Installing Perfect Pass

[bigmac]

I don't need anything fancy, so I'm looking to save $300 and buy a Perfect Pass Cruise (http://www.perfectpass.com/pp_cruise.html) RPM hold unit for my 2004 Maristar 230. It's an attractive concept for the recreational wakeboarding/kneeboarding/tubing we do. RPM hold is all I need, don't need speed hold.

It is even available with a 2 inch Mastercraft logo control unit
http://www.perfectpass.com/images/mastercraftcruise200.jpg

My understanding is that it installs the same as the PP Digital Pro except no dash display, just the 2" control unit. I also understand that there is a Perfect Pass control harness plug pre-installed under that dash as well as a simple swap-out of my current speed sensor in the hull. Or, is the new paddle wheel speed sensor even necessary if the thing only does RPM hold?

Any of you guys ever install a Perfect Pass system? Is the throttle link part of it difficult to install and set up?




.

[RackAtak]

Any of you guys ever install a Perfect Pass system? Is the throttle link part of it difficult to install and set up?.

It was a simple install for me including drilling a 2 inch hole through my hull because mine is a 2001 and I did not have a paddle wheel. The throttle link is a little tricky in the fact that you need to remove all of the play between the two linkages. There should be an original throttle cable mount on your engine with a series of adjustment holes in it. I had to move this mount to a different set of mounting holes and the linkages were fine after that. 20 hours using Perfect Pass Wakeboard Pro with no problems. I had very minimal mechanical experience before installing it and it was a breeze. You might want to consider the Wakeboard Pro because it has some nice features. Good luck you'll love the control either way.

[jrbrown]

Seriously consider going the Wakeboard Pro route. If you ever sell your boat it will be a BIG selling point AND it is fantastic AND if you ever want to use it as a DigitalPro its becomes a matter of adding a few components and telling the computer to reset itself.

I just finished a few weeks ago my install of the Wakeboard Pro (Digital Pro):

- The 6 wire plug is directly behind the driver's kickboard. In my case I could very easily spot it by just pulling up the seat in the front of the boat and looking under towards the dash. If your lucky you won't have to unscrew the 2-3 scews holding the kickboard up.

- Their wiring harness was great because it mates perfectly to the Mastercraft Before you install it, the wiring diagram you got from PerfectPass will identify one of the 6 wires in THEIR harness as a red wire for the temp display. If you install it and suddenly your temp display in your rpm gauge is reading way low, cut the red wire on the PerfectPass wiring harness.

- The servo motor is very straight forward and I found their directions pretty straight forward, I did not mount it on the large water hose. Instead I made a custom mount out of aluminum and mounted it on the same mount used to keep the water pump fixed. Most everyone else installs on the water line with no issues.

Good luck and welcome to the PerfectPass family (keepers of marital bliss (or at least it helps)) :-)

[BG1772]

The install is simple. I would also recommend the wakeboard pro over the the cruize. If you run into problems with the install, the guys at perfect pass are very willing to help you walk through any issues.

[bigmac]

The install is simple. I would also recommend the wakeboard pro over the the cruize. If you run into problems with the install, the guys at perfect pass are very willing to help you walk through any issues.Wakeboard Pro it is. I just ordered it from my dealer - $999. It's a 2.8 hour install, he says, so I'm going to give it a shot myself. Doesn't sound too difficult.

[jrbrown]

Please stay in touch. It is still all very fresh in my mind from 4 weeks ago. It is very straight forward and there are a couple of tricks that will make it easier.

[NeilM]

Wakeboard Pro it is. I just ordered it from my dealer - $999. It's a 2.8 hour install, he says, so I'm going to give it a shot myself. Doesn't sound too difficult.

You made the right choice. RPM only just doesn't work at wakeboard speeds.

