Just bought an X7....few questions

[RobertT]

I just bought a 2004 X7....love the boat and I am very happy to be part of the Mastercraft family.

I have a few questions, hopefully you guys can get me started right the first time. I would really appreciate any help you can give. Sorry if all or part of this has been covered before.

1. I have been told that you should NOT pull a tube with the tower. Is that the case? I have little kids and the lake gets too rough for much else sometimes.

2. The back of the boat does not have a ski tow eye or handle at all...just a Mastercraft plate where the rub rail comes together. Was that an option? I have not seen any other boats not come with one. I would rather pull tubes off of that for obvious reasons. Whats the best idea here?

3. I didnt notice until two days ago, but I only have pop up cleats on the front of my boat....none at the rear? It makes tying it off a pain. Was that an error at the manufactuer or does the popup cleats come in pairs? I saw the cleats on the order and assumed it would be four. Not the end of the world, just curious.

4. When a skier/wakeboarder lets go of the rope, I hear a click when the tower gets unloaded and it looks like it moves a little. I assume that is normal...but if not I would rather tighten something up now rather than risk damage later. I am pretty sure I noticed the same thing on a different X7...so I am assuming its normal.



Thats it, again thanks in advance.

Robert Trask
robertt@parkway-inc.com

[jayocheskey]

I have seen people pull tubes from the tower before. I personally would not do it, but I also have the eye in the back for that. As for the cleats; I assumed that there were supposed to be four as well -- I could be wrong on that.

[AirJunky]

Welcome to the group. Great boat, hope you enjoy it.
As for not pulling from the tower, I've never heard of problems from doing it, but can imagine the bigger tubes have a huge amount of drag & could cause problems.
Might be a good idea to go thru the tower & tighten things down just to be sure. If you find loose bolts, make a note of it & check it again in a month or two. They shouldn't keep loosening up but do sometimes.
Weird thing about cleats & inboard owners. They just don't like them. Ask your dealer about installing cleats in the rear too.

[ski_king]

Why not use the standard pylon? (I know, rear seat passangers might be the problem).
I have seem tubes being pulled from the tower. Looks like more chance of becoming airborne.

I think I saw where the front and rear pop-up cleats were seperate options.

[jmac197]

Cleats are sold in pairs....two for the bow and two for the stern. I think MSRP is around $200 for a set.

The rear tow hook is integrated into a handle.

Check out www.mymastercraft.com. They have all those things listed.


Congrats on a great boat!!!

Later
Jim

[Mosaic13]

Hey RobertT. I'm a newbie too this year. '04 210/X10 I bought three months ago and am learning all these things as I go. I've put about 35 hours on mine so far. I can tell you I've never heard anything like you're describing from the tower. Seems real solid...no popping sound. I don't, however, think I'd be comfortable at all tubing off of the tower. Seems like a lot of stress at the mounting points. I can't understand why you don't have a tow ring, but don't know that I've ever been near an X7 so I can't say. If nothing else I stick with the ski pylon. I don't get the front-only cleats either. Of what use is that? You HAVE to have the rear cleats. I'd talk to the dealer about that one. That makes no sense. Anyway, hope you love your boat as much as I do. It's just takes a while to figure everything out and get comfortable.

[east tx skier]

Welcome. I believe the tow ring is optional (check the main page www.mastercraft.com) to be sure. As for pulling from the tower, the only problem I could invision is that the angle created on the front of the tube would increase the chances of it becoming temporarlily airborne, especially with smaller riders. No personal experience with this though.

[RobertT]

Thanks everyone. I couldn't find the tow eye/handle as a part...I will keep looking.

One more thing I forgot to ask. When pulling off the pylon, the rope obviously rubs on the engine cover and the rear seat/storage area. Is that a concern long term? I saw somebody had a sling type deal that they used...I was wondering if it was to prevent friction/wear.

I would rather ask a dumb question now than have to do something later. I plan on keeping this boat for a long time!

[Diesel]

Welcome. I believe the tow ring is optional (check the main page www.mastercraft.com) to be sure. As for pulling from the tower, the only problem I could invision is that the angle created on the front of the tube would increase the chances of it becoming temporarlily airborne, especially with smaller riders. No personal experience with this though.

Your are right, on the 197s the tow ring is optional :confused: and is intergrated in the rear grab handle. MYMC can hook you up with the tow ring grab handle if you need it.

When the water is rough we have been known to tube now and then..........I will say from experience the best ride comes from the back of the boat :D

[jmac197]

Look under parts - exterior and go to the "Transom Hand Rail Without L.E.D. Lighting"

I think that's what you are looking for. There is no picture, but you can go to "Transom Hand Rail With L.E.D. Lighting" and there should be a picture.

