Conference vicki::boats

	Temps are predicted in the mid 50s tomorrow in "sunny" 
New England. Anyone planning on getting their boat wet?

	And... since I was so derelict in my duties as winter
crying party coordinator this year, I guess I'll have to make up
for it with a summer smiling party!

Rick

Yeah, I guess we did blow off the mid-winter bitch-and-moan session, eh?

How about a mid-spring look-at-all-the-crap-I-have-to-do-to-get-my-boat-ready
gathering?

...Roger...

    I had intentions of volunteering to host the mid-winter party at the
    new NH residence but never got a-round-to-it. With no#2 son now only 9
    days old I *know* I won't get around to it. My goal this year is to put
    more hours on the meter than I did in '94. I was going to try to work
    on style, form, & endurance for '95, but where I only need to break 25 
    hours to meet my goal I won't have time for any of that crap. :^)
    
    If I don't start using the boat more I'll never be able to convinve my
    wife that it's time to upgrade to a used late model red & white
    Nautique.
    
    ~jeff

	Gee, and I had serious doubts about making it to 1100 hours
last fall.... But with the late season warm temps, it wasn't a problem.
Latest ski on record for me at December 22, 1994. The boat was actually
winterized *THIS* year on January 7, 1995!

	My boat could really use a look-what-i-got-left-to-do party....
It's got no seats, no engine cover, no carpet, no pylon...... damn I got
a bunch of work to do! How about a look-what-i-got-left-to-do-and-lets-do-it
party?

Rick

	Hey, anyone wanna come over and smell the glue tonite?
I should be a carpet cutting and gluing fool by about 7:30.

Rick

>>              <<< Note 1209.5 by KAHALA::SUTER "Never too Hot!" >>>
>>                         -< Remove the bag? What bag? >-


>>	Hey, anyone wanna come over and smell the glue tonite?
>> I should be a carpet cutting and gluing fool by about 7:30.

>>Rick

	Rick,

 Sorry I can't make it tonight, but when you finish yours, could you stop
 by and do mine.... Oh yeah, Roger says his boat is next.... ;-) This should
 keep you in the right frame of mind...... ;-)

	Norm

	   Ft. Meadow in Marlboro has a little slush floating in the corner
	near the ski club...  Other than that the place is wide open!

	   You're losing valuable sports time here!!!

						B.C.

Yeah, we're really slacking off this year.  My brother tells me that the lake in
R.I. where we ski has been clear for a couple of weeks, but unfortunately the
water is still a bit low.  Of course, *I* know all the hazards, so cranking it
up before the water comes back to full height is not out of the question.

...Roger...

    Just a Note from the West. It's GOING TO BE AWSOME this summer.
    I went by 2 of 4 lakes we ski on around So Cal and the lakes are full 
    and running down the spillways. Those in the west may know these names.
    Naciemento is going over the spillway!!!! The lake has risen 65' since
    Jan. Lake Lopez is 10-20 feet from spilling over. Sorry if you
    Easterners can not understand my excitement. but these lakes were down
    100-175 feet for last dozen years. Nobody at Nac can remember the last
    time the spillway had water on it. Well now if the rain will just
    subside so the hills quit moving and blocking the roads.

	Anyone interested in getting wet on the Merrimack this
weekend?

Rick

	Hit the Merrimack river on Sunday. Air temp was high 40s/low 50s.
Water temp was Brrrrrr... chilly...

	The N. Chelmsford ramp has been "reworked", they placed large
boulders along the shore in an obvious attempt to  curb erosion. With
the river as high as it is right now, there was no beach, just rocky
shoreline. They also placed rocks at the top of the ramp where holes
were developing last year. These rocks are pretty large and nasty to
drive over. I hope someone else's tires will settle them down a little,
as my tires didn't really appreciate them.

	Chelmsford certainly gets an A for effort, as the place looked
great except that ruts large enough to swallow a Toyota had developed
and bless their little heart, they had the grader in there this AM.

	Backed the Nautique into the water and fired her up! She was
*ready* to go... Jackie got the pleasure of roaring around the river
first while I parked to truck and trailer. Ahhhh... what a beautiful
sound!
	
	Doning our drysuits, I was selected to ski first. I chose to
ride the kneeboard, knowing I could stay almost completely dry/warm
with this option. Good little warm-up. Jackie was up next.... die-hard
that she is, she *JUMPS* in with her ski and yells "HIT IT"! Her first
run looked good.

