Watercross questions....

[JHG]

I've got a ton of questions about watercross. I've been talked in to watercross racing the second weekend in August and I have no idea what I'm doing. You can't legally waterskip here in MT so I don't have anywhere to practice. So here are my questions.

What sled is best to use?
The choices are an 09 M8 162, an M1000 162 or an 01 Mountain Cat 800 144. The girlfriend told me to stay away from her M7. I'd like to use the Mtn Cat if possible.
What track is best?
The M's all have powerclaws and the Mtn Cat has a camo w/ 2" paddles.

Clutching? Gears?

Does hp make a difference?

Should I run twins on the Mtn Cat or the stock pipe?

And then, I guess, what the hell do you do when you get there to race? Just line up and go? Any tips would be great.

 

[NoSecondChances]

Try not to get a sled with a ported track.

Tape up every little hole, nook and cranny you can find. Any water on the clutches that makes the belt slip.......down you go (glug glug).

I don't know if anyone has done a study yet or has other experience, but I think a set of simmons skis would be a huge factor (gen 1 or 2). I saw some pics of guys water crossing earlier this year and one guy with some simmons gen 1's, his skis were only about 1/2 in the water and seemed to be planing better than the other guys with PP's and stock skis.

That's about all I know, they used to run across the river where I was from but I never was a big fan of trying to drown my sled.

Good luck



NSC

 

[Team Wild]

Heres the link to the event coming up. hope to see you all there.

http://www.thunderonthewater.com/


Heres the Organization putting it on

http://ffor.org/index.php

 

[team dirt]

i find shorter tracks better and deffinetly simons skis. to much throttle and the track will actually spin and you will start to get into a tank slapper situation. once you get on the water the sled will just cruise nicely across the water. like riding an untouched feild of pow.

 

[JHG]

So the guys in this picture have done something to the front suspension, are the shocks shorter or gone? Two of them look like they are running C&A skis, I have a couple pairs of those laying around so it would be sweet if they would work.

 

[snowmobiler]

where is the race.i want to go.ride the m1000,duck tape the holes and hammer down untill you hit shore.

 

[JHG]

The race is in Billings, probably a little far from Oregon but should be entertaining if you made the trip.

 

[snowmobiler]

ok.the long track 1000 is a super stable ship for scared newbies like meto go straight across.a shorter track and try and keep the nose up would be better for ovals

 

[Blu Du]

drag race or oval. the sleds in the pics are oval racers and are narrowed up for turning purposes

 

[cubby]

Where abouts in Billings is this event being held? I just want to come and watch

 

[JHG]

I think it's just a drag race, I guess that's something I should find out. All the info for the billings race is in the link above. I think tickets are $15 in advance or $20 at the gate. They are serving booze there.

 

[ratcat]

Waterskipping

I've watched and video'd a BUNCH of oval racing on the water in no. wi. and ALL the sleds they raced had 136" tracks with 1.25" lugs and, depending on the style of footprint,some of the tracks were put on BACKWARDS. There is a family of water racers in No. Wisc. called MACKI. They are skidoo dealers in Grantsburg Wi. and they are into the THIRD generation of racing on the water. Try to contact them. One of them in a demo. pulled a skier around their lake at Grantsburg!!! They were WORLD Champs for MANY years!
Good Luck and, have fun!
Rat
P.S. If you sink, either keep it submerged till you are ready to,or, dry it out and get it running IMMEDIATELY and the engine bearings won't rust.

 

[Fro]

Like others have said, tape up all the holes in the belly pan/hood. You do not need to hit the water WFO either... We just dip our skis & hit it 3/4 throttle or so, then back it down...you can play with the gas until you find a good plane. Try to stay out of others wakes too. IF you do start to go down kill the motor or you'll bend you crank/rods.

 

[Jeff C]

Go with the 01 cat.

Keep the skis that are already there. This is a drag race. Those skis in the pic are for oval racing, where the skis barely ever touch the water.

Remember to lean forward on the sled, DO NOT SIT ON THE BACK.

I would strongly urge you to zip tie the kill switch so it wont accidentally get pushed (Don't ask me why I know that)

duct tape all the openings on the hood, if you get a run up, great, if not hit the water at 2/3-3/4 throttle, and when the sled settles down, give'er 100% throttle................

 

[masterpate]

The powderclaw is not a good water track. The finger track is what worked great down at the Blackfoot Idaho races. If you are running the M sleds you better silicone everthing you can. Especially between the track and the bulkhead area. Thats where the water eventually sneaks in. Learned that with trial and error.

 

[markass1981]

If you find some place in Bozeman to go skipping please let me know as I would be interested in coming out and doing a little riding. I went out to Harrison a few years ago but now there is always a ton of people there. Maybe you could get a way with it on a rainy day!

 

[Hardass]

The weekend of july 25,26 is the down river days in Ione wash Water cross is on sunday big event with a high rise dirt jump for the finally. Great time it's on the ponderay river.

 

[Scott]

Hopefully the Billings event has a good spot, because it's not legal to ride a snowmobile on public water in Montana. Anyone forget about that one?

 

[03rmking]

Ski brand doesn't matter. Suck up your front suspension. You don't want your ski's slapping against the water. They should barely graze if even touch the water at all. We tested with a radar gun and got 5-10 MPH more when the skis don't touch.

Or take a turbo apex and it all becomes irrelevant at 80+ MPH

 

[mikes99ss]

http://www.snowgoer.com/forum.cfm/fuseaction/listings/forum/77.cfm

This is the forum all of the watercross guys hang out in.