A few general (SIB) questions from a Newbie

[Andy JC]

Originally Posted by Polwart

unless it gets wet in which case you are lost with no way to get help!

mobile coverage at sea is notoriously bad (not many transmitters!!!) and the CG get a bit frustrated as they cant direction find on your signal when you put out a distress call.

Polwart:
I do keep the phone and GPS device in a waterproof case but it's a very good point and I fully intend on getting a handheld VHF very soon. Thanks for the advice.

fjarvis:
Thanks for the info, it's reassuring to hear positive things from another futura owner

Rogan:
Total respect, what an awsome little vid that is!!! Thanks for posting that. Talk about big air, what conditions would you say you were in.. 4/5/6?? I enjoyed that more than watching some box office hits
I have owned a 3m Avon with a 15hp for the last few years and have had so much fun with it that I decided to swap my bike(CBR600) for a bigger faster SIB (before I get banned from driving ) - it's good to see that the Futura should offer similar frills to the bike!

I was thinking more of towing a wakeboard than skis as apparently they don't require so much grunt to pull - I'm not worried about doing massive jumps, just getting out of the water on flat sea would be enough for me. Have you tried towing a wakeboard?? also how do you tow, do you use a ski harness with a pulley set up?

[Rogan]

Whats up Andy,

The waves that day were 6 to 8 feet but we were on the protected side of a small bay. This way the waves were rolling in smaller without all the wind associated further out. It's rare to get the right conditions for that kind of boating. You can see the waves were 3-5 feet and were rolling where we were boating. As for the wakeboarding. Yes we have gone wakeboarding before. If you know how to get out it shouldn't be a problem but if you are learning the boat may not have enough grunt to pop you up. Even with 40hp it could be a struggle sometimes. Also as you turn or carve with the board it slows the boat. We use a fully adjustable prop from "ProPulse" that makes it very easy to change pitch. Allows us to set it for skiing so we can pop people out of the water. We use a simple ski rope attached to the transom by way of two ibolts. Also Andy, I would try and get a bigger engine. 25 might be good for wave jumping because it weighs less and hence puts less stress on the transom but for ear to ear evil smiling and the occasional evil cackel as the last 10th of the throttle is twisted you need more hp.
I am not sure if you have a console set up or not. We purchased 4 DaKine WindSurfing foot straps and installed then on the floor boards. This is a must if you want to do really insane moves in the rough where you can't sit on the floor of the boat. Anyways, just a thought

Here's another movie for you. Exploring Lake Michigan islands.
http://checkerboardhydepark.com/Sle...ar%20Dunes4.mov

[Andy JC]

Originally Posted by Rogan

Whats up Andy,

We use a fully adjustable prop from "ProPulse" that makes it very easy to change pitch. Allows us to set it for skiing so we can pop people out of the water.

Also Andy, I would try and get a bigger engine. 25 might be good for wave jumping because it weighs less and hence puts less stress on the transom but for ear to ear evil smiling and the occasional evil cackel as the last 10th of the throttle is twisted you need more hp.

I am not sure if you have a console set up or not. We purchased 4 DaKine WindSurfing foot straps and installed then on the floor boards.

Here's another movie for you. Exploring Lake Michigan islands.
http://checkerboardhydepark.com/Sle...ar%20Dunes4.mov

Hi Rogan

I'm somewhat restricted as far as engine size is concearned as it all has to fit in the boot(trunk to you ) of the car and sometimes I have to manage it on my own - 25hp is about the limit of what I can handle (much as I'd love a 40hp ). Also I have an inflatable floor so the max recomended size is 30hp - the floor has a strap on either side running front to back so I was thinking of making up some foot straps to attach to them.

I've seen those ProPulse props in my local shop and wondered what they were like. I've read about mixed views on them, some say they can reduce top speed and others that the blades shear off easily under load. The fact that the pitch is adjustable might be the answer for me due to my restriction in engine size. I think they're all 4 blade which may account for the reduced top end, have you found any downside in using it?

The second link you have posted doesn't seem to work (have tried a few ways of opening it). If you could fix it or maybe mail the file to me I'd really like to see it. My address is andyclarke1@hotmail.com

Thanks for all the info so far

[Rogan]

As for the ProPulse prop the first thing I thought when I saw them was "these are plastic!". We only bought one because we needed to determine the right rpm range on our engine. So we got one and never went back. I think you do loose a little on the top end but the hole shot on them is amazing. Actually you should check out thier site. Click on the blue section on the bottom that says "1300 MILES THROUGH THE USA WITH PROPULSE" theres a section about us using thier prop. http://www.propulse.se/ The Blades do not shear of under load! Somebody assembeled the prop wrong. Also when you hit stuff and break a blade it's replaceble for something like $10. I'll try and fix the movie link.

Gotta run

[Andy JC]

Originally Posted by Rogan

"1300 MILES THROUGH THE USA WITH PROPULSE" theres a section about us using thier prop.

Thats quite a journey to take on in a SIB!! How long did it take you and how did you get back, or was it a round trip?

Originally Posted by Rogan

As for the ProPulse prop the first thing I thought when I saw them was "these are plastic!". We only bought one because we needed to determine the right rpm range on our engine. So we got one and never went back. I think you do loose a little on the top end but the hole shot on them is amazing. Actually you should check out thier site.

You've sold it to me (they should offer you comission ), think I'll have to invest in one of these before the summer arrives

Couple more things - How far up and across the transom have you got the towing points? have you got a close up pic? Was thinking too far down would make it harder for the boarder to pop up and too far up would make it hard to keep the front down when accelerating.

Lastly, any progress with fixing the broken link yet?

Thanks again

[Tim M]

so get a decent Icom or Standard Horizon

I believe Daveh on here had an offer on Standard Horizon hand helds recently. Might be worth PMing him....

[Rogan]

Andy,

I've got some pics somewhere. I'll find them for you. Try this movie link http://checkerboardhydepark.com/SleepingBearDunes5.mov

[Andy JC]

Originally Posted by Tim M

I believe Daveh on here had an offer on Standard Horizon hand helds recently. Might be worth PMing him....

Tim:
I'm going to have to wait for a month or so before I can take my Short range VHF course. Maybe I'll give him a shout after that. Thanks anyway!

Originally Posted by Rogan

Try this movie link http://checkerboardhydepark.com/SleepingBearDunes5.mov

Rogan:
The sound works on this one but there's no picture.
I've tried opening it with real player/quicktime/windows media player. Also tried saving target/opening in new window but get the same problem of no picture