	My second run was on my slalom, I really felt great. I hit
a section of glass where I felt I was really getting low. This dry
suit stuff is really great, no fear of falling and I can ski hard
right from the first time out. (I'd never thought of this advantage
of dry vs. wet). Jackie's second was also a solid slalom run and then
I finished off with a wakeboard run culminating in a nice faceplant.
Wake up call! Brrrrrr!

Rick

    Rick, do the boulders along the shore prevent beaching a boat to load
    or unload ? I always liked having a sandy beach to pull up to.
    
    ~jeff
    
    FWIW, the little end of Winnisquam still has ice.
    

	Right now the boulders do prevent any boat beaching, maybe
when the water level decreases some beaching may be possible. 
Although, with the Atmosphere's nose........... who knows....

Rick

    Well ... any one get any skiing in over the weekend ?
    I've been a read only noter in here for a while.  Couldn't
    ski last summer because I was pregnant.  That was torture 
    because we bought a new Flightcraft last June.  
    
    Got to ski on it for the first time yesterday.  It felt great!
    Although the 3 attempts to get up I could have done without
    (driver error ... my husband nearly pulled my arms right out of
    there sockets !!! :-)  ). 
    
    Water in Lake Washshacum (Sterling) wasn't too bad with the dry
    suit of course.  Can't wait to do it again !
    
    Denise
    

	Didn't make it out this past weekend, for various reasons....
These various reasons are far too common lately and interfering with
my skiing! Argh!

	But... Today!!!! It's supposed to be close to 70 out there!
Anyone gonna be in N. chels around 3:00?

Rick    

	At the moment it's not raining, no much wind... 
Anyone for N. chels around 6:00?

Rick    

	Well.... the buggs were few, the rain was minor, the waves
were non-existant and the Wallys were home!

	What more could a skier ask for!

Rick    

    
    
    	They told us at the sailing club that the Lowell enforcement will
    start this weekend.  But they told us at one point it would start in
    May so who knows.
    
           
    Forrest

Gee Forrest,

	I forgot to mention that I towed in an aluminum boat last night!
Guess one of your OBs needs a little attention....

I know, just what you wanted to hear, huh?

Rick

    A coworker just told me (he just left!) that there was an article in
    the Lowell Sun (sunday edition perhaps) about what a great place the
    Merricack is and how the number of users has increased to where
    enforcement is an issue. Article said 'they' would be there starting
    Friday nites and weekends. 
    
    Do we know who 'they' are and what their juristiction/level of
    authority is ? 
    
    ~jeff

                                                 
    	If it was a Johnson then it is not one of ours.  We have a
    50HP mariner on a Whaler, a 35HP Mecrury on a smaller Whaler, and a
    25HP Mariner on a random no name fiberglass hull.  
    
    	We have a 25HP Evenrude but as of sunday it was still hanging in
    the rafters as it only fits the small Whaler.  Maybe it was one of the
    rowing folks if so not my problem.  I fixed it once for them when it
    was new but it was an emergency they needed it the next morning for
    something.  A gasket between the air intake and the cover had come
    loose and was jammed behind the choke plate. 
    
    forrest

        I was able to hook up with Reg Burgess and his son's girl-friend
        (Carol) on Saturday for a few hours of skiing on the Merrimack. I
        also brought my #1 son along, a 2 1/2 year old future skier.

        There were Chelmsford police at the ramp doing a random safety
        check for equipment and registrations. They didn't visit me even 
        though I was sure my New Hamsphire tags would draw their attention. 
        They was a lot of activity on the river due to the good weather.

        Just in front of us at the ramp was the Environmental Police boat.
        A center console 17' Whaler type with outboard. I overheard the EP
        talking to the local cop. Basically they're not looking to hassle
        people, jsut looking for gross infractions of commons sense. The locals
        are attending some formal training this week on safety rules and
        equipment. 

        At this point the EP backs in too far and hangs the bow eye of the
        boat on the trailer. After a full throttle start that fogs the
        ramp up and a few attemps to back off the trailer, a few bystanders
        have to free up the bow eye and shove him out. Boat stalls, won't
        restart. Another full throttle start and off to the beach. We
        launch and head up river asap. 

        We stayed in the Hudson/Nashua area most of the day as there were
        fewer boats and nicer water. Still some boat traffic but very nice
        considering the activity. Didn't see the EP in the NH stretch and
        wasn't sure if he was limited by the state line. Tend to doubt it.
        We had a good time and skied until we were too tired to hold the
        rope.

