Evening star., 1961-06-13

towing. Otherwise, the mini
mum would be a boat about
IA feet long with good stability
equipped with an outboard
motor Of not less than 18
horsepower. The cost of such
a rig would be about $700 while
a trailer to horse it around
would run another $165.
These, as we said, are mini
NUNS. Deluxe, inlaid water skis
can cost up to $3.50 or more
but a very good pair can be
obtained for $45. Good tow
ropes with tow bar will run to
$7.95 while the life belts go up
to So or so.
Price Goes Up Sharply
AS you gain experience, you
will begin to look longingly at
the fully-equipped water ski
boat that can set you back
from $4,000 up, includin g
trailer.
This probably will be a 16-
footer powered by an electric
starting 75-horsepower motor
and with all the necessary
remote. controls.
BY this time you also will
want several pairs Of skis, a
ski tow bar which attaches to
the transom of the boat and
comes up over the top Of the
motor, thus keeping the tow
line high and out Of possible
danger Of fouling the propeller,
and several ski tow ropes.
Extras Needed
Extra equipment will include
a Speedometer on the dash so
that a specified speed can be
maintained for various types of
skiing, another placed so that
the observer who faces the
stern can read it and a tacho-
meter to keep tabs on the
motor.
In addition, there will be all
the accessories needed in a
boat of this size, including life
preservers, tenders, running
lights, fire extinguisher, an
chor, boat hook, tool kit, first
aid kit and a boarding ladder
to make it easy to take skiers
aboard.
Finally, you may want a Ski
Talkie by which a skier can
converse with the boat opera
tor. On the other hand, most
skiers use a sign language to
convey their orders to the
boats driver and If you don't
know these signals it's a good
idea to memorize them.
Hand Signals Help
Before you start, orders can
be given verbally, such as I'm
gear" when you are ready to go.
With the motor idling. the
operator will put the boat in
gear to keep pressure on the
tow lines. The skier yells "Hitl
it" and they're off.
After you are underway you
can signal the driver that
everything'S fine with the uni
versal "OK" sign, the thumb
and index finger forming an
"O." For slower speed, turn
thumb or palm down, for more
speed, thumb or palm up.
The hand held palm down
across the chest indicates "cut"
and means the skier intends
to drop off. The arm extended,
palm outward, means stop thel
boat and arm extended with
finger pointing means steer the
boat in that direction.
Tourney Equipment Exacting
For tournament use, water
ski equipment becomes much
more exacting. The tournament
tow boat is a specially con-
structed low profile model
which rides the water without
being disturbed by head winds
or cross winds, corners well in
tight competitive courses and
provides an ideal weight for a
competitive skier riding at slow
speeds or high speeds.
The boat is equipped with
bucket seats, one for the driver
and one for the observer and
a stool-type seat for the addi-
tional judge necessary in trick
riding and slalom events.
There is a specially-cali-
brated speedometer for use of
both the driver and boat judge.
The special towing pylon is
located in the center line of
the boat and forward of the
thrusting force of the motors.
1t is positioned 40 inches from
the water surface so that the
competitive skiers get an even
pull in all events. Tachometers