US Water Ski Association names its official 2010 tow boats

by Bob Wonders on 29 Jan 2010 Four competition tow boats from three manufacturers have been selected as the official tow boats for American Water Ski Association-sanctioned tournaments through 2010.

The approved boats are the Ski Nautique 200, the Malibu Response LXi and two models from MasterCraft, the Pro Star 190 and Pro Star 197.

Members of the association's Towboat Committee, aided by technical experts, authorised drivers and top exponents of tournament water skiing conducted the comprehensive testing and evaluation.

The association introduced its technical evaluations of both inboard and outboard ski tow boats in 1983 and have updated the testing procedures every year to thoroughly inspect the most up to date technology being employed by manufacturers.

To submit a boat for test, a manufacturer must be a corporate member of USA Water Ski and of the American Water Ski Educational Foundation and Water Sports Industry Association.

The associations believe there are many advantages in having a boat successfully undergo the testing.

Many city and community-owned lakes across the United States only allow AWSA approved boats to be used on their waterways.

Additionally, having the ‘stamp of approval' improves the marketability of the boats for marine dealers worldwide.

The testing is incredibly comprehensive; every aspect of a submitted boat is measured, including length overall, beam, fin placement and depth, propeller pitch and shaft angle.

Serial numbers of engine and transmission are recorded and all hull characteristics noted.

When on the water, each boat must successfully pass a series of 11 testing procedures; power and acceleration, handling and manoeuvrability, engineering, drivability, sound levels, slalom course centreline deviation, slalom spray, jump course centreline deviation and slalom, trick and jump course deviation.

Only when a pass mark is achieved is a boat deemed suitable for top water ski competitions.

All four chosen boats for 2010 are highly-regarded worldwide and used in competition across the USA, Europe and the Asia Pacific Region.

Each model is sold widely in Australia and New Zealand and the Ski Nautique has already been chosen as the official tow boat for the 2010 Moomba Water Ski Tournament on Melbourne's Yarra River, in March.

John Haines Jnr, joint managing director of respected manufacturer The Haines Group, is the master distributor for Correct Craft and predicts the Ski Nautique 200 will prove itself at tournaments across Australia.

'As ‘pure' ski boats go, it's as good as I've ever seen,' he said.

The other boats chosen by the US are also available on the Australian and New Zealand markets.

Some are imported ‘ready to go'; some arrive in Australia and are assembled and powered by local dealers.

The Haines Group is recognised as a ‘master dealer' for Correct Craft, servicing eight sales and service dealerships Australia-wide.