'94 Sport Nautique - My first boat

My 93 came with a single water witch type. I think the closed bow models are more likely to have a single bilge pump and the open bows more likely to have dual.

The water witch finally let go last year and wouldn't shut off in auto mode. So I know have the kind that cycles.

KTMrider wrote: Do you have a source/recommendation for how to teach kids the proper technique for skiing? I was never taught the proper method...just hold on and don't fall....lol

You can go to You Tube and google something like how to teach kids to ski on a boom. You will be surprised as to all the great how to guide that will appear.

Also, if you can come to a CCFAN Mini reunion event the folks at that event will be more than glad to help you and your kids. That is how I did it. The guys taught my oldest Madeleine who to Wake Board and ski. She is now almost 20. My 16 year old was taught to ski, board , trick ski and foot my guys on this site. Quinner taught me to pull my finger.

The kids will learn a lot more from another dad then from you. They may even recommend that you not be present as they teach. If you tell them something, they can have the tendency not to do it. When someone else tells them they believe it is 100% true. Another effective method is apply the beatings until they believe you.

The boom is the ticket for teaching kids and adults. Start them on the boom itself them move them to a 5 foot ski handle attached to the boom. Then move them 75 foot to the back of the boat. I like to start them on knee boards. The new ones have a Hydro Hook to attached the ski handle too as they learn to climb the board and attach the knee strap while under power. Once situated, they can pull back on the handle to remove it from the hook.

Ski Camps are expensive but not much more than other camps they may attend during the summer. Once again, they will get more out of someone else coaching them. It is just human nature. Typically, these camps are on private lakes with perfect water.

Many of the guys that attend these events are Ex Show Skiers some are present Show Skiers Some have skied for Sea World and other venues. However, only a select few have owned Cyprus Garden's boats.

If you see a boat on the water with a family that looks like they know what they are doing, stop them and ask them to help your kids. You will find that people who ski want to pass the knowledge down to the new generation. So many just want to surf and skiers love to teach the young in hopes of them getting bitten my the love of the hobby.

By the way Spiralhelix, definitely not flaming you, I actually don't like the way Nautique chose to wire those pumps, have posted about it before.

I'm more likely to flame you for registering your "real name" as Joe Schmo!

sorry i'm late to the party here. Congrats on the new boat! The pics look awesome!! You will certainly love the SpN with the fam. We love ours!

+1 on practicing trailering in an empty parking lot. I brought along two 5-gal buckets to use as "ramp" markers and practiced getting the trailer between the two. started wide, then started moving them closer to hone in. We (wife and I) practiced with a 12' flatbed we have. After we felt good, we took the same flatbed to the launch at 8pm on a weekday. not a soul around. My wife now backs the trailer in during retrieving and asks, EVERY TIME, how it feels to be married to a PRO! She does put other people at the ramp to shame ;)

I don't see an answer to your depth finder question. Not knowing the model number, but if it is the HDR650 or similar, the transducer could be mounted many different places. I believe it looks like a small black cube. It could be on the exterior transom, interior transom, or mounted below the engine. Depth finders are a nice aid, but none-the-less you might want to take it slow in unfamiliar waters first. I had a friend go out with me the first time on the river and he pointed out all the spots to avoid. Our mucky waters throw off the sensor most of the time.

The only other thing I'd mention...not sure if I'll get flamed for it or not...if your comfortable with electrical wiring, you may want to consider giving your auto bilge pump constant 12+ (behind a fuse of course) so that you don't have to leave the ig. breaker and auto switch ON. With that combo the indicator light would stay illuminated draining the battery (albeit slowly). But if the boat sits for long periods, you would be without juice. With it's own feed, it wouldn't use the battery unless the pump switch is activated.

I hear ya! I've been trolling craigslist and so far I picked up a barefoot bar, pair of kids training skis and a pair of O'Brien skis. My youngerst got up on the trainers and I popped up on two. Maybe I'll try it on one next weekend. Its been almost 25 yrs and one knee replacement since I've slalomed so we're easing into it.

Do you have a source/recommendation for how to teach kids the proper technique for skiing? I was never taught the proper method...just hold on and don't fall....lol

Ok, thanks for the replies. I'll definitely monitor it every evening for the first week or so.

So, if I understand correctly regarding the bilge pumps, I should leave ignition and auto bilge breakers in "on" position while docked at marina and unattended (key removed)? This does seem logical in the event of a leak developing or if there is minimal seepage.

63 Skier wrote: ...You have to make sure you leave the ignition breaker and bilge pump breakers on or they will not pump.

Just want to emphasize that you're talking about the ignition breaker, not the ignition key. If you left the key on you'd be running up hours and running down the battery.

