epic does it different

[Razzman]

So check this out, here's a post by Jeff Walker (aka Surfdad) on WW over a year ago on surfing the Epic. Now mind you in August of '06 these boats were still going through growing pains. See what he has to say;

http://www.wakeworld.com/MB/Discus/m...tml?1154661526

[Lunchbox]

I was looking at the pix of the front of this boat and all I can think of is that it reminds me of a tug boat... Does anyone else see that?

[chpthril]

I was looking at the pix of the front of this boat and all I can think of is that it reminds me of a tug boat... Does anyone else see that?

Yep

[zad0030]

I was looking at the pix of the front of this boat and all I can think of is that it reminds me of a tug boat... Does anyone else see that?

Yep

[deanwarwick]

I do like the transom speaker idea (something I'd thought of doing to my boat several years ago), but I'm not sure how they'd fare when they got water dumped on them from my wake when I stopped.

the speakers on tiges are completely water proof, you can put them in a bucket of water and they will still work. we thought we had broken our speakers when the whole bow area was filled with water (completely!!) and our mechanic says they are completely water sealed =] so you would be fine with water washing on them

[Razzman]

I drowned my Rockfords at Shasta this year and all it did was clean them for me! Any speaker that has poly cones and butyl rubber sorrounds should take water no problem. It's the rest of it, the metal portions you'd have to watch as they'd rust eventually.

[Lunchbox]

Zad - Nice photoshop work!

I'm laughing my a$s off over here...

[dogbert]

I was looking at the pix of the front of this boat and all I can think of is that it reminds me of a tug boat... Does anyone else see that?

Hey, I've always said tug boats put out the best surf wakes.

[kana12]

How many hours did you put on your boat this season? I put 200 on mine, so that is about $3600 from may through september. And I will put another 50 or so until the next season starts at least. 90% of those hours are towing at 22mph with ballast, or wakesurfing. My tige gets about 6gph. That 8.1 in that hull, with that huge ballast, will probably get 10-12 gallons per hour. Thats a chunk of change if you put a lot of hours on your boat.

I mentioned the hoffmans worried about gas and the new epic. They are on the lake at least 2x as much as we are, but shorter sessions. I bet they put 350 hours or so on the boat in a season, and also go hard year round. So lets say 500 hours per year. Thats $15k per year on gas at 10gph. Thats a lot of money for anyone.

well ive put about 175 hours on or boat so far in the last 6 months.. i live 10 min from the lake and am there at least 2 days a week for 5 hours a day and will keepp going also.. if people can spend 70000 on a bout than they prob shouldnt be that worried about fuel or they should prob buy a cheaper boat and then it would work out abot even.. no trying to piss any one off just my view.. different stroke for different folks a guess. ive spent around 3 grand on fuel this year but this isnt a cheap sprot you know.. i also race motocross and you buy a bike for 6 grand and then in two years after you put a total of 15000 of upgrades and parts into a bike and still can only sell it for 4 grand you will never break even.. its just that i feel that if you go into a expensive sport you are going into know that you are gonna have to spend money so why are peple suprised by that?

[Jason B]

I was very surprised by what I had to spend in fuel. I never had a boat before, so I had no idea I would use so much or that the people I invited out would be such cheap bastards!!!! "Here's 5$ for gas, thanks for having us out, call again next weekend." Yeah, I'll call. (rant over).
I can afford it, I'm not hurting, but if I could save a significant amount of money I would be all for it. You're right when you say it's an expensive hobby, but at some point you have to say whoa, enough is enough.

[Lucky 275]

If you are a competitive/professional wakeboarder, can you write off the gas as a business expense?

[Ruune]

well ive put about 175 hours on or boat so far in the last 6 months.. i live 10 min from the lake and am there at least 2 days a week for 5 hours a day and will keepp going also.. if people can spend 70000 on a bout than they prob shouldnt be that worried about fuel or they should prob buy a cheaper boat and then it would work out abot even.. no trying to piss any one off just my view.. different stroke for different folks a guess. ive spent around 3 grand on fuel this year but this isnt a cheap sprot you know.. i also race motocross and you buy a bike for 6 grand and then in two years after you put a total of 15000 of upgrades and parts into a bike and still can only sell it for 4 grand you will never break even.. its just that i feel that if you go into a expensive sport you are going into know that you are gonna have to spend money so why are peple suprised by that?

My concern is more environmental and political. I'd be glad to buy more ethanol thats produced domestically and burns cleaner. I'd also be willing to invest in an algae-based biodiesel refinery for the same reasons.

</hijack>

[Ruune]

If you are a competitive/professional wakeboarder, can you write off the gas as a business expense?

Theoretically, yes. But your sponsor will most likely pay for it, then write it off in the same way.

[chpthril]

I was very surprised by what I had to spend in fuel. I never had a boat before, so I had no idea I would use so much or that the people I invited out would be such cheap bastards!!!! "Here's 5$ for gas, thanks for having us out, call again next weekend." Yeah, I'll call. (rant over).
I can afford it, I'm not hurting, but if I could save a significant amount of money I would be all for it. You're right when you say it's an expensive hobby, but at some point you have to say whoa, enough is enough.

Here's how you fix that...........let them go with to the pumps to fill up. They will either step up with a larger contribution, or just not except another invite

[Jason B]

If you are a competitive/professional wakeboarder, can you write off the gas as a business expense?

I own an energy drink distribution business and my partner and I write off all of our MX related expenses including 15$ per gallon race gas. The catch-- we truly use the events as promotional tools for the brand. The bikes are done up, our van is there, and banner are strung.

So, to answer your question, yes you can. I would be careful though; if you're not truly capable of making a living by wakeboarding and you can't prove that you generated an income you will be in trouble. Your accountant should be able to tell you what he/she feels is thier comfort level with the write offs before you do it.

I am friends with many proffesional MX riders and they write of ANYTHING that pertains to thier training, wakeboarding should be no different.