        As we headed home about 4:40 I spotted the EP at Paulie's beach,
        the river's equivalent of a Dunkin' Donuts. Lots of socializing
        going on. As we pass the beach, we see a 23' Checkmate loaded with 
        6-8 gents thoroughly enjoying their fermented beverages and pulling a 
        pair of skiers. One guy on the bow in front of the windshield waving 
        a brew around. They blow by Paulie's and continue up river. No sign  
        of the EP. 

        We pulled out and the locals were still doing their random safety
        thing just before 5:00 pm. Long delays loading boats ups. Spotted
        at least two boats that will be undergoing repair this week for
        rock damage. Very few people knew about the channel behind MPM.
        Just throttle up and head straight through.
    
	~jeff

        A few years ago, I was skiing with a 'life belt.'  You know, that white
    band that went around your waist and cinched up tight with the 'thru
    both hooks, then back over the top of the second, and under the first.'
    I did one of my typical falls, shoulders forward, let the boat pull you
    very fast over the tip of the ski, and if you are lucky, the ski takes
    a detour rather than parting some part of your anatomy. The thing that
    did part was the life belt strap, as the buckle sliced cleanly thru.  I
    immediately went out and bought one of those new fangled 'life vests'
    that are 'impacted tested' [but not guaranteed :-) ] to 50 mph.

    Well this week, I was wearing that treasured vest when I fell victim to
    old habits. Ok, Ok, I never broke those old habits.  In any event, I
    planted my right shoulder, followed quickly by the rest of my right
    side, into the Merrimack.  I must have done something right, cause the
    ski was about 50 feet down river, with no current. The end result- the
    vest is fine, thank you very much, but the hip pocket on the suit must
    have taken the force entering the water, and ripped a real neat 3
    corner tear about 6" long.  Soooo....  For those of us subject to water
    entries approaching mach speed.... where can we get a suit 'impact
    tested [but not guaranteed] to 50 mph?

    dave

>    corner tear about 6" long.  Soooo....  For those of us subject to water
>    entries approaching mach speed.... where can we get a suit 'impact
>    tested [but not guaranteed] to 50 mph?
>
>    dave

	Guess, you'll have to get a barefoot suit! Then, of course, you'll
have to use it...! Bring your prescription, I'll bring the boom... :-)

	Anyone up for a *real* Gumball? You know, the kind where we actually
go out on the water for the ENTIRE DAY? Of course, since we all seem to
be headed toward weenidom lately, we'll have to take actual vacation time,
which I think is against all Gumball rules, but....

	The WX bozos predict rain for most of this week. How about
a day next week, sometime?

Rick

Sure, I'm fer it

- - when ?




        Reg

    another long winded reply;
    
    Ya! Sure, count me in too!
    
    ~jeff

Next week is a bad week for me.  We're in the middle of a production build
of PCs for the Navy which will continue through next week.  Maybe the week
after?  I went by the Merrimack on Saturday.  Wow, not much fluid flowing
(unless Sunday's rain made any difference)!

...Roger...

Hi Rick,

Thanks for the mail, I'm up for an afternoon of skiing....next week sounds
good to me.  Let me know, the Methuen course has been pretty good if anyone
is up for skiing there.

Cathy saw you go by us one morning, we were at the course in my boat, she saw
the Natique go by...was that you?  On Route 110.....  are you over the ankle
injury yet?

Keep me posted, thanks.

Jeanne

    Count me in...Next week, the weather and my &*$%% cold should be
    better.  BTW; Suncook Lake is a possibility as the course is still in
    and so is my boat.
    
    Doug_with unused vacation time.
    

I'll give it a tentative Ayuh.  Being a short timer they are holding my feet 
to  the fire for a couple delieverables.

BTW Rick, my doctor thought the season must be over and my shoulder would
have plenty of time to 'heal naturally.'  Got a real nasty look whey I 
said, 'Over? No way... its just starting wet suit season, to be followed
by dry suit season, ......."  No sense of humor these medical types... :')

dave 

	After some initial whining about how cold and choppy the 
Merrimack River was we eventually got over it and did some skiing
last Thursday. In attendance were Jeff, Reg, Dave, Celeste and me,
as well as 3 boats. Sometimes this happens...! We left mine in the
parking lot and launched the MC and the Flighty.

