Conference vicki::boats

    I don't know the details of Province Lake, but the lake association
    would be a good place to start.  They should at least know if the
    town or state takes an active interest in managing the lake.
    
    I would suspect that you will meet some resistence if you plan to
    install the slalom course and leave it there, though.  
    
    Kevin
    
    
    

    Rick,
      By law you are supposed to recieve a state permit for installation
    of a course. Give the N.H. dept of public safety (marine div.) a
    call for details. As a rule they don't issue permits for individuals,
    it has to be issued in the name of an association or club. (you're
    the president of the Province Lake Ski Club, right?) Also, they
    WILL send an inspector out to see the proposed location before the
    permit is issued.
    
    If you are serious about a permanent course, I would suggest you
    spend the money and get a real, regulation course such as Accufloat
    (~$1000. for all mat'ls including PVC) for a number of reasons.
    First and foremost it's alot easier to maintain, and the only expense
    is replacement balls @about 3 bucks apiece. (We went through 8 last
    year) As far as the bouys are concerned, the line tying them to
    the PVC "arms" should be the weakest link of the system. We made
    the mistake of using 3/8" nylon, and when the bouys get snagged,
    the eylets get torn out of them. We now use 1/8" nylon and if they
    get snagged you just need a new piece of nylon. Granted, they do
    somtimes get cut up, ripped and punctured, but all in all they are
    pretty durable for all the abuse they go through.
    
    OR...
    
    You could get a PortaSlalom course from C&S Specialities, P.O.Box
    5598, Ft. Worth TX 76108, (817) 763-4155  (no price given)
    Ref pg 114, July '88 issue of Waterski Magazine. It sets up in as
    little as 15 minutes (says them) no permits are required, because
    it's not permanent, and we can take it with us for our gumballs:^)
    Doug.

    The correct phone numbers for C&S are 817-294-3954 or 817-444-5687
    (the magazine made a mistake)  The prices are as follows:
    
    6 bouy course: $475.00         4 bouy course: $385.00
    
    Includes main line, reel, risers and connecting hardware.
    
    Does not include PVC, Bouys (16 req. for 4 bouy course, 22 for 6
    bouy course) and 2 anchors.
    
    

    
    Rick,
         From our experience on a public lake, yes you'll be
    replacing bouys every week.  Unless people are more considerate
    back east.  Out here we used to get about 2 hours of peace in 
    the very early morning then everyone would come out and attack
    us.  They follow us through the course, cut in front, drive
    along beside to watch, and on and on it goes.  Then they want
    to try it.  They drive over the bouys, they snag them with the
    rope, and whatever else you can imagine.  Each Saturday morning
    when we got to the lake the first business was to cruise and
    look for bouys.  Then rebuild the course, as in tie what you 
    can find back on and replace what you can't find and what they
    chewed up with their props.  We replaced 2 or 3 each week.
    Even now on the private pond we loose a few, the kids like to
    swim out and steal them, to be used as kickballs.  And a couple
    have been shot to death.  Of course you can stand to replace a 
    few for PERFECT water.....every time.......all day long.
    
    Good luck with it!
    
    Rob
    

    
    
    RE: Doug
    
    	I can't spare to clams for a portable course right now but it
    is a hellevan idea~!
    
    	I think what I'll start with is something like a hidden
    permanant course. Sink the anchors in about 5 feet of water
    with a foot of line tied to styrofoam floats with clips on top
    and whenever I want to use it I'll just take the balls out
    with their adjustable lines and clip them on. Of course for
    now all I need is 4 bouys and entrance/exit gates...
    
    	If you guys come up I'll add the other 2 bouys!!! :-)
    
    Rick

    I recieved the brochure from C&S (Porta-slalom) I'll send it to
    you anyway as it contains some good info, i.e. diagrams, photos
    and dimensions.
    
    Doug.

    Gee Rick, I remember reading in one of the WSmags that some guy
    on some lake installed a course with a big cable attached to a winch
    on the shore in front of his house.  When he was done using the
    course, he'd just hit the switch and the whole course would sink
    about 3-4 feet below the surface!  No joke.  I wonder if you could
    get away with calling this a "temporary" course?  :-)  I'll have
    to see if I can dig up the article.  Sounds like a pretty nifty idea!
    
    					...Roger...
    
    P.S.  I like Doug's idea about the portable course...great for those
    	  after-work gumballs!

RE: Note 40.7  

>>    Gee Rick, I remember reading in one of the WSmags that some guy
>>  on some lake installed a course with a big cable attached to a winch
>>  on the shore in front of his house.  When he was done using the
>>  course, he'd just hit the switch and the whole course would sink
>>  about 3-4 feet below the surface!  No joke.  I wonder if you could
>>  get away with calling this a "temporary" course?  :-)  I'll have
>>  to see if I can dig up the article.  Sounds like a pretty nifty idea!


Are you kidding? If a skier or swimmer ever got caught up in a contraption
like that and drowned the lawyers would have a field day. And rightly so.

Rick W.

    Rick,
    	We haven't been formally introduced, but my name is Steve and am
    over on Pine River Pond.  I know this is a year later, but if you or
    anyone else out there figured this buoy thing out, let me know.  First,
    I'd like to see yours on Province and try it out :) and see how it
    worked out.  We on PRP have been looking for something like that to try
    for a couple of years now.  If you come up with any help, thanks.
    
    Steve

    
    Hi Steve,
    
    	The thought of putting in a slalom course on Province is still
    just that; a thought. Maybe someday.....
    
    Rick
    
    BTW: Welcome to the file and I bet you even know where Taylor City
    is!

    Hi Steve, good to see someone from PRP. I assume your located next
    to the Richard's? I'm located just around the corner after the sand
    bar (gray and wine Celebrity). 
    
    Ski Show in a few weeks, maybe they might set up a course for you.
    How are you barefooting? My son is just starting to try and is having
    some problems.
    
    Dave
    

    I was reading an article in a Laconia NH newspaper yesterday about the
    frustration created by waterski slalom courses. The particular article
    was about the Squam Lake Waterski Association. They have had to move
    their course 3 times during the year, and then it finally had to be
    pulled out. Property owners are upset over the abusive and dangerous
    stunts that the course attracts, and the fact that a section of 'their'
    water has been dedicated for use of waterskiers. The ski association is
    equally upset saying they are getting a bum rap. Either way, the course
    is out and it will likely stay out. 
    
    According to the NH Dept of Public Safety they have permits for 22
    slalom courses on NH lakes (Winnipasauke, Newfound, Squam, Oppechee,
    Country Pond [Kingston], to list some). The article went on to say that
    all course permits will be reviewed during the winter due to the influx
    of complaints over them. From the sounds of it, there won't be 22
    permits issued next year. The article has quoted one woman, a NY law
    student, as saying she was determined not to leave for home until the
    Squam lake course had been pulled. I reckon she's home now. 
    
    Geez, what will slalom courses and dinosaurs have in common ?
    
    ~jeff

    I am not suprised at the Squam Lakes Propery Owners objecting.  My own
    observations on Squam suggest that objections at any activity which
    is 'attention getting' such as water skiing would meet with
    objections like that.  I am not suggesting that the water skiiers
    were acting incorrectly.... just that Squam is a touchy area when it
    comes to anything which could be perceived as threating the ecology
    or property owners rights. 
    
    Jeff