Ski Boots | Do Those Come in Any Other Colors?

     The world of snow skiing can be very fashion oriented.  The options of jackets, pants and matching accessories are limitless.  This can be an issue when a ski enthusiast completes their matching outfit, and then begins the journey to find the perfect ski boot.  One might walk into a boot fitting area and spot their ideal color only to find out the boot is the worst possible match for their foot.  At that point, a good boot fitter would start from the beginning, abandoning any notion of a matching boot, and analyze the foot, leg, and skiing aspirations of a given customer.  One might get lucky on the color of the boot, but what is most important is how the boots fit the particular foot and the customer’s skiing style.

     I have seen this scenario time and time again.  You can’t blame someone for wanting to complete the perfect ensemble, but as soon as I pick up on it, I always get down to the basics of boot fitting.  As a boot fitter I feel like I learn something new every time a person takes their shoes off.  Every foot is different and every time you think you have it figured out, a totally new scenario walks through the door.  This may be the reason why there are those dedicated, core boot fitters out there who can’t wait to stretch, grind, or mold their next boot.  Luckily, Sail & Ski keeps several of this kind boot fitter on staff so you can be sure you will get the best fitting boot, guaranteed. Having a proper boot fitting can be one of the most important components in one’s total ski experience.

     You might end up with teal boots and all orange and blue outerwear, but the sheer joy you’ll get out of every turn will be memorable.  And maybe next year you can match your suit to your boots.

     If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me or schedule a ski boot fitting appointment today to find yourself a perfectly fitted pair of ski boots!

How Cold is Too Cold? | Winterizing Your Boat

     Winter, 2011… I won’t forget it. Just two unexpectedly cold days that first week of February. Sure did a lot of damage!

     We had to replace over 80 engine blocks from freeze damage in the preceding two years. Several of them were our own boats. It was a costly mistake. All from just two simple days that stayed below freezing. That is all it takes...

     Well, it’s that time of year again when we need to consider freeze protection.  I have seen so many people wait until the last minute to freeze protect their boats and something inevitably will come up and they don’t get to their boat in time or don’t make the call to their favorite repair shop.

     So, in a panic….what do you do? I have had many people tell me that they put a light bulb in the boat or a space heater they purchased at a department store.  Do you know this is very dangerous?  The engine compartment of your boat is not vented so there are gas fumes in your engine compartment and a light bulb or a space heater can spark and catch your boat on fire!! I have seen it. We had a boat burn to the water line sitting in a slip at our marina with a light bulb next to the engine. We don’t allow that at our marina anymore.

     I have also had many customers call me and tell me they have drained the water from their engine block.  I ask them if they drained the water from the exhaust manifolds and many times the answer is no.  Did you know the exhaust manifolds have water in them as well?  If the water in the exhaust manifolds freezes it will expand and crack the exhaust manifolds.  Exhaust manifolds may not be an engine, but they are costly. 

     The most fail safe way to freeze protect your engine is to drain the water out of the engine and the exhaust manifolds.  Most of the newer Mercruiser engines have quick water drain systems and the water is very easy to drain.  Older Mercruiser engines have approximately five water drain points. The number of drain points on your engine varies depending on which engine package you have.  A PCM engine can have five to seven water drain points. You just need to be certain you don’t miss one.

     Another way to freeze protect your engine is with a boat safe engine compartment heater.  This is not a heater you buy at a local department store.  A boat safe heater is spark protected and will not catch your boat on fire.  With an engine compartment heater you do have to make sure you have electricity to the heater at all times.  If there is a loss of electricity to your area then your boat will not be protected. 

     All in all, it was just two simple days…. but, it was unforgettable. I would consider freeze protection. I know, we’re about to go drain all of our boats!

     If you have any questions, please contact me or feel free to schedule a service appointment to get your boat winterized for the rapidly approaching winter season.

Total Comfort | Burton Snowboard Boots

    Snowboard season is here and it's time to get all your snowboard gear dialed in. One of the most important gear essentials is your boots. Finding a boot that fits well with support can be a challenge…until now.

    For many years I struggled to find a boot that didn't kill my feet. I tried softer flexing park/freestyle boots to stiffer flexing freeride boots and every other boot in between. I heated the liners and custom fit insoles. These fit procedures helped but by mid to late day my feet were in pain. The biggest problem was the lacing over tightening the toe box (the front portion of the boot that surrounds the toes) causing numbness in my forefoot. This was due to the laces being too far forward over the widest part of my foot. When pulling the lower laces tight for more heel/ankle support the entire lacing zone would over tighten.

    Burton Snowboards has solved my problem with the boot feature Total Comfort. With Total Comfort right out of the box riders get an instantly broken-in feel. This construction eliminates the break-in period for a fit that feels as great from shop floor to season opener, and every day thereafter.

    Results: Eliminates forefoot numbness by starting lacing behind the widest part of foot. I can now lace the boot as tight as I desire for a snug performance fit with out over tightening the toe box. This allows me to ride from first chair to last call with Total Comfort.

    This construction is offered on all Burton boot models. With everyone having different sized and shaped feet, along with varying riding styles. Total Comfort provides a new construction with improved fit for all riders. 

If you have any questions, please contact me or visit www.sailandski.com/snowboarding for more information.

They Fixed Everything: Nautique GSeries Wake Boats

My first impressions of the all new Nautique GSeries wakeboard boats:

     Wow. They’ve thought of everything. The designers at Nautique have spent the last 20 years driving, riding in and behind ski and wake boats and have taken that knowledge, along with a list of suggestions from owners and addressed them. “They fixed everything” is a typical comment I hear as people are going through the boat for the first time.