	We headed north in search of some less choppy water. No luck!
The best we could do were "less choppy" patches here and there. Jeff
used the wind as an excuse to not barefoot. Hey, at least it was a *good*
excuse. Dave was looking good on his slalom ski as the practice he's
been putting in is showing in these waning days of the season. (Did I
say that?). Celeste got out for a tour on her ski and then decided as
she shook in her wetsuit that she may be done for the season. Gotta
teach her about the hose!

	Hmmmm... my memory is fading... Who took that class A faceplant?

	Reg, showed us all what being close to Fort Meadow can do for
one's slalom skiing. He was really looking good! 

	Jeff got out on his skinny ski a few times and also was in
"I've been practising all summer!" form. 

	I took a couple of kneeboard runs and tried a slalom run
but the foot wasn't cooperating. 

	The weather was improving by lunchtime. The temp was warming up
and the wind was calming down. We were all sitting around somewhat spent
and in true Gumball style, Jeff says, "Hey, you think I can do around-the-boat
on the wakeboard?".... Way to go Jeff! That's the spirit! I said "Sure,
I don't see why not, I think I even know how to drive for it". With some
helpful pointers from Reg, we figured out the driving while Jeff took
about 5 or 6 dunks.... But finally, HE GOT IT! Around-the-boat on a wakeboard!
We were psyched! It was great...

	Needless to say after Jeff's outstanding performance, I had
to give it a try on the kneeboard. I had recently been playing with
the "WHIP" on the kneeboard so I was somewhat accustomed to it and managed
to also do around-the-boat... It was wayy cool....

	
Rick

ps. Attempts last weekend behind the Nautique to do kneeboard-around-the-boat
were not as successful....

    *.skiing around the boat is a neat trick I must admit. I think I only
    took 3-4 wipeouts before getting it. The first two were a simple matter
    of honkin' too fast in the wrong direction while the driver completes
    his throttle-up into the opposite direction. The next wipeout was much
    better. While leaning in to induce some directional change the
    wakeboard's fin lost it's bite resulting in a faceplant & skim show.
    Throwing caution to the wind, and there was plenty of wind to catch it,
    the next attempt was simply hold on to the rope and let the whipping
    action place me where it may. That worked the best.
    
    The Flightcraft's windshield is a tad *lower* than the ski pylon which
    helped a lot too. The boat used in the showski nationals a few weeks
    back on ESPN had no windshield when they did their 3 person ski around. 
    
    I'd like to try it again, except on a slalom ski. Got to be good for an
    insane amount of speed during the whipping porion of the stunt! And
    then over the winter, get psyched up for a barefoot run around the
    boat. During the whip, drop and ride my butt, then fall back to a
    deep water start position to blast through the chop and turbulence,
    then eventually stand and foot away as the chop diminishes. 
    
    When does the health care open enrollment period begin anyway ?
    
    ~jeff

    
    I must admit, this group made my first gumball a memorable one.  After 
    one of the warmest summers on record, our (Celeste's and my) initiation
    came on a day when the temp did well to get above 60 and the wind below
    25!  Me complain, well only when we couldn't rendezvous with the
    Flighty for a quick, make that long, shower.
    
    This group does have variety. Five skiers, and we really should have
    launched all 3 boats, one just for the equipment. The MC does have
    great storage, so we made it with two, if you ignore the fact that
    Rick's sneaks got buried deep enough so they ended up going home with
    us.
    
    Faceplants, ah yes, my specialty.  Although I didn't have a monopoly on
    them this time... there was enough to go around.  Based on Rick's kind
    comments,  I must have improved to the point where my progress is being
    limited to my ski and an investment in a new slalom ski MUST be in my
    future!
    
    Now when Jeff and Rick started strategizing skiing around the boat, my
    comment was something like...'let me see if I have this right.... your
    gonna put Jeff on a short line, have him pull hard in one direction,
    while you turn the boat towards him.  Ok, I've got the camera!'.... and
    I did, captured on 4 Kodak moments is this blurred image in a
    black/yellow/pink wetsuit, making his way around the boat..... truly
    amazing.
    
    Dave
    ps.  Hey, I have a wetsuit with those colors!
    pps. Sorry Rick, we changed films and you are still in the camera.
    
      

	The rivah was like glass
	Smooth as a baby's *$$

	A radio in the truck
	said "another one bites the dust"...    
      
	3:30?

    No can do today, this DEC work keeps getting in the way.
    
