. Please Revive the Wakeboarding Genre, Your Way.

My wife and I recently had a baby girl, my new favorite pastime is spending time with her and of course my wife. But I haven't let my interests in my hobbies fall by the wayside, and The Wakeboard Report's flagship boat is launching Friday - rain or rain. The baby is ready to go too - already outfitted with her own JetPilot infant vest, available at Boardstop.com.

Along with outdoors activities like wakeboarding, wakeskating, snowboarding and mountain biking - one of my favorite hobbies has always been video games and still is. Yes, even as a 30 year old with a corporate job and a mortgage - and there are a lot out there like me. But my gaming time is spent differently now, mostly with my Nintendo DS at night after the little one is asleep. On this rainy weekend that was originally slated to kick off the summer, I had a chance to spend some time in our TV room having my ass handed to me in 1080i high-def goodness playing the public beta version of Halo 3. It is a pretty neat opportunity, and one that was offered to everyone who purchased Crackdown for Xbox 360.

But after fighting with the controls, my lack of talent in first person shooters, and a general lack of gaming talent altogether, I decided to actually attempt to have fun, and inserted my favorite game of this generation, Wakeboarding Unleashed Featuring Shaun Murray, and played it for about 3 hours straight. Although it is a few years old now and is beginning to show its age graphically, I believe this game was simply put, a gift to wakeboarders. I own all 4 versions of it: PC, Playstation 2, Xbox, and Game Boy Advance. Although it didn't sell extremely well, among the gaming community it is widely considered to be a solid game, with a deep level of complexity, plenty of replay potential, and an accurate take on the sport. Aside from some picky items such as a lack of an open level without any obstacles and the fact that Collin Wright is in the game as a playable character, it is the best wakeboarding game ever made - far and away surpassing Darin Shapiro's Big Air Wakeboarding and BursTrick by embarrassingly high factors.

The problem is, we're likely to never see a sequel to the game, despite the fact that it was well received and positively reviewed by critics. Activision simply didn't sell enough copies on any of the aforementioned platforms to warrant a sequel. Wakeboarding Unleashed is built on the Tony Hawk game and control engine; the fans of which enjoy a new version of the game almost every year; in fact there are 2 Tony Hawk games slated for release this year alone. But there is no sign, no rumors, no indication whatsoever that Activision will revisit the sport of wakeboarding. There was one highly publicized and well funded houseboat trip supported by Microsoft and was said to be the kickoff party for a Scott Byerly wakeboarding & wakeskating game. However during tough times in the original Xbox's early life, the Byerly game project was axed.

With the emphasis game developers place on realistic water appearance and physics in many game genres, combined with the popularity of extreme sports action sports games, it would seem a match made in heaven for the right developer to come along and give the sport of wakeboarding another chance. In a sense, I view the return to wakeboarding in video game as a matter of eventuality, not simply possibility.

Who though? That answer comes so easily. My vote would be the Electronic Arts' BIG division, who is responsible for creating the SSX series of snowboarding games, and has subsequently enjoyed a reputation for creating the best snowboarding games ever made. Like Wakeboarding Unleashed, the SSX series of games are not "simulation" style games which tend to be too rooted in reality for many causal gamers. They are over the top, arcade style games that appeal to a vast audience despite portraying a niche sport. And serving as a system capability showcase and launch title for the PlayStation 2, EA Sports released SSX and the game served as a system seller for many - including me. SSX Tricky, SSX 3, SSX On Tour and SSX Blur have been released thereafter - all building on the solid groundwork put in place by the original game.

If Electronic Arts undertook project and picked up on some of the nuances of wakeboarding; then added their personal flair to game design, the possibilities for an enormously fun and popular title emerge. EA has already proven their ability to conquer the snowboarding genre of games and a wakeboarding game would be fantastic next step for them.

There is interest out there in reviving this sport in a game, and EA has the talent and resources to knock it out of the park.

Posted by erik at 01:33 AM | Comments (1) | TrackBack

March 29, 2007

The Top 10 Things that Surprised Us This Year

The last 12 months have been pretty exciting for those of us that follow the wakeboarding industry. A bevy of new boats, new riders and new tricks have hit the scene and we've enjoyed watching this sport in the past year - perhaps a bit more actively and excitedly than ever before. And since top 10 lists are all the rage these days in the blogosphere (yes you may punch me for using that word), we have one of two lists ready to go today. Without further adieu, here are the top 10 things that surprised us at The Wakeboard Report, this year.