Shaun Murray and
Super Air Nautique G23

     The GSeries boats, available in 23’ and 25’ versions, are the result of countless conversations between professional wakeboarders and engineers. Riders, who are also professional boat drivers and professional boat passengers, provided the ideas for improvements and engineers brought the ideas to life. Who better to design a boat than the riders who spend six days a week in them? 

When I sit in the driver’s seat of a GSeries boat, it feels like home. Like a well made tool, the boat becomes an extension of the driver. Adjust the sliding seat and the tilt steering wheel and now, relax your shoulders to find the steering wheel in your left hand and the throttle in your right hand. Notice the clear field of vision ahead and lack of clutter at the dash. Nicely lit LINC 2.0 interface awaiting your next instruction. Everything is within reach of the driver’s fingertips including battery switch, steering, throttle, audio, video, GPS, ballast, cruise control, lights, bilge, blower, circuit breakers, and ice cold refreshment.

Sub-floor ballast tanks allow room
for four wakeboards in the
V-drive compartment.

     The GSeries boats are real life transformers blurring the lines between a luxury runabout and the ultimate wake machine for wakeboarding and surfing. Wide beam and deep gunnels make the GSeries boats the perfect runabout with ample seating, walk-through, full sunpad, and a platform ladder for swimming. Clarion and Polk Audio sound system provide outstanding sound quality and LINC 2.0 makes it a breeze to control the stereo from the driver’s seat. G series Nautiques have a perfect layout for entertaining large groups of people of all ages. Hull design and engine options allow the G23 and G25 to have a comfortable and quiet ride at cruising speeds.

     Now, transition to wakeboarding. This used to be the time consuming part of your lake trip. Not anymore. Activate user settings and select wakeboard pro, intermediate or beginner. Grab the center rear bench seat from the base, slide it forward, and flip up the backrest. Pop up the port side rear facing seat and it is time to ride. You now have the biggest and cleanest wake in the industry designed to turn wakeboarders into astronauts. You also have 9 dedicated rear facing seats so the whole crew can enjoy the action without getting a crick in their neck.

The reversible seat glides effortlessly
from forward facing to rear facing.

     I have heard many people say that only professional riders can appreciate the wake of the GSeries boats. This could not be more wrong. The G23 and G25 have a clean wake with speeds as slow as 18 mph. Empty the ballast, set the NCRS to 0, set cruise at 18 mph and you will see a clean wake with a very mellow transition. This is a perfect kid-friendly or beginner-friendly wake and riding speed.

     Bad ankle, knee, shoulder, back, or neck…maybe wake surfing is a better pursuit. Activate user settings and select surf port. Ride goofy or want a backside break… try surf starboard. Tremendous surf wakes on both sides of the boat that require no additional ballast. Tweak the NCRS setting 0-5 to dial in the perfect wake for your riding style. Not there yet… try filling or draining a bit of the belly ballast to change the height and length of the wave. Control is the name of the game. You have all the control with the touch of a button on the LINC 2.0.

G25 Surf Wave

     The GSeries Nautiques are making it easier for people to learn how to surf. GSeries boats allow surfers to throw the rope in sooner with a much more powerful wave pushing them along. No fat sacs are required for surfing so the switch from port to starboard surf wakes requires just the touch of a couple buttons. It doesn’t take a professional rider to appreciate a better surf wake with less effort.

     Who is the G23 or G25 owner? Some buyers are individuals who want the absolute best wakeboard and surf wakes possible. Others are looking for safety, large seating capacity, configurable seating, comfort, ease of operation, and a unique look on the water. Some are simply looking for improvements on design, storage and boat layout. For most, the perfect wakes are a bonus…they are buying the GSeries because “they fixed everything” to make it the perfect boat that it is.

John Jordan

Here’s what new owners have to say:

“Family: comfort, smooth ride, safe, room for dogs, easy to drive

Friends: 19 person capacity, ample seating, configurable seating for socializing and sporting, wanted something different so bought a new model and a boat that many cannot afford. Doesn’t want to be seen in same boat as everybody else

Sports: best wake with little effort, configurable seats, easy to drive”

Tom - G25

“Hinged seat cushions, cooler in floor, surf wake much better… able to surf using factory ballast only, Handles rough water better, new tower is more solid, new LINC 2.0 is much easier to use and has more features, no carpet!”

Bret - G23

“WAKE, storage, family friendly with tons of space and tall gunnels, attention to detail and quality of construction. Wake is much more dense and powerful than the x-star.”

CB - G23

For more information about the Super Air Nautique G Series, go to www.sailandski.com/nautique or check out the G23 and G25 on youtube.

If you have any questions, please Contact me at Sail & Ski. 

Sail & Ski's New Blog

Have you heard? Sail & Ski is launching their very own Blog called Sail & Ski Experience. It will feature articles pertaining to current trends in boating, water sports, and snow sports. These articles will include topics about upcoming products and features, testimonials from our expert contributors, and the latest industry news. Sail & Ski has over 30 years experience in boating, marine service, water sports, and snow sports and we want to share our knowledge with you.

Do you want to know more about servicing your boat or how to pick out the best snowboard? Stay tuned and we will tell you how.

Find our blog at www.sailandski.com/blog or subscribe to our RSS Feed. Do you have a question or a suggestion for a topic that you would like to know more about? Submit a blog suggestion.

Coming soon in Sail & Ski Insider Advantage we will take a look at what makes the new Super Air Nautique G Series truly a game changer, and also some cool insights about what's going on with snowboard boots.

For more information about us visit SailandSki.com.