[Tennesseeski]

I just ordered one through my local dealer and they said $200.00 to install so I will let them cut the hole in the hull since they have more practice at it than me. That way if it gets messed up, then they have to fix it, not me. They say it takes 7-14 days to get it in, then 1/2 day to install. I went with the wakeboard pro as well. Can't wait to try it out :steering:

[H20skeefreek]

Hey guys, I'm about to pull the trigger on one myself. Which model should I get? I'm pulling mostly slalom in a course with magnets. I occasionally pull wakeboarders, but I'm not opposed to doing that manually since it's so rare. Right now I'm skiing at 28mph, so do I need a paddle wheel?

I can't quite figure out the differences in all of the systems.

Also.....I'm very much on a budget.

[bigmac]

I just ordered one through my local dealer and they said $200.00 to install so I will let them cut the hole in the hull since they have more practice at it than me. That way if it gets messed up, then they have to fix it, not me. They say it takes 7-14 days to get it in, then 1/2 day to install. I went with the wakeboard pro as well. Can't wait to try it out :steering:

When I talked to my dealer, he reported that it had just taken them 2.8 hours on an install on a 2004 Maristar. On the later model MC's the main computer module just plugs into a pre-existing harness plug under the dash and it uses the same paddle wheel that is already installed in the boat for the factory speedometer, so the only things they need to do on that boat is run the wiring, mount the servo, mount the control module and plug it in, and change out the speedo guage for the PP. It would take longer I guess if they have to do the wiring and mount a paddle wheel. If I had to cut the hole in the hull, I think I'd have the dealer do it too.

[djhuff]

2.8 hours is BS, unless they are charging you for pulling the boat into the work area, unhooking the cover, and hooking everything back up. I had never done one before, or even had seen one installed on a boat. Installed it while changing my oil and did both in under 2 hours. The speedo is a little tricky to get to the bolts behind the dash, but not too bad.

The only tricky part is getting the throttle cable hooked up properly (tricky for me since the directions kept referencing a non existent diagram). The cable cannot have any pressure on it, it needs to hook up without pulling or pushing in the idle position, otherwise it is very hard to get it in and out of gear, and it wont hold speed well.

I have an 03 X30 w/MCX so let me know if you have any questions.

BTW, my dealer said 2 hours would be the labor charge.

[BrianM]

Hey guys, I'm about to pull the trigger on one myself. Which model should I get? I'm pulling mostly slalom in a course with magnets. I occasionally pull wakeboarders, but I'm not opposed to doing that manually since it's so rare. Right now I'm skiing at 28mph, so do I need a paddle wheel?

I can't quite figure out the differences in all of the systems.

Also.....I'm very much on a budget.

If you are mostly in a course with magnets buy the Digital Pro. If not you will wish you did. Having the course times is real nice. The Digital Pro can also be used the same as a Wakeboard Pro for wakeboarding. At 28mph you are not using the paddlewheel (it takes over at 23mph and under).

I was on a budget this winter and decided to pull the trigger on the Digital Pro and am very glad I did. It is only $200 more than a Plus system and you get the paddle wheel for slow speeds and the magnet sensor. Call Max at Skier to Skier www.skiertoskier.com (http://www.skiertoskier.com/) He has the best prices around on PP.

If I had to cut the hole in the hull, I think I'd have the dealer do it too..

As I have said here before. If you are even slightly mechanically inclined putting in the paddle wheel is one of the easiest parts of the job. Measure 3 times cut 1. Piece of cake.

[Tennesseeski]

[QUOTE=BrianM]The Digital Pro can also be used the same as a Wakeboard Pro for wakeboarding. At 28mph you are not using the paddlewheel (it takes over at 23mph and under).
So once you are above 23mph it just reads off the rpm's? I guess that is why it says you switch to rpm mode to ski! Is the speed still pretty close to correct on the display in rpm mode? Does it need calibrated and if so how often?