    Take a run for me, make sure you get my off-side right!
    
    ~jeff
    

	Gee, err... I guess this means a no-go... I'm kinda stuck
here also and haven't seen any interest anyway...

Rick Guess_I'll_have_to_buy_a_Ski_Free

..there he goes again, confusing company loyalty and dedication with a 
lack of interest :*)

  The rivah is always flat on the way to work... how about starting the day 
tomorrow with your favorite exercise.... make that second favorite exercise.

Gotta pick up the MC in the afternoon to begin its annual hibernation...
oh perish the thought!

dave

    Well I did the dastardly deed and put the Flighty to sleep for the winter.
    Overall, it was a better season than I had expected. I didn't expect to
    get out much due to the new family member, now 9 months old. As it
    turned out I started bringing the 3 year old with me and we had fun while 
    my wife got a break from having the both kids. Worked out pretty well,
    especially on the really hot days (something I've already forgotten
    about).  
    
    Rick provided me with a good excuse too for not getting out often
    enough, he broke *his* foot, so I couldn't ski. :^) I exceeded my goal of
    putting 20 hours on the boat, I did a whopping 28! And for new tricks I
    learned, but by no means mastered, the wakeboard whip around the boat
    and footing off a kneeboard (it's a weeny move I know but it was too
    cold to do a real long-line start). 
    
    So the boat, skis, and ropes are stashed away for the winter. I've got
    me plenty of other projects to work on while I wait for the March thaw.
    I think it may be time to get my semi-dry suit fixed for next year too.
    
    ~jeff   

re:    ~jeff   

	Sob sob.... 


	The Chris Craft got the same treatment last night, and was placed
in it's winter resting place this AM. (Yeah, I know, it's about time,
right?)

	The Nautique, however, is sitting in a nice heated garage and just
itching to go out and play some more. Although, I get the feeling that
I won't be skiing on December 22nd, 1995! It's been regularly staying
pretty chilly. Some cars in the MKO parking lot had SNOW on them this 
morning! Brrrrr..... Also, it was pretty chilly skiing last Sunday...

	Got to admit, I've been sliding in the "hours department" myself.
I used to manage 200+ hours per season. In recent years, I'm barely
breaking 100 hours.

	So who is up for skiing on the Nautique's next outing? Maybe
Sunday once the "rain" ends?

Rick

Well, I didn't intend to start anything, but the 205 hit dry dock on October
(right, last month) 20th, and since I store it in Maine, and they bank the snow
in front of the garage door when they plow the driveway, I expect it'll be
Memorial Day before it can come out of hibernation. I'm glad to hear there's
at least one boat that's ready to hit the water.

I didn't keep a log on the hours, but expect I'm between the Flighty and 
Nautique this year.  I'm disappointed it didn't hit triple digits, but maybe
early next year. At least there was progress for both Celeste and myself in 
slalom this year, and with the new ski (still 'in the mail') I will have one
less excuse to improve even more next year.  Hmmm, maybe a week in a school in
Florida would be a good investment this winter....... any recommendations?

Hey Rick.... I thought you might be on the river Saturday morning.  Seemed like
the perfect kinda day as I scrambled to load the leaves and brush on the trailor
before the landfill closed at 2.

The last roll of gummies is outta the camera.  I'm trying a new developing
service, but should have the final incriminating evidence before long.

dave

	I've been waiting for that indian summer to show up, but I
think it may forego New England this year. "Corrective Action" hasn't
seen action in weeks and is probably getting downright tired of it.
(I know I am!)...

	I may be forced to mothball her for the year.....

Whimper, whimper...

Rick

Not to mention the river is still down a few feet...... but its *FLAT*

I'm just not sure the proper way to break in a new ski is by using ice cubes for
slalom buoys :*)   I did threaten to take it in the bathtub with me just to say
I'd gotten it wet this year.

This must be your earliest year yet for mothballs.

Dave

>I did threaten to take it in the bathtub with me just to say
>I'd gotten it wet this year.

	Who says this is a "*Crazy*" idea?

Well, if worrying about cycling the blower is an indication of 'withdrawal', I
find myself really worrying about anyone who would cuddle up to a water ski in a
bath tub, even if that anyone is me!  8*)

I've gotta remember to bring in the WS Magazine Ski School directory and start
making some calls.  There must be an equivalent for the Betty Ford Clinic for
the water skiing deprived and challenged!

dave