Power Slide

Lots of people ask me if I've ever done a power slide with my 2002 X-7. I haven't, and while I know the general method, I'm not sure of the details and pitfalls. Any helpful hints? I'm sure there are some who will flat-out say, "Don't do it", right?

[AirJunky]

I always heard that too many of them will throw the engine / tranny alignment out of wack.

We do Around the Boats all day long though & the alignment has never been very far off. Their not nearly as violent as a powerslide though.

[sfitzgerald351]

What the heck is a powerslide? As opposed to an "all around the boat"?

[MarkP]

what the heck is an all around the boat

[T Scott]

Powerslide-Get the boat up to top speed and then bring the boat just barely in gear while turning the wheel quickly to the right. The boat will "Slide" (Hence powerslide) or spin 180 degrees like a jet ski. Can be dangerous if people aren't hanging on or things go flying. Be careful!!

Around the boat-Old show ski trick where the skier skis literally "around the boat" It is more of a driver trick than a skier trick. Skier pulls out to the right, boat cuts slightly to the left getting the skier on a whip. The boat then turns hard right (this is the dangerous part) Towards the skier! The ski rope slides over the windshield and the skier maintains outward pull and comes back around behind boat. This is very dangerous and should not be tried "just for fun". Quick way to end a weekend with a friend in the hospital. Get training from a show ski driver if you want to give this a try.

[sfitzgerald351]

Ahhhh,

We used to call powerslides "BowDos" (sp?). I never thought about throwing the engine/tranny out of whack, but was more worried about swamping the boat as you could either take a large amount over the side sometimes or stuff the nose.

As for the 'around the boats' it's cool, but it's a stupid human trick I probably don't need to try (and I love studpid human tricks --> Like underwater planking behind the boat, or towing/surfing with whitewater kayaks).

[T Scott]

Boat-O's, whip turns and powerslides are the common names for spinning the boat 180 degrees.

[Michael Epp]

The salesman did this in the X-10 that we test drove last fall. I've read that it's not great for the boat. I've not tried this in my X-10 and I don't think I will.

[ShawnE]

Back in '69-'70 my cousin was with the Eau Claire Ski Sprites.They did what was called "crack the whip", with 2 guys going around the boat together. They did it behind an 18'' aluminum Starcraft with a 115hp inline 6 Merc.

"Chap", my cousin, and "Showboat", Dan S. who was also the kite flyer were performing the stunt at a show and the force of both of them pulling actually lifted and slid the boat towards them, causing a terrible fall.

Chap still has the back half of Showboats' ski and Showboat has the piece of fin that nearly severed his elbow!....The Good Ole Days

[MarkL]

I did one last year and snapped the drive shaft losing the prop. The shaft had a crack in it and some corrosion, though. $850 later, I'm still doing them, just a bit more cautious.