2005 Outback Slalom Wake

[eworbob]

I bought my 2005 Outback brand new and have loved the boat - however, I always thought the slalom wake was a bit harsh compared to a family member's 1989 Mastercraft Prostar 190 that I grew up skiing behind. I have read reviews that say the wake is soft on the '05 Outback - am I missing something?

[Sled491]

You have to keep in mind that the 190 is a much smaller boat. That being said I have a 07 OUtback and ski with a group that is comprised of 1 Moomba and 3 Master Crafts. We are a kind of high level group and I get nothing but positive feedback on my Outback wake. Speed and prop have a lot to do with the size and softness of the wake.

To be honest I find my wake much softer than the 2000 Prostar we ski behind. Not flatter just softer. Make sure you aren't mixing the 2 comparisons.

[maxpower220]

Boat size has A LOT to do with your comparison, the MC is much smaller both in length and wideth. I rank my Malibu Sportster LX 1st, MC 195 2nd, Outback 3rd, & MC 205 4th in a few of the boats that I have owned. The Outback and MC 205 are roughly the same size, and the Outback wake is/was a lot better. I did a ski school last year behind a CC 206, that wake was slightly smaller, but just as "hard".

What speed are you at now? How much weight in your boat.

I feel the MC 190/197, CC 196, and Bu Response do have a slightly better wake at all line lengths and most speeds, but there is a $20,000 difference in price. Not that much difference in wake IMO.

[eworbob]

I currently run at 32mph at 15' off. As far as weight goes I only run with gear ( a couple of skis, a wakeboard, jackets,etc... ) and have had only the driver/spotter in the boat while skiing.

I also got to ski behind a 06/07ish Malibu Response (open bow) last year and couldn't believe how much better the wake was.

One thing I was looking at was the stationary trim plate that sits below the exhaust. On wakeboard boats this plate is hydraulic and adjust to change the nature of the wake. Is this thing removable and will it have an effect on the wake if removed??

[Sled491]

Actually that plate can be moveable on a ski boat as well. Fact of the matter is that the plate improves the ski wake. Trim it down and it flattens the boat trim in the water and makes the wake smaller. Raise the plate and the stern drops deeper into the water and creates the larger wakeboard/surf wake. As we all have learned as well, the prop will make a big difference in how skiable the wake is.

[moomba wannabe]

Do you have a 3 or a 4 blade prop? I have an 05 Outback as well with a 4 blade and the wake is decent but not near as nice as the bigger Malibu I skiied behind last year. I was considering changing to a 3 blade for this reason.

[maxpower220]

I currently run at 32mph at 15' off.

I also got to ski behind a 06/07ish Malibu Response (open bow) last year and couldn't believe how much better the wake was.

Is this thing removable and will it have an effect on the wake if removed??

1. You should try skiing at 34/36 mph and see if you can tell a difference in your wake. It gets better the faster you go, especially at 15' off.

2. The Diamond Cut hull is hard to beat for ski wake, the Response has some steering issues that most people won't ever notice. Spend a little more money ($15-20K) and you WILL get a better wake. Bu, CC, and MC obviously do A LOT more R&D with their ski hulls.

3. The plate is removable. If yours is all the way down, you won't be able to tell a difference if you remove it.

[zegm]

I know this isn't going to help much but we had a 1975 MasterCraft Stars and Stripes and it had NO wake, if it did I don't remember it! I guess when you weight about 2200lbs you can do that. But my wife did ski behind Maxpowers boat and she really likes the Outbacks wake.
So depends on what you really want out of a boat. I met Jody of Florida Inboards today and he had a Gorgeous 2007 Ski Natique 196 and that is all he wants for a boat so he sold his open bow Ski Natique for this beauty just to go down the course. I on the other hand like to take people to ski, surf, wakeboard, kneeboard and just cruise. This was impossible on our great ski boat. Our LS can do all as long as I remember she isn't going to do any of them great, but that is what is great, for the money we spent EVERY ONE is happy!

[viking]

Well Put!!
Same reason I own my Roo

I know this isn't going to help much but we had a 1975 MasterCraft Stars and Stripes and it had NO wake, if it did I don't remember it! I guess when you weight about 2200lbs you can do that. But my wife did ski behind Maxpowers boat and she really likes the Outbacks wake.
So depends on what you really want out of a boat. I met Jody of Florida Inboards today and he had a Gorgeous 2007 Ski Natique 196 and that is all he wants for a boat so he sold his open bow Ski Natique for this beauty just to go down the course. I on the other hand like to take people to ski, surf, wakeboard, kneeboard and just cruise. This was impossible on our great ski boat. Our LS can do all as long as I remember she isn't going to do any of them great, but that is what is great, for the money we spent EVERY ONE is happy!

[Sled491]

Holy Cow, Viking, that's some signature you got growing there