Adding a ski pole to a Quicksilver 520

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danncus

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Hi I have a Dell Quay Marlin 520 sport circa 1999.

The original literature says there was a optional ski pole. i contacted Fletcher (who owned Dell Quay) and they said it was a re-badged Quicksilver 520 open.

I can see where the pole would go in the upper hull, but below there is the fuel tank!
Is anyone familiar with this boat or know how to fit?

I have added a couple of photos:-
http://opposite-locksmith.blogspot.co.uk/2012/09/boat-ski-pole-fitting.html

thanks
 
danncus said:
Hi I have a Dell Quay Marlin 520 sport circa 1999.

The original literature says there was a optional ski pole. i contacted Fletcher (who owned Dell Quay) and they said it was a re-badged Quicksilver 520 open.

I can see where the pole would go in the upper hull, but below there is the fuel tank!
Is anyone familiar with this boat or know how to fit?

I have added a couple of photos:-
http://opposite-locksmith.blogspot.co.uk/2012/09/boat-ski-pole-fitting.html

thanks
Click to expand...

Yep, it goes through the top crossmember in the centre next to the SS post holding up the rear rail. The fletcher Ski Poles had a U shaped SS base with a pin through so that it was removable when not in use and so you could get the Fuel tank out.

Cheers

Paul
 
Thanks Paul. It's good to speak with someone familiar with the boat.

So far I understand where the pole goes in, but I'm not following where (or how far) the bottom of the pole goes, as as I see it, the pole would hit the top of the tank ! I'm 130 miles away from the boat to study/ take photos. Does the x-member take the pull of the skier ?

Thanks for any light you can throw!
 
I have a Yamarin 59HT now but had a Dell Quay Cruisette before, both which cant take a pole easily. I have now fitted a Turboswing to the Yamarin and it is excellent, deep water mono starts no problem getting out of the hole - but expensive. Only downside to it is that if you are wakeboarding the pull is from low down behind engine, and if you are pulling toys you cant 'flick' the rider off!
 
I wouldn't bother installing a ski pole at all.
What's wrong in attaching two ropes to the U-bolts on the transom?
Ski poles are only necessary in skiboats used for tournament slalom.
 
MapisM said:
I wouldn't bother installing a ski pole at all.
What's wrong in attaching two ropes to the U-bolts on the transom?
Ski poles are only necessary in skiboats used for tournament slalom.
Click to expand...

Sorry, got to disagree.

A pole has lots of advantages. The extra height helps beginners to get out of the water and it also reduces the risk of a rope round the prop.


While I agree that a bridle on the transom will work fine, the pole is a big help for all users, not just tournament slalom.
 
landlockedpirate said:
The extra height helps beginners to get out of the water
Click to expand...
Nah, that's an urban legend.
How much higher a pole can be, let's say 3 feet? In most boats, not even that.
With a 18 meters long rope, it means that the angle of pull increases by approximately 3 degrees, go figure...

Otoh, it's true that the pole helps reducing the risk of a pole in the prop (particularly with an outboard - it wouldn't make any difference with a proper skiboat). But just a very little bit, because actually it's not the position as such which reduces the risk, but rather the fact that the rope is more visible. And if the helmsman has a decent watcher onboard (which should be there anyway), he/she can help keeping an eye for that.

Anyway, each to their own.
I for one wouldn't waste a minute fitting a pole on a boat like this, and would rather go skiing here and now. :)
 
landlockedpirate said:
the pole is a big help for all users, not just tournament slalom.
Click to expand...
PS, I forgot to mention: for tournament slalom, the pole is necessary not because it helps the skier, but because attaching the rope in front of the inboard engine is the only way to avoid that the skier deviates the boat course while pulling after each buoy.
 
Thanks for responses.

I have been using the bridle. It is very low to the water. It is a real pain to use and care is needed to keep the prop clear. When towing toys, the rope gets dragged in the water. We also wakeboard. When towing ski or board bridle is lower than the handle. A pole in this boat would lift anchor point to head height.

Thanks
 
danncus said:
When towing ski or board bridle is lower than the handle. A pole in this boat would lift anchor point to head height.
Click to expand...
Fairenuff, as I said each to their own.
Just consider that for waterski, particularly slalom monoski, it's actually better if the anchor point is lower.
In fact, you're not supposed to keep your arms straight and high, hence being pulled from your shoulders, but rather keep your upper arms low, with the elbows against your chest, hence being pulled nearer to the center of the body.
Have a great time, waterski is one of the most entertaining sports, imho. :)
 
Thanks MapisiM,

we're a long way from being competent mono skiers! (although I know a few)

I'm just hoping to improve my boat's versatility. I'm hoping Nautorius can expand on how the factory fitted it.
 
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danncus said:
Thanks MapisiM,

we're a long way from being competent mono skiers! (although I know a few)

I'm just hoping to improve my boat's versatility. I'm hoping Nautorius can expand on how the factory fitted it.
Click to expand...

It depends on if you have a large permanent tank or two smaller 30 ltr tanks. When Ski pole specced it would be with two smaller tanks and fit between them with the U base attached to the floor. If it had the large single tank then the ski pole was smaller and mounted on the cross member (not through it) and a V shaped stainless steel support went from the pole to the transom either side of the engine which steadied it.

This is what you need:

http://www.iboats.com/Bass-Boat-Thr...8699076--session_id.200350155--view_id.164614

In my opinion the ski pole does help learners. This is because as a learner it takes longer for you to stand up and with a ski bridle it can get caught in the initial wake on set off just behind the engine and can make the line 'snatch' which is not good when learning. A ski pole lifts it up and away from the immeadiate wake on set off reducing the instances of snatching. The angle makes a little difference but every little helps when beggining.

Cheers

Paul
 
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Nautorius said:
In my opinion the ski pole does help learners. This is because as a learner it takes longer for you to stand up and with a ski bridle it can get caught in the initial wake on set off just behind the engine and can make the line 'snatch' which is not good when learning.
Click to expand...
Mmmm... That sounds pretty much like a situation where the helmsman is also a learner, not just the skier... :D
 
Absolutely. I mean, if they wouldn't, they would be useless also as cleats.
In fact, on second thought, if the pylon purpose is just to have a clearer view and higher position, you could as well use them directly, rather than the U-bolts... :)
 
I started out wakeboarding behind a rib using a bridle. Two stainless clips with a section of floating nylon rope much the same as cheaper ski ropes. This was used with a propper floating bridle attachment which could rotate along the bridle rope and had an eye piece attached to which the actual ski rope was attached. The ski rope I used was again a cheaper version which generally float much better than the more upmarket stuff.

With this setup I never had any issues with getting the rope/bridle caught up with the prop.
 
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