10. Shawn Watson is being called a veteran. I just hit the big 3-0 and I have to tell you, Shawn Watson being called a veteran makes me feel like a piece of space rock that is so old, its age can't be calculated with our current Earth science. How old is Shawn Watson, 12? If Watson is a veteran, what does that make Philip Soven? Please excuse me while I go work on my comb-over. Is that a nostril hair? Ugh. Shawn, in the 1 in 400,000,000 chance that you're reading this, I have poorly ridden and enjoyed your pro model since you had one - so no hard feelings. I'm a fan. A really, really old one though. Excuse me, my Lark just finished charging and I am going to the buffet. Watch it Sonny!

9. The moon-shot Malibu has made in their wake boat mindshare. Not that they were down for the count - or even being handed their hat - but it wasn't until recent years that I personally started liking their boats. I had my <explicative> handed to me in a contest behind an awkwardly weighted, early direct drive Wakesetter and from that point forward despised all things Malibu. At least I don't hold a grudge and am not petty and spiteful. Well - we're completely over those past failures behind a Malibu and have been very impressed with what they've done with their Marketing, their large boats, and their workmanship of late.

8. Danny Harf still hasn't gotten very hurt. I cringe every time I see the man wakeboard. He rides with a certain amount of voracity that tends to make me nervous - as someone who compound fractured my right leg wakeboarding. I just want him to be careful. My Mom had this expression on her face the first time she saw me land an invert, after breaking my leg. I have that same face when I watch video segments of Danny Harf. Amazed, but concerned.

7. Parks Bonifay is really hurt this time. Still 5 years my junior, he is about the same age as the Shawn "veteran" Watson, and undoubtedly one of the sport's most important athletes. As one of the faces of Ronix Wakeboards, there has been some question about his return to the sport. Look - I don't care if he ever competes again, but I want him to heal up. He had knee surgery and suffered a few setbacks - including infection. We think Parks is great for the sport and the sport needs him back in it, in whatever capacity he choses (except TV announcer).

6. 1080's are everywhere. 2 from Rusty Malinowski from different directions, one from Danny Harf and a reported cable park 1080 (which we don't count since we think cable wakeboarding is the boom barefooting of wakeboarding; because it is.) have vaulted this elusive trick into prominence and I would not be surprised to see a few brandished on the Pro Tour this year. There is no question that the professionals in this sport are practicing 1080's for double up competitions, at the very least. Some jerk will probably even throw a grab in, just to mock me.

5. Epic Boats aren't everywhere. By this time we'd have expected to see one in real life. Please don't become another Calabria that caters to just one coast. Some of us like big wake boats up here in New England too! Heck I've seen a Tige RZ2 in real life and I've still yet to see an Epic.

4. The warm reception of the Correct Craft 236 Crossover. Initially I wasn't ready to accept that Correct Craft had released yet another large wake boat, but didn't create the elongated version of the Super Sport hull, with simple wraparound seating to go head-to-head with the Malibu 247. You know, the boat that I asked them to name the Correct Craft Jernberg. Alas, Correct Craft innovated, and the boat that Steve Carlton and the team at Correct Craft developed is phenomenal, and is a new source for business development inspiration and lottery prayers for me. In the general Correct Craft community - the boat is more popular than the Super Air Nautique 220 was, after the same period of time had elapsed after its initial announcement and release.

3. The price of the MasterCraft CSX 220. Wow-ka-pow! Not what we expected. Again with the lottery stuff. I hate having to put these amazing boats in the "lottery" category. As an aside, I would much rather fantasize about an invention that takes off or a fantastic business opportunity, but for all intents and purposes, this boat is out of my price range by a mile and I didn't see it coming. So - yeah - lottery. To offset our disappointment, we bought a 1971 Correct Craft Southwind and we're building it up as a quasi-CSX 220 with dive tanks, rod holders and associated accouterments.

