Pics of weighted stars and stripes wake anyone?

I'm can possibly get a good deal on a 1980 stars and stripes with very low hours, wondering of it's worth buying for wakeboarding. I am a novice wakeboarder, looking to get better. does anyone have pics of the wake on one weighted. Thanks
-Justin

Justin, look in the search catagory there has been a lot of stuff on older MCs. 1980 though seems a little old. Don't know what they are asking but you can get one in the early 90's for less than 10k which would be a lot better boat.
Richard

I imagine it is close to a prostar 190 wake. The wakes are decent if you weight them down. My friend has a 89 prostar 190 that he weights with 4700lbs of ballast.

the stars and strips and the prostar are pretty different most notably the stars and stripes wake absolutely blows and the prostar wake is pretty decent. ive owned both. dont even bother with the stars and stripes you WILL be disappointed. and i/o is going to be better than the stars and stripes. there is a reason youre getting a good deal on that boat, they want to upgrade to a wakeboard boat.

Almost 5000 in a ps 190, I find that hard to believe, he must use a ton of lead, because that is like 8-600 lb sacks.

I had a stars and stripes and weighted it with 800 lbs in the back, 250 under the bow and with about 4 people the wake was good, better than any i/o I have even seen. If you are getting the boat for 4k or under thens its a good deal, add a pole and a a 600 lb sack on each side of the engine and you have a good starter boat and a great wakeskate boat. If you are a SERIOUS hardcore wakeboarder and throwing some big tricks (raleys/5's) I would go with a different boat, but as a true rookie you can't go wrong with that boat. An old nautique 2001 is a better choice, but good luck finding one for under 7k.

I've been searching the forums a good bit for older boat, and I know that the best older boat for wakeboarding is the sn2001, but i don't know if i want to spend 7-10k on a 15 year old boat. I'm trying to weigh the options between getting and old boat, or getting a boat 2-3 years old with warranty that is meant for wakeboarding, that i know i will be happy with for a long time. Do dealerships finance used boats?
Thanks for all the help guys,
Justin

I am pretty sure that if I tried to put 5000lbs in my PS190 it would sink.

-gvb

Ive got a 1979 stars and stripes and I love the wake. Its not that big but has good shape. I throw 5's, raleys, backrolls and tantrums all day no problem. Its a great boat, I always get compliments.If you can get it for a good price get it!! Ill probably make some $$ off mine when I sell it, after having for 5 years.

if the dealership doesnt your bank will. if it were me id go with the late 90's mc 205 or a later 90 nautique super sport. your gonna pay around 20-25k for those boats but youre getting a quality product and a quality wake. i wouldnt to much worry about a warranty either. worse comes to worse youd need to rebuild a tranny or drop a new block in the boat.

I want to see a pic of that MC with 4700lbs of Ballast. I have an 86' MC Skier 19 and I can tell you 4700lbs would have it on the lake floor, 2000lbs would have me sweating hoping to keep it above the waterline

Jeff...how much do ballast do you run then if you are worried about 2000lbs? I have a 2000 X-5 which is on the Prostar 195 hull and I run 2200lbs of ballast all day long and the swim deck isn't even resting on the water yet. Most I ever put was 2200lbs of water and 4 peeps in the boat and the swim deck finally was at water level...wake was pretty big, or big for my boat that is. My boat is only 19'8"...don't be afraid to sack it out with 2000lbs or a little more. But I agree, 4700lbs and my boat is resting on the bottom of the lake.

Leo, what these guys and myself are saying is this - THERE'S NO WAY HE HAS 4,700 IN A PS190. That thing would never get on plane.

Andrew, if your platform is above water with 2,200 I'd have to question your math also.

David, I understand your speculation, but the X-series Mastercraft boats have the swimdecks mounted significantly higher on the back of the transoms as compared to other wakeboarding boats. I asked the dealership about this and that's what they told me. They said the reasoning is that its understood that you're going to weight it down, so MC wanted the swim deck to sit on the water when prepped for boarding rather than 2-4"s under the water like the other manufactures boats.