2.) They can potentially take on a little more while in operation through the shaft and/or rudder area. Also, make sure you're not getting any leaks related to cooling water, around the circulation pump etc. As far as how much water you'll take on when you're docked, you really just have to watch and see unfortunately. Maybe check it once at night, and once first thing in the morning, and gauge from there. Even if you're boat is pretty dry, you want to make sure your auto bilge function is working well.

Thanks so much for the great advice and stories.

We had a lot of rain last weekend (Memorial Day) so we were unable to get out due to poor river conditions. However, we did get out yesterday and had loads of fun and no issues. My boys braved the cold water and did get on the tube and I just enjoyed playing with my new toy! I don't have much to compare to but it seemed very stable in the water with lots of power. I basically used the single hand launching procedure with wife holding bow line. Definitely room for improvement but iactually went fairly smooth for first time. Preparation is definitely the key, as well as keeping a cool head. We ended up renting dock space for the season at a local marina. It's seems to be a low key atmosphere with nice people willing to welcome a newbie. Looking forward to new adventures and meeting new friends.

Lucky she didn't whip you into the bridge abutment!

http://www.boatus.com/magazine/archives/backing-up-your-boat-trailer.asp?utm_source=bmag&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=runabout_0517

For single hand launching I use a bow line with around 3 ft. of slack and looped around the crash pad post or on my other boat the winch post. Once the boat starts to float off the trailer it's gently caught by the bow line.

I do unhook the turnbuckle on the Nautique before backing down, only exception is if the bunks are wet from a same day launch. I've never had it move on me. No idea why someone would want to use something to make the bunks slick.

I got a good laugh thinking about Mark swimming after the boat while it drifted away. That's definitely something I would do!

I do a lot of one man launching of my boats (result of not having any friends ). After a while you figure out the sequence and methods that work best, how to get the boat secure if no dock, how to prepare ahead of time so you don't hold up others that are waiting. It definitely can be stressful at times.

And, interesting observation ..... when I launch on weekdays with no crowd waiting to launch, people are polite and offer to help and I always offer to help others. On the weekend, with a wait for the launch, totally different story. Just the difference of locals vs. visitors, for whatever reason.

Take your wife to a big empty parking lot and let her practice with nobody around.
She needs to be comfortable turning a trailer around and backing it up.
While backing it up she needs to be able to make necessary adjustments.
After the big empty parking lot take her to a empty boat launch. Go at off hours.
Give her a chance to get used to backing up at the boat launch with the steep grade to deal with.
Years ago my wife figured out it was better to launch the boat than drive the truck and trailer. I back in till the boat is nearly floating and the engine pick up is in the water. She starts it up and then gives me the OK to launch. Use signs as it is hard to hear at a noisy boat launch.    She will idle the boat around outside the launch area and then come pick me up after I hike back to the dock.
Same thing putting the boat back on the trailer. She drops me off, I fetch the truck and trailer she drives up and onto the trailer, most times does this well. Try it in the wind sometime, much more of a challenge as the boat will blow with the wind messing up your aim.    Have her practice this stuff at the beginning and you will never have an issue.
Notice I said make sure it is running before you do the final back up and let the boat float off.
Once years ago when our kids were 2 and 4 I launched my wife at a river river ramp. The boat did not start but took off in the current.   I parked and swam about a 1/2 mile ( A half mile swim takes quite a while) before catching her and getting pretty much chewed out big time. Lucky I was a swimmer through college and had the ability to swim and catch her so it turned out fine other than my butt was in hot water for a while.
Now my wife is very proud of the fact that she is very good at launching and returning the boat to a trailer.   She laughs at the Gals that sit like onaments in the boat while the guy/boyfriend/husband drives the boat down, ties it off and parks the trailer then returns to the boat to drive it away while his "ornament" sits in the bikini and offers no help. All the while they have a boat ramp tied up long enough that 10 qualified drivers could have launched.   ( if this offends anyone, work on your skills, boat launches are for launching not for parking )
Edit: one more important issue, all who drive the boat need to know that boats turn from the rear where the rudder is. As you turn the rear of the boat will swing in an arc the direction you point it. You in the drivers seat might be in 8 feet of water but the rear of the boat can swing 10 feet closer to shore as you turn around, If turning in shallow water make sure the driver knows to keep the prop in deep water. I have seen more than one person destroy a prop turning it around near a boat launch. Concrete is hard on a prop.

I am doing that it takes a while to swap out the skins. I took mine off 4 months ago and sent them to Christines for the pattern. Now I have having too look at pictures and stuff to put them back on. I is slow going. Probably 3 more days worth of work before I am done.