2. Dealers are having trouble selling large wake boats. Now this is extremely interesting to me, as there are no fewer than 10 pontoon boats that cruise around on my lake which push 30 feet in length. At several boat shows in several parts of the country this year, dealers informed me that they have been put in a strange position to price their high-end large wake boats, well below MSRP and even then are not garnering as much sales activity as they would like. I don't understand this phenomenon, but nobody can state it with more authority than the dealers can - and thats what they've told me.

1. The removal of the Super Sport Nautique, or Classic 210 hull from the Correct Craft lineup. I still can't get over it - nor can I shut up about it. I've posted several times about this topic and whined about it to just about anyone that would listen. Including Correct Craft themselves, although its was more... careful. And I used my big boy voice. I don't know why it isn't available for 2007, I don't know of plans to bring it back, but this was the most surprising development in the past 12 months, for us. This also shook the resale market for the Super Sport-based 210 and current owners rejoiced. Buyers and seekers, could only weep.

Posted by erik at 11:17 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack

March 25, 2007

MasterCraft X-1 Saved By Airlift Helicopter

What do you get when you mix a helicopter, a stuck MasterCraft X-1, and $2000?

Ummm - only the most awesome air rescue footage ever.

Someone, somewhere on a message board I won't mention snarked that they were secretly wishing that the cable would snap during the course of this procedure. I think this footage is satisfying enough without the added spectacle of seeing one of the finest wake boats ever made plummet into a river. Not to mention how that would unbalance the load on the chopper and likely causing a pretty severe disaster. Plus if you're that sick minded, there's always this video. Anyway, those terrible thoughts aside, if it were my boat being airlifted out of Mud Island I would have slipped the pilot a $20 to ask him or her to place it carefully back into the water rather than watch my boat suffer a 5 foot drop like this X-1 appeared to have endured. But it is a MasteCraft and can probably take it. I also would not have nominated the person who had 97 cups of coffee to be the person responsible for recording the only occurance of this kind of which I am aware. It is mildly nauseating in parts and there are blotches of mud on the lens... but hey - it is what it is: the only footage we've got of a truly amazing procedure and for that, we thank the mudcaked videographer and his mudcaked camera. We also commend you Sir for getting it on the Web so quickly and on the best video delivery & sharing platform. This video is long by YouTube standards but entirely worth your time. And did I mention it is the most awesome thing ever?

I am off to call Boat U.S. to make sure my policy covers helicopter recovery. Wish me luck!

» More information and photos about this ordeal

Posted by erik at 02:01 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack

September 22, 2006

Lake Associations and Us

Bypassing fact checking & editorial processes, the Muskoka Lake Association published this hilarious article detailing Wakeboard & Wakesurf Boats, and it recently surfaced in the wakeboarding community. In essence, it illustrates what happens when someone with very little information and a Web connection gets misinformation out to the masses. Kind of like - what we do here at The Wakeboard Report.

It would be fun but ultimately pointless for me to try and guess the type of person who wrote this article. At first I simply wanted to cover it from the viewpoint of the author, who in my mind was either the president of the Barefoot Association, or the Anti-Motorboat League. But the thing is, I barefoot, I like taking passes through the slalom course so I can't make fun of other water skiing activities. Also I can fully understand why some bodies of water have rules against powered boats - so those endeavors are safe from ridicule here. Not every body of water should be a bee hive of activity every weekend, but we all have a right to enjoy the water where power boating activities are deemed legal.

I have a feeling that the sentiments expressed in the referenced article are far too common, so - let's have a "sit down" regarding the written and implied rules for wakeboard boats. Let's talk though this. Let's sort this out. Let's stop being little sissy kids about this issue, and most importantly let's deal with a few facts.

Wake Size
Yes, wakeboarders weight their boats. We can no longer hide that fact and the sooner everyone accepts that and deals with the real issues, the sooner we'll all be getting along with each other again. You weight your boat too. If you are in a 21 foot open bow Larson with 8 of your closest friends, guess what? You are running heavy and are displacing as much water my Super Air Nautique is.