[Ric]

[QUOTE=BrianM]The Digital Pro can also be used the same as a Wakeboard Pro for wakeboarding. At 28mph you are not using the paddlewheel (it takes over at 23mph and under).
So once you are above 23mph it just reads off the rpm's? I guess that is why it says you switch to rpm mode to ski! Is the speed still pretty close to correct on the display in rpm mode? Does it need calibrated and if so how often?
You didn't hear it from me, but maybe if there are enough of you interested........ Oh well, just PM andre for details

What Brian said about PP
digital pro gives you the run of features needed for any of the disciplines. You definitely should be looking at digital pro if you're course skiing, you'll love it. (if you don't know about your home course, ask, but it most likely has magnets)
then you switch to wakeboard mode when you're ready to pull the gromms.
I use rpm for my little tube riders so I can concentrate more on boiling up both the lake and the blood pressure of certain piney woods lawyers!

[BrianM]

Is the speed still pretty close to correct on the display in rpm mode? Does it need calibrated and if so how often?

The display has a digital speedo that runs when you are in rpm mode. It is pretty accurate. Yes you have to calibrate. If you have a course with magnets and have a Digital Pro this is pretty easy. Once you have the baselines set up it is calibrated and shouldn't need to be messed with again unless you mod the boat or somehow reset the baselines.

[Tennesseeski]

How do you calibrate the wakeboard pro with no course?

[djhuff]

Calibrate with a handheld GPS

[bigmac]

Please stay in touch. It is still all very fresh in my mind from 4 weeks ago. It is very straight forward and there are a couple of tricks that will make it easier.Thanks. Looking at the tachometer, it's pretty tight quarters in there to get to the nuts that hold the securing bracket. Am I missing something in getting it out easily, or is it just one of those PITA boat mechanic things?

[RackAtak]

Thanks. Looking at the tachometer, it's pretty tight quarters in there to get to the nuts that hold the securing bracket. Am I missing something in getting it out easily, or is it just one of those PITA boat mechanic things?
Mine was a PITA thing. Removed the dash clips, tilted the steering wheel down as far as possible and pulled the dash out as far as possible and then felt my way around in the dark. 8p I did have to bend the heck out of the Perfect Pass gauge bracket to get it to work in my ProStar dash. today my blank gauge fell out...time for a depth gauge or a new head unit and a wired remote.

[bigmac]

Got it installed. It was indeed pretty easy. I installed the servo on the rubber part of the left side exhaust manifold with some big hose clamps. The whole thing took about 2 hours

Very nice unit and works well. All I have left to do is tighten the gauge (dreading that) and spend about 20 minutes with a fistfull of zip ties.

[bigmac]

It seems like I read that the red wire from the PP harness, if left connected, sends a double signal to the temp gauge making it read incorrectly, and the fix is to cut the red wire. When I retrieved the Mastercraft plug from under the kick panel, I found that one of the wires (the brown one) wasn't inserted in the connector block at all.

http://mccollister.info/connector2.jpg

As it happens, this is the wire that lines up with the red wire on the PP harness, so I'm guessing that it should just be left disconnected? The PP unit sems to be working great, and the temperature is indeed reading correctly.

http://mccollister.info/connector1.jpg

[Tennesseeski]

On my way to pick my boat up at the dealer. Just had my perfect pass, new carb, new rear decal, and had them run my transducer cable and mount it for my depth finder. I can't wait to get on the water tommorrow :D

[east tx skier]

Tennesseeski, it's going to be a great day for ya!

[Ryan]

Here is a nice step by step (http://www.wakesiderides.com/viewArticle.php?id=221) if you end up getting the Digital Pro.

[Tennesseeski]

Thanks east texas. I went with the 4150 dual feed carb so I hope I don't regret it. I have to give props to the guys at Kingsport Mastercraft!! They did a great job on everything. Answered all my questions and made sure everything was o.k. before I left. The sales guy even noticed one of my side trailer lights was missing and mentioned it. I told him I had been meaning to get one to put on and he went in the back and got one for me and had his guys put it on before I left. Cost me $6.95. He could have just let it go but he went the extra mile. It is the little things that count. Anybody around east tenn. should go see these guys if you need anything. Can call them at(423)224-2135. ask for Rick or Mitch.