Perfect Pass, Perfect Schmass....

swilly · Soul Rider Joined: 06 Sep 2005 Posts: 362 City: Eugene

What is the real point of perfect pass? I don't pull my riders by speed, sometimes RPM to get a general idea but I'm always controllling speed for the wake, and the more/less people (weight) in the boat, varies the wake, thus needing more or less throttle.

So how would perfect pass benefit me? I have an '88 Mastercraft Tristar 190...

smokedog2 · Outlaw Joined: 02 Dec 2004 Posts: 210 City: Cincinnati

Not at all, waste of money. Next you'll be asking about fax machines and cell phones. Are you one of the 8,000,000 people that still rent their phone from AT&T?

SD2 - here to help.

(oh, I love PP - one less thing to watch in a boat full of kids.)

Liquidmx · Addict Joined: 26 Jul 2004 Posts: 755 City: San Jose

Perfect pass is like a computer: garbage in = garbage out. A lot of people who are experienced in adjusting and programming the thing can make it work absolutely stellar(less dub ups off course) regardless of conditions and weighting of the boat.

swilly · Soul Rider Joined: 06 Sep 2005 Posts: 362 City: Eugene

can somebody explain this a little more? I still don't see how it benefits quite yet...

deepcove · Soul Rider Joined: 15 Mar 2004 Posts: 296 City: Vancouver

Perfect Pass gives you a constant speed without the need to constantly adjust the throttle. Being pulled behind a boat without perfect pass and having the speed vary during a run is nothing short of annoying. Also Perfect Pass allows the driver to give more attention to where he / she is going as you are not having to continually look at your speedo or RPM to make sure your speed is constant.

As far as your varied weight effecting the wake you can adjust your speed on the PP by pushing the up or down arrows until the you have the desired effect. Once you have this set you will have the exact same speed and wake every time you pull up your rider.

If you are always controlling your speed for the wake then this little device is gonna make your time on the water a lot more enjoyable.

Liquidmx · Addict Joined: 26 Jul 2004 Posts: 755 City: San Jose

Deepcove, I think he is referring to the load of the weight and having to adjust the "agressiveness of the adjustments". A lot of guys I have talked to who run either varied weight or some serious weight need to make these adjustments within the program. I do agree that if the weight is a negligable difference then perfect pass can usually work well on a consistent basis.

swilly · Soul Rider Joined: 06 Sep 2005 Posts: 362 City: Eugene

deepcove, thanks, that explains a little more......it seems that I'm sometimes adjusting throttle on a regular basis to keep the consistency in the wake and this is why I see it being a problem. I guess I'm real picky about my wake.

Hollywood · Posted: Mar 29, 2006 10:13 pm Post subject:

I don't really have a problem throttling by hand until there's like 2500lbs. I think riders need to stop being little bitches and just ride instead of focusing on their speed.

KyleT · Outlaw Joined: 21 Aug 2005 Posts: 119 City: Fort Worth

QNev · Posted: Mar 29, 2006 10:53 pm Post subject:

Hollywood, on an inboard it wouldn't be much of a problem, but it's extremely annoying behind a low horsepower o/b or i/o. The wake's size changes, speed drops and rises 2 mp/h it's pretty annoying.

midwesty · Posted: Mar 29, 2006 11:00 pm Post subject:

KyleT, EXACTLY

Hollywood · Posted: Mar 29, 2006 11:06 pm Post subject:

KyleT, good form. If you don't the look of things wait 2 seconds and it'll be cleaned back up. I won't go dropping $1500 on PP on a used boat, but if I were ordering new, probably. I do more slaloming where it's much more needed so comparing the two for wakeboarding I don't think it's a big deal.

Liquidmx · Addict Joined: 26 Jul 2004 Posts: 755 City: San Jose

I love perfect pass for tons of reasons but the most obvious is the ability to pay more attention to the rider. Its nice to have the ability to coach and offer pointers to friends while driving. It is also nice not always be throttling the very little bit by listening to the motor, looking at the wake, and your seat of the pants feeling (since gauges are pretty much useless regarding speed when towing a rider). Another great reason is for gas consumption, just like a car more consistency = less gas burned. Plus if you are riding and a poor driving is yankin you around the lake you still have consistent speed, even if he cant drive in a straight line! Wink

. I guess all the years of towing w/o it builds the skillset to the point where its less of a neccessity, but I have heard many newcomers and husbands(and wives) mention that its been a life (and marriage) saver.

oshensurfer · Posted: Mar 30, 2006 8:21 am Post subject:

I didn't have it originally on my last boat, and when weight was added, it was fairly difficult to keep the speed constant for inexperienced drivers that I rode with. I added PP. It eliminated wasting good water before another boat came around the bend, it also makes it safer for the rider, in the fact that the driver can pay more attention to the surroundings in front and the rider instead of staring at the speedo and tach.

Trust me, you can learn more tricks more consistently with a consistent wake that isn't a different size/shape each time you hit it. It definitely made my riding experience and learning of new stuff better. I wouldn't have a boat without it.

chavez · RIP MHL 04/25/1958 - 01/11/2006

Swass · Guest

I mentioned it, but I was accused of not being able to multi-task. Rolling Eyes

Hollywood · Posted: Mar 30, 2006 8:37 am Post subject:

chavez · RIP MHL 04/25/1958 - 01/11/2006

Hollywood, actually, it is really that simple.

It is extremely common around here to not see an object until it is just about too late. All of our water is runoff from the Sierras, so there can be debris at any time of the year (more in the spring). On top of that, the river water can be dark green to brown, and you need all the time you can to see ahead.

I know when I am using PP, I often stand or focus my attention much further ahead.

When I am not using PP, I have to do all of that, and hold my speed. Something is going to give somewhere at some time in that scenario.

As for other boaters, well it really isn't the boaters, it the mosquitos that we watch out for.

I agree safety is first priority over speed, but why not be able to provide all of the above at any given time?

Wakebrad · Ladies Man Joined: 11 Dec 2003 Posts: 12257 City: Dallas

Once you use PP you don't want to go back. My boat holds speed very well. Even loaded with 2000#s (including people) but after riding in friends that have PP it's such a pain in the ass. You don't even have to look at the speedo compared to trying to look at it every 2 seconds. It really frees up your ability to watch where you're going or even watch the rider in the mirror.

When you load your boats it is usually a very thin line between a clean wake and going way too fast for the rider. A .5mph buffer is perfect for most boats but if you stretch that to 2mph it can be very frustrating for the rider especially if they're trying to learn something new. It's always best to have a consistent setting.

swilly · Soul Rider Joined: 06 Sep 2005 Posts: 362 City: Eugene

Thanks for the info guys. I think the best reason for me to get PP is for the purpose of another driver to pull me. My brother and girlfriend can't pull worth a dime and I get pissed trying to learn new tricks. I'm kind of a perfectionist and I always make sure the wake is PERFECT for my riders. It is never too busy nor is there debris in the water so its no problem.

I can see how PP works for many different people for many different reasons. But I will say, putting on PP for you to focus on the water & surroundings sound a little funny, especially if you compare it to cruise control in your car. Everybody knows when your car is on cruise control that you relax and don't pay as much attention. I can honestly tell you that if I had PP on the boat, I would be non-stop starring at the rider....

Gwakesetter · Criminal Joined: 15 Feb 2006 Posts: 87 City: Knoxville

I have only been married for two years, but I have to say that perfect pass has been a lifesaver, before I had a boat with perfect pass it was luck if I had a steady speed long enough to ride.

gmarkham1 · Addict Joined: 10 Sep 2003 Posts: 505 City: janesville

Rheyzar · Outlaw Joined: 05 Apr 2004 Posts: 196 City: Nor, Cal

In addition to the safety factor, anyone can pull you. The only thing the driver needs to do is push the throttle down and keep it straight.

It's great and all that you may be able to pull someone consistent by rpm, but how about when u ride? For those times when you don't have that seasoned pulling veteran that's completely dialed in on your boat, PP is the ticket. Cool

pilot_ryder · Posted: Mar 30, 2006 9:23 pm Post subject:

Once you have it you wouldn't buy another boat without it.

Loppy · Posted: Mar 31, 2006 8:01 am Post subject:

None of the folks in my boat, me included, are good enough to stay up long enough to make it worth it... Laughing

but DAMN if I dont want it. I'm still recovering from the cost of my boat, new tower and the system going in... ouch. When I get the extra chinga lay'n around, it's going in for sure.

gene3x · Addict Joined: 31 Aug 2004 Posts: 759 City: Dallas

Anyone have trouble with their Perfect Pass working with the new Throttle by Wire systems? My 06 won't keep speed within 2.5 mph no matter the PP settings or the weight. It has been back to the dealer 5 or 6 times and is not their fault. I was wondering if anyone has found a solution to the general problem?

oshensurfer · Posted: Mar 31, 2006 9:51 am Post subject:

Try calling PP and discussing it with them. They are really helpful.

gene3x · Addict Joined: 31 Aug 2004 Posts: 759 City: Dallas

oshensurfer - that is one avenue I have not looked into yet. I will definately get on that ASAP. Although I am almost sure it has to do with the boat.

Wakebrad · Ladies Man Joined: 11 Dec 2003 Posts: 12257 City: Dallas

gene3x, it's gotta be the boat. It does the same thing without perfect pass or TBW. So Supra hasn't figured it out yet? That's disappointing.

Wakebrad · Ladies Man Joined: 11 Dec 2003 Posts: 12257 City: Dallas

gene3x, it's gotta be the boat. It does the same thing without perfect pass or TBW. So Supra hasn't figured it out yet? That's disappointing.

oshensurfer · Posted: Mar 31, 2006 2:21 pm Post subject:

gene3x,
Even if it's the boat, they probably know about the issue and may have a suggestion.
Here's their number.
Phone (902) 468-2150
Fax (902) 468-8837

techsupport@perfectpass.com

Sportster4Tec · Posted: Apr 03, 2006 1:55 pm Post subject:

I used perfect pass for the first time this past weekend in our new boat, and I have to say its definately worth the cost. It can become a crutch im sure, but it just makes it so much more enjoyable to drive without having to concentrate on the speed so much. I can take more time to watch the rider, and just concentrate on driving a straight line. The new wakeboard pro is really nice too. You can save speed settings with rider's names. It worked great for wakeboarding and surfing.

410fortune · Soul Rider Joined: 24 Jun 2005 Posts: 314 City: Morrison

a driver can perform the same function as perfect pass, though cruise control is still nice to have

gmarkham1 · Addict Joined: 10 Sep 2003 Posts: 505 City: janesville

pilot_ryder · Posted: Apr 05, 2006 4:27 pm Post subject:

what about if he sneezes and the boat accelerates Neutral