There is a family on my lake that owns one of those 24 foot fiberglass-hull deck boats - it is apportioned like a pontoon boat, but has a solid hull, steep dead rise and overall hulking mass. It even happens to have a radar swoop - the boat is enormous. The wake dwarfs that of our boat. One day we found out that they were not happy with the wake that my Ski Nautique 2001 was putting out. Hypocrite much?

There is a speed at which a boat can travel that I refer to as "annoying speed". I do not allow my boat to be driven at this speed. "Annoying speed" is approximately 10mph, and is generally characterized as being just shy of allowing the boat to plane, and is normally loud enough to drown out all conversation and stereo noise. It is marginally faster than forward headway speed, yet far slower than planning speed, and the engine has to work pretty hard to maintain the speed. It is a lose lose lose lose (hang on, 1, 2, 3, 4... oh... one more) lose situation. But look around on a busy Sunday on your favorite body of water. It is one of the most common operating speeds and creates a larger wake than a boat can at any other speed. The boat is quite literally plowing its way through the water and it is also an extremely common sight - everyone is doing it (except us of course). I'll bet you dollars to doughnuts that a 19foot Bayliner Capri 1950 makes a bigger wake at that speed than my Super Air Nautique does at 23mph, loaded down with ballast. It wouldn't be the kind I would be interested in practicing my tournament pass on, but as felt by the shore - it is bigger. Which leads me right to...

Erosion & Shore Damage
Settle down. All boats erode the shoreline. If you really want to make that argument, ban ALL boats from the lake, tear down every million-plus dollar home, give back the tax money that people pay to live on a vibrant fun lake, and enjoy the quiet sanctuary by yourself. All runabouts and inboards can operate at speeds that make large wakes. Both waves and wakes dissipate over distances, and the argument that my wake boat erodes the shoreline more than an average boat is without merit. There is some argument to the distance issue but most lakes already have laws about this sort of thing. And if there are marinas and other sensitive areas, then those areas should be marked with bouys to let people know the rule in that area. Oh wait - that too is already a law and works well.

Tower Speakers
We're with you on this one actually. Tower speakers are a PR nightmare waiting to happen. We at The Wakeboard Report don't support tower speakers, as we value a good relationship with the people who live where we ride and to be honest, our stereo is quite loud enough thank you very much. In general, I have not had to deal with this issue yet. On my lake there is only one boat equipped with tower speakers, and the people that own the boat are usually too busy tubing and power-turning, running speed passes and in general using their wake boat for just about everything BUT wakeboarding. Tower speakers were intended to let the rider hear the music while they are riding. These people aren't riding. But we can hear their music records blasting from shore and it is obnoxious.

We, wakeboarders, are not against you the residents of Lake Everwhere, Anyplace North Somewhere. Wakeboarders don't deserve to be at the receiving end of a biased article like this, on a site that is supposed to inform and educate people about boating safety. People who participate in this sport hold down real jobs; they pay their bills and their taxes and you'll find almost all wake boat owners are responsible adults. The financial barrier to entry for the sport helps support this assertion. In the cases where there are "kids" breaking laws, parents should be taking the keys away.

Posted by erik at 03:34 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack

August 30, 2006

Old School Day and Vintage Boards

Last weekend, somewhere in New Hampshire my lovely wife and I were suffering behind someone brutally obeying a speed limit. At around the 55 mile mark, I spied something extraordinary sitting by the side of the highway: someone had decided to discard their H.O. Hyperlite ¹ - the first compression molded, mass produced wakeboard, grandfather of the current crop of wakeboards, and eventual collectors' item. I smashed the brakes to the floor, ran back on foot and grabbed the board. This gem was leaning against a dumpy looking foot locker, beside a badly damaged set of combo skis, a typewriter, and a bucket. The whole lot was surely heading for the landfill - and that is just not acceptable.

My new board is going to be perfect for 'Old School Day', an activity The Wakeboard Report team enjoys when the weekend warrior yahoos and jetskiiers out number us 376 to 1. On these days we quit wakeboarding and usher the dead sport of skiboarding back for a brief revival. Out comes the Skurfer Rage, Skurfer Launch, and we attempt what would normally be considered pretty simple tricks on boards as heavy as 3 modern ones, equipped with fins that belong on a sailboat. Invariably the fun lasts for about 15 minutes per person, and we spend the rest of the day talking about how thankful we are that people like Jimmy Redmon and Scott Bouchard were born.

