Impressions of Stingray 235LR (or other large Stingray models) for skiing

[Jaegertc]

Hi,

I'm boat shopping and posted a more general question about the Stingray 235LR in the Stingray forum. Haven't gotten too many replies, so I thought I would try here among the waterski enthusiasts.

Does anyone have any impressions they can share with me about the 235's wake for watersking (slalom)? I would assume that the other large Stingrays would not be that dissimilar, so anyone with relatively recent models that can share an opinion would be helpful, too.

I know the boat will not perform like a Mastercraft, etc., but I'm just trying to get a feel for whether the wake at 32-35 MPH is skiable, or whether it is too big to be enjoyable.

Thanks.

 

[craze1cars]

Re: Impressions of Stingray 235LR (or other large Stingray models) for skiing

What is your intent and definition of "slalom"? Actually skiing a course, or just free-skiing with one ski in open water?

I was/am very capable of skiing thru a full course behind an I/O. For years we did it behind a 3.0L 18 ft Rinker boat, and I would have no problem hitting all of the buoys and we were shortening the rope a bit...had a double-wake but it was reasonably flat and I could pull across it as hard as I wanted to without upsetting the ski.

Then, in the interest of a better wakeboarding wake and more HP, I upgraded to a 20 ft Stingray with a 5.0L. For wakeboarding it works extremely well. But I absolutely can no longer do the slalom course behind this boat. The wake is simply too large to actually pull thru the wakes at any angle, and in order to cut across the wakes fast enough to hit the buoys your ski will leap completely out of the water...which is bad when you're pulling hard directly behind the boat....it'll simply skip out from under ya.

I still free-ski behind it and just end up jumping the wakes on the ski, which is perfectly fine for just excersize and messing around/having fun. But there is no doubt we now need a completely different boat if we intend to run a slalom course. Again mine is only a 20 footer. I can't fathom even attempting a course behind a 23 footer that will be MUCH heavier...

 

[haulnazz15]

Re: Impressions of Stingray 235LR (or other large Stingray models) for skiing

I have no experience with that particular boat, but in general, once you get over 20ft the wake from an I/O gets too large to run a course with. The weight of the boat and the necessary powerplant creates more draft and thus a bigger wake. If you are just free skiing, it will be just fine once you learn to negotiate the wake. It's not going to be a monstrous difference over a 20' boat, but it will likely be a bit larger. If you're skiing the course often, then get a dedicated inboard ski boat.

 

[skibrain]

Re: Impressions of Stingray 235LR (or other large Stingray models) for skiing

I have no specific experience with any Stingrays, so I can't say. Maybe they are great.
So for a very general answer, much of skiing to me is about getting weight OUT of the boat.

A smaller boat with fewer people in it makes for smaller wakes. That small boat may also be a horrible solution for boating on a big lake with 10 people onboard. While that kind of boating sounds like a blast, I just don't do it. Since the question is about skiing, a cuddy with a head probably makes a nice boat for a bunch of people, but in terms of slalom skiing where the real fun is making hard turns and skiing across the wake as fast as possible, it's like asking if an RV makes for a good sports car.

 

[DaveM]

Re: Impressions of Stingray 235LR (or other large Stingray models) for skiing

Everyone has different expectations when it comes to skiing, so your boat might be just fine for you. I, however, have been spoiled and would prefer not to ski behind that barge.

I stopped skiing behind my 20 foot Excel with a 4.3L V6 prolly 6 years ago. It has plenty of pulling power, but I just do not like the wake. But that is me and how picky I have become. Unfortunately for me now I am subject to the schedules of those with the tournament ski boats.

 

[Bamaman1]

Re: Impressions of Stingray 235LR (or other large Stingray models) for skiing

The Stingray will pull a skier just fine, but you might have to run a 75' ski rope--rather than a 65' ski rope. I don't know if these boats come with hydraulic trim tabs, but they would pull better out of the hole with tabs down. Just about any I/O will pull skiers fine after they plane off.

 

[haulnazz15]

Re: Impressions of Stingray 235LR (or other large Stingray models) for skiing

I'm not sure his question was related to whether or not it will "pull" a skier, as it should do it with little effort. The concern lies in how easy it is to ski behind boats that produce larger wakes.

 

[sickwilly]

Re: Impressions of Stingray 235LR (or other large Stingray models) for skiing

He also mentioned wanting to wake ski behind it -- so it would have a good compromise wake.

