New to MC

[ChrisF]

After 18 years of maintaining my previous boat - a 1987 Rinker V170 bought at a repo auction in 1990 - I finally decided to bite the bullet and get serious.

Don't get me wrong - the old boat still had some life in it, enough for me to actually sell it for almost a grand - but my aging carcass doesn't launch as easily as it used to. Plus, the kids (one in 1st year of college, other sophmore HS) said they were getting embarassed by the Stinker.

So, after several months of research I finally found what appears to be a good boat - a 1990 PS190 I found on ebay near Atlanta. Low-ish hours at 740 or so, super-clean hull, great 351W with Velvet Drive (?), only needing rebuild of the back seat which had been pulled for a fat sac.

My younger kid (and only daughter) and I drove down from NJ to Atlanta on a Friday night, picked up the boat Saturday and got back to NJ on Sunday. 750 miles each way. Lots of gas burned, but the Good Man was watching over me:

1. Trailer lights were super-funky, but there was a trailer shop really close by, so for $65 plus tip I got them all working - on a late Sat afternoon! Southern Hospitality Rules!
2. Driving through a Starbux corner parking lot, looked out left mirror just in time to see trailer nearly wiping out new VW Rabbit - owner had BOLTED out store to watch this near-calamity.
3. New I had a squaky bearing so took trailer and boat to my auto mechanic the next day. He put a frame jack on the bad corner - AND THE WHEEL FELL OFF. Only gravity kept the wheel in place! Wonder how long that was the case? Spindle will have to be replaced with a weld-on unit. Coulder been real ugly.

Have had boat out for two weekends - kept in SW Massachussets - and all I can say is I LOVE MC. This boat is KING. Popped my keester right out of the water without dislocating anything new. Can't wait to replace the funky steering cable which locked up so I can get back out this weekend.

[flipper]

Congrats on the new ride.

[BriEOD]

Welcome to the club. We've all got jackets.;)

[Prostar in Michigain]

Congrats on the new boat! Since your daughter and I are only a year apart im telling you now her and her friends will absoulutley love the boat!! Get her to start wakeboarding im sure she will love it

[TMCNo1]

Welcome and congrats!

[Jerseydave]

Congrats on your new purchase!

(In my Joe Piscapo voice) Are you from Joisy??? I'm from Joisy!!!

So where in NJ are you, and how come your not boating here! :rolleyes:
We dunk ours in the Delaware river at Bordentown.

[rodecker1978]

Welcome to the team! Nice lookin MC!

[coz]

Popped my keester right out of the water without dislocating anything new.

Yup! you got a pulling machine :D Nice choice :banana: enjoy the new ride and welcome :toast:

[jaysus]

Welcome to the family Chris!

If you ever need anything please don't be a stranger. We're in Southeast Ma (Pembroke) -Jay, NE WaterSports 781 829 9940 www.newatersports.com

[JohnE]

Where in MA are you skiing? I'm in central MA....

[dapicatti]

Welcome to the board. Great looking boat.

[Slinkyredfoot]

I really cannot believe you got rid of your Rinker boat...This fine specimen of true boat technolgy is made in Syracuse Indiana five miles from our lake house. I am truly saddened.

The Rinker boat company, years ago was know in our local area as a boat company that built a really crappy boats, in fact locals quite often refered to them as "Sinker" boats. Over the years they really got their act together and started building much improved, reliable boats that sold, and still sell well here in northern Indiana...in fact next to MC, and numerous builders of pontoon boats on our lake, Rinkers are the most populace.

Well at least you traded up to the most popular boat on our lake.

Welcome to MCTT, happy boating and enjoy you upgrade...:D

[SunCoast 83]

Welcome aboard and great find on the boat. She will bring you many great years!

[ChrisF]

Thanks to all. Boyz this is gonna be fun. And galz too.

Prostar MI - my daughter is an avid snowboarder and wakeboards primarily to keep in shape during off-season for the snow and for kick-butt varsity soccer. I ski to keep in shape as a (snow) skiing instructor. Maybe this is the year I slalom? Egads.