I recommend participating in your own 'Old School Day' events on your own lake or bay. It will make you realize how good you've got it.

Speaking of old school, if anyone has a K2 Woody, a board made in the early 90's and popularized by Greg Nelson in the movie 'Gravity Sucks', I would really appreciate it. I'm in the market, as it were.

1 - I researched that name - as far as I can tell, it was indeed called the H.O. Hyperlite, as this was 3 years prior to Hyperlite breaking off as its own brand.
It looks like the order was H.O. Hyperlite > H.O. Hyperlite Pro > H.O. Hyperlite Perez > H.O. Hyperlite Shapiro > H.O. Hyperlite XP, then the H.O. prefix was dropped and the Hyperlite brand stood alone. Please email me if this is incorrect. I will be adding more white tape to my wakeboarding-nerd glasses in the meantime.

Posted by erik at 02:15 AM | Comments (3) | TrackBack

July 28, 2006

Horrifying Photos of Inboard Boat Torture

The following collection of grizzly photos have each upset me, in their own individual ways. From the iced-out Tige to the beached Spy Optic Super Air Nautique, each photo represents someone encountering trouble while using one of their most prized physical possessions; their boat. I weep for each one, because what these photos represent is that accidents happen, boats can sink, boats can swamp, bilge pumps fail, s*** happens, and people make mistakes. Most of the photos depict simple misfortune or excusable errors in judgment; while a few represent unabashed incompetence. As a person who is looking for a damaged boat to build up as a project, some of these may fit the bill. What you see below is almost entirely comprised of "totaled" inboard ski and wake boats. Everyone renewed their insurance on time this year right?

Posted by erik at 01:21 PM | Comments (2) | TrackBack

March 25, 2006

Embracing Garage Boating

It is officially Spring: famous local TV celebrity Meteorologist Cindy Fitzgibbon even said so. You can smell it in the air - and sorry, but sometimes cliches are just so boringly true: there are indeed birds chirping. There are also lively squirrels making an early-season go at destroying your lawn, but in general you can feel the tedium of late winter beginning to lift.

So you've stowed the snow shovels, and, HEY! Your favorite tree is beginning to show buds! That must mean boating season is here right? It has to be! Immediately you run for the lake and notice that it's still half covered in ice, and quickly remember your low tolerance for pain and the fact that you won't get any of your friends in the 60 degree water. So you once again look into buying a drysuit on eBay. 60 degrees isn't that cold is it? Yes. Yes it is. And by the time you make this realization, you have arrived at that in-limbo destination and associated desire to be in your boat so badly but knowing that it is too cold still to truly enjoy it.

Spring Garage Boating Fever has set in. You start modifying your weekend plans so that you can be near the boat and start to ready it and yourself for the upcoming season. But realistically you have also come to the conclusion that you'll be spending a solid month Garage Boating. But it doesn't matter, as you want to smell the stale gasoline and those amazingly evocative notes of mold - that you for some reason have grown to love. So you remove the cover, climb in and reminisce about just being out there. Whether it is making your first run on a gorgeous Saturday morning, or just cruising around. It is also time to make the list of must-do's and nice to have's. And I bet you can hardly wait to make the final decision to postpone the auto-ballast system that you promised to yourself that you'd finally commit to creating.

Your short attention span and innate tendency to procrastinate are both going to be tested, but stay the course. Now is the time to decide what is going to give you the best return. No matter how long your Garage Boating season lasts you will never, ever, have time to complete every project that you've said to yourself "How awesome would THAT be!" So start slow, and enjoy it. Hook up the trickle charger, grab a beer and just enjoy it. If all you do is clean the bilge out again, the Sun will still rise and set just like it always has and you'll be out on the water in a matter of weeks (technically, that is true).

Posted by erik at 07:33 PM | Comments (1) | TrackBack

March 22, 2006

The 2005-2006 Wakeboard Report Wake Boat Beauty Awards

Today I present the first ever annual Wakeboard Report Wake Boat Beauty Awards (WRWBBAs). While some of the nominated boats have been around for awhile, this Web site has not; and while this feature may be a little bit self-indulgent, I nonetheless wanted to do it and have some fun.