 

[skibrain]

Re: Impressions of Stingray 235LR (or other large Stingray models) for skiing

He also mentioned wanting to wake ski

Actually he doesn't. But how is your 190LX for skiing?
I have always thought Stingrays to be sharp-looking boats.

 

[Jaegertc]

Re: Impressions of Stingray 235LR (or other large Stingray models) for skiing

So, a little more information. I grew up on a lake and waterskiing was a big part of my youth. I didn't have access to a course, but "free" slalomed, as one of the responders put it, 4-5 times a week (more if possible). The life happened, our family sold the lake place and I've been landlocked for the last 20 years or so. I want boating to be part of my kids life and have, over the last couple of years, realized that I've really been missing what used to be a huge part of life - being on the water. So, we're looking at getting a boat. I need one that is large enough to sustain us on the water for a whole day and that will accommodate bringing friends along, so that's why I'm looking at 23-24' boats. The Stingray's are a little lighter than competitor's comparable boats, have a little bit flatter deadrise than some of them, so I thought they might provide a compromise between being a good platform for boating with friends, tubing, wakeboarding if I and my kids get into it, and skiing. I still have my old O'Brien double-boot slalom ski, and I plan on putting it to use. Like I said in the original post, I know a 24' sportdeck isn't going to perform like a dedicated ski boat, I was just wondering whether anyone had any experience with a larger Stingray and could give feedback about its wake characteristics. I think the comment someone made about trim tabs is a good one and I would probably equip the boat with those to try to flatten out the wake for skiing.

Thanks for your thoughts - keep 'em coming.

 

[skibrain]

Re: Impressions of Stingray 235LR (or other large Stingray models) for skiing

Good info.
As a point of reference, what did you ski behind when growing up?
Have you had opportunity to ski behind much else since?

 

[Jaegertc]

Re: Impressions of Stingray 235LR (or other large Stingray models) for skiing

Good info.
As a point of reference, what did you ski behind when growing up?
Have you had opportunity to ski behind much else since?

Ha! You are going to laugh. Mostly behind a 15'3" Starcraft runabout with a 90 horse Merc (our family's boat). And a little bit behind a Mastercraft. And behind about 50 other boats - whoever had gas in their boat and was up to ski. At 32-34 mph our little Starcraft had almost no wake. I know that whatever we get it will be a compromise from a pure skiing standpoint. I haven't done much skiing in the last *ahem* couple of decades, so luckily I'm not accustomed to anything right now.

 

[skibrain]

Re: Impressions of Stingray 235LR (or other large Stingray models) for skiing

No laughing here. OUR family ski boat had 40 hp until I was a sr. in high school. I used to hang out with friends with a 16' tri-hull with an 85 and an ancient Crestliner w/ 115. They actually made pretty terrific ski boats. Really. Unfortunately they still would make better ski boats than a big i/o. (definition of ski boat: pulls you out of water on a slalom ski, maintains a decent pull 32-35 mph, has a low, crossable wake at that speed) If there was ANY way to throw on your ski while doing a water test, that would be the way to find out.

Again, anyone else could chime in and say I'm wrong, but I think you would be extremely disappointed getting a tow behind a boat that big that has 1,000 - 1,200 lb of crew weight.

 

[sickwilly]

Re: Impressions of Stingray 235LR (or other large Stingray models) for skiing

Actually he doesn't. But how is your 190LX for skiing?
I have always thought Stingrays to be sharp-looking boats.

Wow, you are right. He didn't. Damn, I need glasses.

My 190 has been a heck of a good compromise water sports boat. I cut my teeth on an old Barretta 4 banger IO. You could barely get that IO to turn a circle. After getting into competition skiing, we got one of the first Malibu Skiers and i loved that boat. Had it till the family needed to sell it to help pay for college.

When I got back into boating 5 years ago, I looked at all kinds of boats. I got a great deal on the Stingray, and quite frankly feel like I lucked out getting it.

I have it propped for water sports and that is important. It turns impressively sharp -- no not as sharp as the malibu, but I can make a surprisingly tight turn in a cove with a skier and maintain speed. I think that most IOs do not turn this well. At 30 mph the wake is easily crossed on edge on a slalom ski. I would assume with the right driver I could run 15 off at 30 behind it. At 20 mph its got a much better wake than the malibu did for kneeboarding or wakeboarding. I have no problem getting wake to wake on either. It also gets up to barefooting speed with ease. The other positive is its pretty smooth an a rough day. In fact, my buddies with their competition ski boats follow me to the cove so I can smooth the ride for them.