Later
Jim

[east tx skier]

Thanks everyone. I couldn't find the tow eye/handle as a part...I will keep looking.

One more thing I forgot to ask. When pulling off the pylon, the rope obviously rubs on the engine cover and the rear seat/storage area. Is that a concern long term? I saw somebody had a sling type deal that they used...I was wondering if it was to prevent friction/wear.

I would rather ask a dumb question now than have to do something later. I plan on keeping this boat for a long time!

The shock tube on the rope is to lessen the chance that the rope and handle kick back and hit the driver or somebody else in the head when the rider hangs on a little to long and suddenly releases (usually when getting up).

Friction on the motorbox and sides/rear of the boat caused by the rope is minimal. Other things will wear the vinyl out in those locations before the rope will.

Just go slow when nobody's hanging on to the rope.

[Ric]

Thanks everyone. I couldn't find the tow eye/handle as a part...I will keep looking.

One more thing I forgot to ask. When pulling off the pylon, the rope obviously rubs on the engine cover and the rear seat/storage area. Is that a concern long term? I saw somebody had a sling type deal that they used...I was wondering if it was to prevent friction/wear.

I would rather ask a dumb question now than have to do something later. I plan on keeping this boat for a long time!
welcome!
The rear tow eye is about a $250 option and I'd bet you can find it through mymc or your local dealer but I think it will be a job for your dealer if you aren't handy.

pop up cleats were an option too and you could get either pair on your order, front, rear or both.

I admit I have pulled tubes from the tower with no problems but mine are little kids and we just pull slow and bump over our own wakes now and then, we are not speed demon tubers :eek:

the rope shouldnt continue to rub the motor cover once you are on plane, does it?

[RobertT]

Thanks everyone.

Yes, I agree that only front cleats are stupid. What do you do with only front cleats? I have to tie onto the rear rings....it sucks. I am assuming those are pretty easy to install, I might just order some.

If the rear handle/tow eye is a few hundred bucks...I will get one and put it on myself as long as you dont need to do any glass work or anything....does anyone know?

[SteveO]

Welcome to the board.

I pull the kids from the tower and haven't had any problems on my 209. The tower works great for the smaller kids because the nose gets on plane quickly and you don't have to worry about burying the nose of the tube and scaring the S%#* out of them.

[Ric]

Thanks everyone.

Yes, I agree that only front cleats are stupid. What do you do with only front cleats? I have to tie onto the rear rings....it sucks. I am assuming those are pretty easy to install, I might just order some.

If the rear handle/tow eye is a few hundred bucks...I will get one and put it on myself as long as you dont need to do any glass work or anything....does anyone know?
looks like about 4 drilled holes thru the rubrail area but I dont know.

[milkmania]

I picked up a "towing bridle" from wal-mart at their season end clearance sale for $2.00.....
the two snap ends and float were worth that!


like this:
http://www.wellingtoninc.com/watersports/towropes/70632.jpg

Poly Rope Ski Bridle: 8-foot length of polypropylene rope floats. Easily visible red floats makes it easier to keep out of propeller. Bridle allows better boat control. Can be used for all single person water-sports activities. Packaged in a poly bag. Factory Select Colors.

http://www.wellingtoninc.com/watersports/towropes.htm


I've used it a couple of times from the rear lifting eyes of my PS190 and it works well, but where it really came in handy was my brother in law's deck boat. he upgraded to a 200 HP Yamaha and the engine cowling was above the installed eye/hook pylon stand.

I may have to sell it to him for $5.00:purplaugh

[oxmach]

I have an x-7 as well and to answer your questions...

Small kids and a tube should not be a problem. A good wake boarder will stress the tower quite a bit. This brings up the tower moving questions. In chop / rough water I've seen mine sway a bit side to side. When under tension, you can hear the metal creak, and don't worry too much. In fact it's kind of nice to know when they are loading the line :)

On the cleat side, I've only seen 4 never two, but could understand why they would only go with the front. I don't have them, so I have to leave a permanent rope on the front eye as it is too hard to reach from the dock. The stern ring is easily accessible to tie off on. As the others said, they are sold in pairs and quite pricey.

Rope rub should not be a problem using the pylon. That's where I would tow from understanding the back seat issue.

[tex]

Robert-Welcome to the family. I have a 197 that is outfitted like the x-7. Towing a tube from the tower should not be an issue. I cannot imagine a tube putting more stress then a fat(myselft) wakeboarder. Mine came with 2 cleats on the back. I have not seen one with only 2 cleats on the front-strange.