Through an odd mix of lurking at various message boards, crawling some MySpace profiles, and talking with owners and company representatives, these boats have been nominated in custom-built categories that are as unique as the boats themselves.

The following boats have stood above the pack, and I am happy to present the nominees, and Winners (the are the same), of the 2005-2006 Wakeboard Report Wake Boat Beauty Awards.

Most Defiantly Awesome
Through the echoes of time, millions have asked; why would someone take a brand new Malibu Wakesetter 23LSV, and slap a custom, camouflage vinyl wrap on it? Answer: to personalize the boat and get it featured not once, but twice on this Web site. Isn't that reason enough? When photos of Chris Wynn's Wakesetter first surfaced, people didn't know quite what to think. Now that several companies are offering camouflage graphic packages on their boats, this boat deserves some recognition. Not only is this a phenomenal camouflage pattern, it is also well applied, and in an extremely odd way, will stand the test of time extraordinarily well.

Fanciest Pants
The original category for this nominee was "Most Likely to be Brought Up in the Same Sentence as the Lotto'". Since that was such a mouthful, it was shortened but you get the point. Let's face it; wake boats are not getting smaller. The Master Craft X80, apart from being stunning to look at, is perhaps a glimpse into what wake boats will look like in 15 years. The twin-screw X80 is formally classified as a yacht, and with an on board toilet and sink, plus bow mounted ladder and countless other amenities, is sure to turn the salivation pumps on for most people. The excellent fit & finish of a typical Master Craft wake boat, but 10 feet longer and far wider. Sounds pretty good to me. This boat may not be appropriate for everyone, but I sure would like to take one off their hands!

Most Strangely Remarkable
You don't order up a hot pink Wakesetter without knowing what you're getting into. I have to assume that there is a point where sales managers look at custom boat requests, and upon seeing questionable color combos, gently remind buyers that he or she may need to consider resale value vis-a-vis the boat's external appearance. One has to take into consideration that if you decide to sell, you're going to need to convince people that pink is the new blue, or the new white. Alternatively, you may need to consider the possibility that only Pink herself, or even Randy Harris (who already has a pink Super Air Nautique, so - nix that) are going to be your only interested customers. For whatever reason, I think this pink Wakesetter is considerably awesome. Let's face it. If you compete in the Outlaw division, can stand up 15 inverts, you stand a really good chance of being able to pull this off too. I can not pull off the former or latter, but I appreciate the fact that there are some people out there that can. And those people can drive Pink boats and not be ridiculed.

Most Mine
At this time last year, I was boatless, and hoping that I'd find a replacement for my 1986 Ski Nautique 2001. One that allowed me to take more people out, yet provided the same reliabilty and amount of years of enjoyment as my family's previous boat. I came very close to towing a 2003 Super Air Nautique all the way back from Texas, but it was sold before I was able to make a move. Months later, I was lucky enough to find a gorgeous, sensibly priced Super Sport Nautique right in Conneticut. I have zero, absolutely zero complaints. Aside from my wedding band, it is my favorite inanimate object in the world.

Winner: Overall
There are so many good decisions competing here, that I kind of defy you to not like this thing. To start, this is a 2005 Super Air Nautique Team Edition package, with a navy blue hull and simple, elegant thin stripe. The secondary colors are perfectly accented by the silver Flight Control Tower. And "less is more" is certianly in effect on this boat, with the removal of the mid-hull AIR logo. Many people don't like dark hulls, claiming that they show scratches easily, and tend to fade. For something this uniquely classic, it may just be worth it.

If it seems that there was a great deal of weight applied to the aesthetics of these boats, indeed - there has been. It is, after all, a beauty contest. Generally speaking, the top tier of wake boat manufacturers do a very good job of rigging the boats with all the creature comforts most wakeboarders want - and even some they don't need. And in some ways, they are very similar, manufacturer to manufacturer. So with many of the manufacturers offering a bevy of graphics packages and gelcoat options, the level of personalization can go very deep. Right down to personalized billet aluminum nameplates.

Thanks for reading. 1 month and 1 week until we're on the water. See you out there.

Posted by erik at 10:54 PM | Comments (7) | TrackBack