The negatives: If you don't prop it down really low for power good luck getting up on a competition slalom ski with both feet in boots, and that is with the V6 power option.

Now, I have never tried to pull a good skier through the coarse with it. I don't know how well it would track.

All that being said, I do think often about either: 1- upgrading to a used MC 205 or a moomba outback V or 2- get a second boat, a pure competition ski boat, and keep it at the local lake with the ski club.

I just need the kids to get a little older and more independent and then I plan to get back into a ski club and work on the slalom course again. Not sure what is the best option, but I keep thinking about getting an old MC or Malibu just for that purpose only.

 

[sickwilly]

Re: Impressions of Stingray 235LR (or other large Stingray models) for skiing

Jaegertc,

I have never been in an 235 on the water, but a guy where I boat has the predecessor, the 220, and its gets up and moves quite nicely. He does all kinds of water sports behind it and never complains. You do need either a foil or trim tabs on it, though. Also, I have never looked under the hood, but knowing him I am sure he opted for one of the higher horse power V8 options.

I think the 235 is a much sleeker boat than the old 220 (I sat in one at the boat show). I think it will do fine. If you are really concerned with waters ports, get one with the dual prop.

Hurry up, next year they need cats.

Also, I bet you can still find one with the captain's call option!

 

[craze1cars]

Re: Impressions of Stingray 235LR (or other large Stingray models) for skiing

The deadrise of the Stingray's hull won't make any difference at skiing speeds on a boat of that size. My 20 foot Stingray makes a bigger & better wakeboarding wake than my buddies 20 foot Rinker of the same weight and engine size. And when we crank either of these boats up to 30 to 34 mph slalom speeds, I would MUCH prefer to be behind his Rinker because the wake is smaller (but still too big to comfortably run a course). So for your purposes, just shop any brand you want, and shop by different features. In a 23 or 24 footer with appropriate HP engine, it will pull a skiier just fine, but your wake will be large. This is perfectly fine for free-skiing, just be aware that you will be jumping the wakes instead of slicing thru them.

And if you're looking at getting the kids involved and they are capable, I suspect that you that you will soon discover that they're gonna want to wakeboard more than waterski anyway. And a big 23-24 foot I/O can make a very nice wake for wakeboarding...so you're not giving anything up here in terms of family fun...

The more of the younger generation I get involved with me on the water, the more my skis accumulate mildew & dust, and the more wear & tear my wakeboards and bindings take...I'll pull the ski out once in a while to show them a different sport and I teach them how to get up and have fun. And they get up out of the water, progress, and enjoy it. But invariably, they end up handing me the ski(s) ask for the wakeboard back, because they like that better....

 

[dannyual767]

Re: Impressions of Stingray 235LR (or other large Stingray models) for skiing

This is my third summer owning my 2004 Stingray 200LX with the 5.0 V8. I skied and wakeboarded behind it for the very first time over the Fourth of July weekend. My prop pitch is stock from Stingray, 21" and the boat had plenty of power to pull me out of the water on my old, double boot Jobe ski. I'm only 160lbs but my brother-in-law is 200lbs and he also had no problem. I do have Smart Tabs that I installed and I know that they help with the take off. Power with the 5.0 is not an issue!

As already mentioned, the Tabs tend to flatten out the wake. Even with the Smart Tabs softening up the wake, it's still too big for me. I enjoy skiing behind my 1973 Sanger runnerbottom drag boat (454 BBC.) Very small wake that's easy to slice through. I think that the bigger Stingray 235LR is going to have a very large wake that is going to make slalom skiing "challenging!"

 

[sickwilly]

Re: Impressions of Stingray 235LR (or other large Stingray models) for skiing

I know we kind of jacked the thread by talking about at Stingray 190 LX, but I was asked how it does for skiing. I just happened to be out last Saturday cutting across the wake on an HO magnum (my weight is up), and thought I might snap a pic of the wake or 2.

Wake at 30 mph:

http://www.StingrayBoats.com/MyStingray/ppost/data/500/190_lx_wake_at_30.jpg

Wake at 28 MPH:

http://www.StingrayBoats.com/MyStingray/ppost/data/500/190_lx_wake_at_28.jpg