Probably Strangest Question of the Year...

**wasvette** · 12-14-2017, 10:07 AM

Can a Liberator 21 be used for slalom skiing with the right prop, etc? I have a potential buyer that wants to use it for that purpose. I've never heard of anyone skiing behind one but I'm assuming it's possible? Lower pitch prop and lower the engine height some?

Does anyone have any experience with this with a Liberator 21?

Are the transom eye hooks able to support the weight/force of a skier?
That's my biggest concern.

**AZMIDLYF** · 12-14-2017, 10:12 AM

PM a member on here called WILDMAN...years of experience with these hulls.

**Davidlake** · 12-14-2017, 10:13 AM

Yes! I had a 21 Cougar with a 300SX and skied behind it. Very similar boat to the Liberator. No wake, but kind of turbulent water and a lot of spray. Nowhere like a tournament ski boat though.

**wasvette** · 12-14-2017, 10:25 AM

More specifically I think my question is ---will the transom eye hooks support the weight of a 200lb slalom skier? That area of the transom on each side is not as thick as where the jack plate mounts. The buyer would install some kind of ski pylon later but wants to try to ski behind the boat before purchasing and this would mean connecting to the transom eye hooks. Which I don't think is a good idea.

I don't think those hooks are engineered to be pulled straight back; more for tying down or lifting.

Does this sound correct?

**wasvette** · 12-14-2017, 10:25 AM

Originally Posted by Davidlake

Yes! I had a 21 Cougar with a 300SX and skied behind it. Very similar boat to the Liberator. No wake, but kind of turbulent water and a lot of spray. Nowhere like a tournament ski boat though.

What was the rope connected to?
thanks

**pappa pete** · 12-14-2017, 11:03 AM

Should be great for slalom since it dont have much wake,
Make a bridal and connect to the jackplate, with 1 line down each side of motor into a single, keep it short so it can't get over the cavitation plate, that how I ski behind my Allison SS, works great

**Davidlake** · 12-14-2017, 11:12 AM

Originally Posted by wasvette

What was the rope connected to?
thanks

It had a ski pylon. You could connect to the transom eyes (both) and wye to a single rope about 3 - 4 feet back of the transom. I did this with my fist outboard vee hull boat before I got serious and became a tournament skier.

**FMP** · 12-14-2017, 01:06 PM

Transom eye bolts for decades, hang the boat on end from them.

**vnemous** · 12-14-2017, 01:17 PM

Connect to transom eyes and than where it meets behind engine put a float to keep it from fouling prop.

**wasvette** · 12-14-2017, 02:20 PM

Thanks for the replies - sounds like no big deal

**FMP** · 12-14-2017, 02:51 PM

Unless she's punk rotten and ready to pull out.

**Da Bull** · 12-15-2017, 05:20 AM

I had a 21 Lib w/twin Mercs and a ski pylon. It was a great ski boat. No skier no matter the size ever pulled the back of the boat around. Very solid. I taught many kids how to ski behind that boat.