|
List Price
|
Fit and Finish
_________________________ |
Rough Water Speed
|
Smooth Water Speed
|
Accel using "Buttmeter"
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|
Rough Water "Attitude"
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|
Smooth Water "Attitude"
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| Stock |
$0-$15
|
Very good for a cast part. Standard Variances from machine to machine.
Part lines up, first time, every time. Transition from shoe to plate is
very flat and sealed. |
60
|
70
|
The standard. It tends to push a lot of water before popping up.
|
GLUED to the water. No bounce, no misdirection
or trackin issues. No reason to expect a getoff at any time. Turns are
predictable, and smooth. Pump unloading is best in class. |
Leaves you wanting more speed. Plate is even MORE glued to the water.
The best plate to judge detonation limits. Turning is downright boring
and predictable. How hard can you hold on!? |
| R&D/Riva |
$170
|
Variences from Plate to Plate. Grinding is sometimes required to clear
pumps and other stuff. Both companies very good about replacing manuf defects
on part. Plate lines up, first time, every time, however, watch for flatness
and centering of components. |
55
|
74
|
Better than stock. Hull "leaps" forward,
and helps get it out of water more. Can induce "off the line" porpoising.
|
Not designed for rough water. Plate can
easily come unhooked in rough water. If spaced down with washers, rough
water speed decreases even further due to side-plate scrubbing. Turns can
cause a chine hop and "digging" if not controlled by rider. Pump unloading
is TERRIBLE, and is probably a cause for crank failure. |
My assumption is that this plate was design to
win smooth water grudge races. It is fast
on glass, and quick out of the hole to boot. This is the "River King" of
rideplates. Turning is pretty quick and tends
to "whip" around on you if possible. |
| ShredMaster |
$450
|
Grinding seems to be the word of the day.
Speedo 4-bolts did not line up properly on this plate. Holes had been drilled
out by owner to fit his ski. It BARELY FIT my holes. I HOPE I did not damage
my stock rideplate inserts. Posted letters from ShredMaster indicate any
problems you find are only YOUR problem, and nobody else has them. It is
a very "pretty" plate, and has a cool look. |
62 |
69 |
Not much different than stock. Possibly pushes a tad more water, but
seems to pop out about the same. Good hookup keeps the ski from hopping
in just about any condition. |
Absolutely, a rough water plate. The rear "rudder"
on this plate makes for a very planted attitude. This plate could load
your engine in mild rough water. The pump tends to stay full as well. Not
a bad plate for closed course or ocean riding. |
This plate does not work for smooth water. It is way too planted and
leaves you wanting more and more. You will sieze your motor trying to lean
for more speed...DON'T. Richen the motor. It's actually lugging your engine.
The plate turns very nicely in both rough and smooth...better hold on. |
Pro-Tec-
sorry, no pic. |
$170
|
Plate lines up, first time, every time. Grinding not found to be needed.
Pro-tec has always been an up-front company. If the part is not correct,
they will make it correct. Good folks. |
56
|
72
|
Not much different than stock. Not bad, not good.
|
A nice comprimise between rough water ability
and smooth water ride. I like this plate with 2-up riding. Still
this plate can induce bounce in rougher conditions. Not a good "race plate",
but very good for rec riders, lake riders. Pump unloading is not severe,
but is noticeably worse than stock. |
Very stable and predictable. You find yourself pulling back on the
bars, or leaning out your carbs. Turning does not seem to be a problem.
No strange tendencies. |