So without any ballast, it sits about 2-4" off the water and I was saying that you really have to weight the thing down to even get the platform to rest on the water...I've never been able to submerge it.

So, that being said, my math is right on...I run 3 600lb sacs full and usually 400lbs in other smaller sacs (i.e. Launch Pad Blocks).

Andrew, your 195 hull is WAY different than an older Stars & Stripes from the 80's. the surface area of your boat is substantially greater than my 86' for comparison. More surface area= more ballast opportunity.

I am mainly a slalom skier (be nice) but get together with some friends who are pretty serious boarders and we load it up to maybe 1500lbs of ballast. It doesn't compare to some of their vdrives but they still like it.

I wanna see pics of this PS190 with 4700 lbs of ballast. Of course, you're going to need an underwater camera to show us some pics.

Andrew, I have an X-5 as well but it's a closed bow. The platform must be mounted higher on yours. That, or the extra 5 inches makes a hell of difference. lol

hahaha...david, is your closed bow X-5 based on the Prostar 190 hull? I've never known anyone with a closed bow X-5, so wanted to learn more about it.

Back to the weighting, I put 600lbs in the bow of mine, and that might be what pulls up the back and keeps the swimdeck from touching. I usually fill rear to front, and with 1400lbs just in the rear, the deck is resting on the water...then when I weight the front, it pulls it back up some. Do you weight your bow...or is there a way to weight a closed bow?

Yeah, basically a 190. I have 3 or 4 50lb sand bags under the bow, but I'll put a #350 in front of the engine box to keep the front down and run a Fat Seat in the back plum full.

David...you should run my set-up sometime and see how big you can get your wake. 600lb sac full in the rear ski locker, 600lb sac full behind the engine box in front of the rear ski locker (basically I just lay the rear bench seat on the full bag since it won't clip back in place), 600lb sac full in the bow, and 4 85lb sacs around the middle of the boat around the observer seat and in front of the motor box. Wake gets pretty steep, boat doesn't handle so great though, but good enough.

I agree with Jeff, 4700 isn't possible in a PS 190 unless you lay carpet over the ballasts!

I agree with Jeff, 4700 isn't possible in a PS 190 unless you lay carpet over the ballasts!

Andrew, your 2000 X5 isn't even close to the same as a 1980 S&S or PS190 hull. I can see having 2200 in an X5 hull...... would drive like a tug but it should be a good wake.
I've seen 2000 lbs in a late 80s PS190 & the water line was at the gunnels, & the swimstep was like 6" under water. If he hasn't sank it yet, the transmission is toast.
4700 lbs must be a misprint. 470 lbs, maybe in that old a boat. Even that would destroy the floors after a while.

Not a great pic and has no ballast just 3 people. Its not a stars and stripes but a later 1988 pro comp 190 whuch has the same hull as the prostar 190 up to 1990.

Normally i ride with about 800 in the rear and 4 up front plus a few people and the wake is very nice and rampy.

http://www.bwspc.plus.com/photogallery/IMG_0524.JPG

(Message edited by jayc on July 26, 2005)

I own a '79 Stars and Stripes. You guys are right it is old, But it is solid. I use two 600# sacs on each side of the motor cover. I can get a wake that will rival a 'bu wakesetter. Believe me or not it will. The stars and stripes are one of the most vertile boats there is out there. A litte weight and you can board with the best, pop out some interior and best ski boat around.

Oh yeah 4700# I would have to swim back to the surface.

jeremy have you been on a wakesetter? no way in heck your stars and strips is getting a comparable wake. even if you put 4700 pounds in it.

Dont mean to start anything. Yes one of my buddies has one. I am just very pro Stars and Stripes boat because they are so versitle.
Like I said 4700#= sinking

Hey what happened to our guy Leo with the 4700# ballast S&S?? Still waiting to see this anomoly!

Guess he finally sank the thing!