So the ski made it through Daytona!! First year I've ever gone, and didn't turn a wrench. Only thing I did was tighten my x-metal pole bolts a time or two, and compared to years past that doesn't count as wrenching.
Engine hits way harder than ever before, it's a handful for me. I can't imagine you guys with your big bores, x-screams, etc. Mine is plenty for a while, especially in the surf. I think my engine was being held back by a few things. The X2 waterbox, X2 pump, single SBN46 on a rive intake for T cases that was probably poorly tuned in comparison, and a heavy, waterlogged, tank of an X2 hull. Now with the stock RN box, 144 pump/intake tract, 9/14 hooker, well tuned 38's, and a fresh light RN hull, it's a whole different engine.
Footholds kicked ass. Wish they would have been just a tad taller so I could cram more foam in, but it doesn't warrant tearing it up and redoing anything. Still needs a lot of attention, but I doubt it will get it until something breaks. I've never come home from a freeride with a ski I could take to the water, so I'm happy as is.
The limiting rope worked great. The only problem I had, was with the rope sometimes getting yanked straight out backwards from the bottom, and coming out of the cleat. The company that makes these bad ass cleats sell different things to fix that problem for only a couple bucks, so I'll try some of them out. I'm able to cram the end of my rope down into the seam of the turf though, it once I didn't that it never moved.
X-Metal hooks, hull and hood side are the shiz also. In combination of a stainless ratchet strap and some marine grade webbing I picked up at strapworks.com CHEAP, the hood seems to be bulletproof. I bailed my ski harder than ever in Daytona and it was still on tight. My bud turbo626 aka "SuperBail" pitched it HUGE several times as well and all was good.
Overall, I'm very happy to be on a solid ski now. I think I may actually be able to spend some time riding and progressing the next couple years, as opposed to drinking and wrenching at the boat ramp on a POS X2.
:beerchug: