Hydrostream Viper for skiing/wakeboarding

[h2obuoy]

Alright, I realize this may be a dumb question, but my son has started to get into the wakeboard craze and we are thinking of converting our Viper into a ski boat. We currently are running an inline 1150 that runs strong. With 4 kids, I'm definitely a budget minded boater, and can't convince my wife we need another boat. What are the pros and cons of skiing and wakeboarding behind the viper. I realize I will need some sort of pyon and a smaller pitched prop, but what else am I getting myself into by converting the viper into a ski boat? Also, any ideas for easier deep water entry into the boat. If I recall, swim platforms used to be an option on these Streams, but I've been unable to find any used ones around anywhere. So, Is this a viable solution for getting into skiing pretty cheap, or am I out of my mind? I'm sure I'll be doing some skiing behind it also and I easily weigh 200 lbs while my son is under 100 lbs. Any help would be appreciated.

[pyro]

The Viper likes to hop and porpoise at slower speeds with any passenger load, as you probably already know. Thnis would be maybe the biggest "con."

The platforms are virtually un-available secondhand. I am planning to build a few teak steps as a winter project. One for my boat, and maybe another or two to sell. They will be styled just like the original optional ones. I will only be building steps for the port-side, since most of these boats have cable steering and wiring that gets in the way on the starboard side. You can also make things easier by attaching a folding step to the teak swim step. The hand of a friend on board helps to pull you up into into the boat.

There are several kinds of pylons:

The ones that attach to the floor in front of the seat are best for slalom or anything with hard cuts, they keep the boat from sliding sideways from the pull of the skier because they are mounted farther forward like a ski boat. They also invite floor rot, unless you epoxy brass inserts into the wood and properly seal the mounting base. They make the backseat unpleasant, unless you sit right up against the side. They kill interior space, especially on a 15 foot boat.

The kind of pylon that mounts through the deck behind the seat, and down to the floor usually doesn't have the rear-facing braces attached to the stern, since it uses both the deck and floor for support on its own. Looks much better, works well. Seal the mount properly or face the consequences.

The other kind that mounts behind the seat into the deck DOES use the braces, because it does not mount to the floor. It is entirely attached to the deck. Because of the position of the braces, there is actually very little push or pull on the deck where the pole mounts, most of the force is transferred to the stern braces. This pylon does not "violate" the flooring, and does not get in the way of the fuel tank or battery. Those braces can make it difficult to get into the boat or you can stub your toe on them, but they also give you something to grab onto when you're getting in.

If I were going to convert a Stream into a ski boat, I would remove the carpet, soak the flooring with a couple gallon CPES resin kit, and then coat it with an anti-slip coating or spray-in bedliner instead of using carpet. You don't want wet poeple getting into your boat and soaking the carpet. Many of these boats have NO floor sealant applied before the carpeting, some have gray paint under the carpet, which offers NO rot protection! But also, sealing the floor on the top side may prevent the floor from drying out if the bilge gets a bit full and wets the floor from underneath. hmmmm..

I would also replace or re-seal the seat frames to keep water out.

Get a swivel for the passenger seat, that's a no-brainer. (unless it's old enough to have back-to-back seats.)

A thin hydraulic jackplate allows you to use the boat for skiing, but still cut loose every now and then.

-Chad

[stvhelm]

When I first got my viper it had a 115 merc on it and we used to ski behind it. I put a 19p thru hub prop and lowered the motor even with the transom. forget the ski pylon. it makes the boat stand up high during take off. I had a rope that connected to both eyes that had a floating pulley on it that the ski line connected to. It was long enough to go around the motor with out interfering with it. this set up was good enough to pull 2 skiers up

[MN Vulture]

H20buoy

I learned to ski behind a '77 Viper that my dad still owns. It is now powered with a 115 Merc. It is a wonderful ski boat. The wake is small and with a 115 it has plenty of power to pull me (240 pounds) out of the water on a slalom ski. Just this weekend it pulled two people skiing (one person slalom and the other on two skis).

The Viper does not hold a straight line very well going through a slalom course, but if you don't ski that hard it is not a concern.

As great as the Viper is as a ski boat, it is NOT a wakeboard boat. I've never actually wakeboarded behind my dad's Viper, but I don't see how it could produce enough of a wake to be much fun.

Just my two cents.

MN Vulture

[69MyWay]

H20buoy

I learned to ski behind a '77 Viper that my dad still owns. It is now powered with a 115 Merc. It is a wonderful ski boat. The wake is small and with a 115 it has plenty of power to pull me (240 pounds) out of the water on a slalom ski. Just this weekend it pulled two people skiing (one person slalom and the other on two skis).

The Viper does not hold a straight line very well going through a slalom course, but if you don't ski that hard it is not a concern.

As great as the Viper is as a ski boat, it is NOT a wakeboard boat. I've never actually wakeboarded behind my dad's Viper, but I don't see how it could produce enough of a wake to be much fun.

Just my two cents.

MN Vulture

I know this is a very old post...but by chance...what prop pitch did you have to run like this?

[69MyWay]

When I first got my viper it had a 115 merc on it and we used to ski behind it. I put a 19p thru hub prop and lowered the motor even with the transom. forget the ski pylon. it makes the boat stand up high during take off. I had a rope that connected to both eyes that had a floating pulley on it that the ski line connected to. It was long enough to go around the motor with out interfering with it. this set up was good enough to pull 2 skiers up

Did you play with different props to land on 19? Or was that just what was there?

[LakeFever]

I couldnt imagine skiing behind my Valero, let alone a Viper. I have a ton of ski experience. 4+ days per week in the summer for 20yrs. Lived to ski

Need a big boat that give no wake. 19' J-Craft is mint or a true IB