Just purchased '85 Sunsport, want to ski but no tower...

[chris young]

I free ski behind this boat(well actually an 84 Rider but it's the same boat), and I ski behind a Nautique 200 in the slalom course. The Nautique is arguably the best slalom tug on the water. I'm a 15 off skier and I can run the course most days at 49K, and am currently PB'd with 3 @ 52K.

When I free ski behind my boat, I ski at 52K because that's the pass I'm working on in the course. When I first get behind my boat after skiing all week at the club behind the Nautique the wakes feel huge and hard. After a set behind my boat I get used to it, and it's no big deal.

Bottom line, unless you're skiing short line at 55K (34MPH) this boat is more than fine for slalom. As for your pylon, for sure that boat came with a pylon, it's called a Sunsport Skier for a reason. The Rider was hailed as the first open bow tournament ski boat. Lift the floor in front of the motor and you should find the original bracet for the pylon. If you're lucky, the yob who neutered your boat managed to remove the pylon without cutting anything.

Please tell me that the bench seat that is covering where the pylon goes is not facing forward!