Though Joisey based, we have a cabin in the Berkshires on a nice (relatively) uncrowded lake which has NO public access - no ramps on public property - which really cuts down on traffic. Others have botes like Ski Nastique or Roomba or Yamahahaha or Malibooboo, but ours is the only MC on the lake.

Question - if I were to appease She Who Must Be Obeyed I would have thought to buy another bowrider. When she saw the boat she asked if we could remove the "hump" in the middle of the boat so she could stretch out. I said of course, if she got me a mast and some sails.

What would be suggested - cutting off the front deck, sectioning the boat, adding some inches and calling it a 197 and adding in lounge chairs, or getting a new spouse?

Other question - which is better bang for the buck - a Skylon, or a tower?

Lastly - does anyone know where I can get templates to helpe recreate what the back seat was supposed to look like? I have everything, but the wood rail attached to the top of the sytrofoam has rotted out and needs replacing, and then I have to figure out how the bottom cushion attaches.

[GuitsBoy]

Nice boat!

Def go with the tower. The pylon straps really take up too much space. You can get a very decent tower for as low as 800 bucks. Its worth the money over the pylon many times over.

As for the wife, just pull a large tube behind you at all times.

[SunCoast 83]

Most on here would agree not to bolt a tower down to a classic MC...

[GuitsBoy]

Most on here would agree not to bolt a tower down to a classic MC...
My opinion tends to differ. Are you saying this for aesthetic reasons? Its fairly standard practice to add glass to the inside of the hull where the tower mounts if the glass is under 3/8 thick. If the daughter is at all serious about wakeboarding, a tower is an out and out necessity. I dont see why it would cause a problem. I mean, the boat is not all that old, right? Ive got a 92 PS205, which I have to assume is constructed the in the same manner. I have no issues with the tower on mine, nor the 1600 Lbs ballast.

[coz]

Nice boat!

Def go with the tower. The pylon straps really take up too much space. You can get a very decent tower for as low as 800 bucks. Its worth the money over the pylon many times over.

As for the wife, just pull a large tube behind you at all times.

With the closed bow the pylon strap won't affect anything :rolleyes: I just purchased a tower for my boat and I will be listing a 4 month old Fly High pylon (we had an Air Boom before the FH) as soon as the tower gets here and it's on. I'll give a heads up when I list it in case anyones interested :D

[GuitsBoy]

With the closed bow the pylon strap won't affect anything :rolleyes: My pylon had straps that went to the rear of the boat too. Very easy to get caught up, at least on mine in particular. But to each his own.

[coz]

My pylon had straps that went to the rear of the boat too. Very easy to get caught up, at least on mine in particular. But to each his own.

No rear straps on this one :D

http://i298.photobucket.com/albums/mm258/cozaz/P4280021.jpg

[Hollywood]

If your boat has an actual ski pylon to begin with there is no need for rear straps, just the one to the bow. If you're referencing your old i/o or some other POS that's highly irrelevant. There's really no need for a tower on a classic ~19' closed bow ski boat.

[coz]

If you're referencing your old i/o or some other POS that's highly irrelevant. There's really no need for a tower on a classic ~19' closed bow ski boat.

Back in the 90's early 00's I had a pylon on my last boat (i/o) and it had the rear kicker supports that went right over the 2 rear seats :rolleyes: and include the front strap that eats up alot of people room, I don't miss that :D

Go with the pylon on that boat :banana:

[GuitsBoy]

Wow, tough morning crowd. Who took a leak in your cheerios? Anyway, To quote from dave chappelle's playa haters ball, "I hope all of the bad things in life happen to you and only you." Take it to PM if you want to start calling my old boats a POS. You know, it is possible to express a dissenting opinion politely and without an attitude.

Back on topic: For what its worth, yes, the pylon was purchased for an I/O but was used on my 205 before the tower could be modified to collapse to fit under a low bridge on my lake. It was not a pleasant experience. Furthermore a tower collapses far easier, has tons of mounting options, and is far more rigid than a pylon could ever be. Do you need a tower? No. But having had both, it certainly is my preference.