Ski Pole Check / Repair

[JohnMogs]

I want to buy a 1986 TriStar 220 that I found locally, only issue I've found is that the ski pole may not be as stiff as it should be. PO pulled up to 6 skiers at a time, so eventually I think the mounting has become a little week. My 1980 MC 19' SS has a solid ski pole, doesn't budge when you whack it with your hand, just some vibration. This one absorbs more of the whack but does feel pretty strong. I didn't find any play in the brackets but hadn't pulled up the floor.....

So is this a issue to worry about or something that I should be able to fix? I'm not buying the boat to ski, planning to use a high pole for wakeboarding or get a tower in the future, I like the layout of this boat and it will fit family well, so just curious how the pole should feel or if repairs are possible on the ski pole mount for this year/model.

Thanks in advance for any advice
John

[Spork]

On my tristar the pylon is secured with u bolts to the cross bar thats under the floor that connects the stringers. if there is no horizontal or vertical slack and clamps are tight I wouldn't worry about it.

[JohnMogs]

Thank you ill take a closer look at the hardware below

[JohnMogs]

The U bolt is tight but the pole is moving in the base on the bottom of the hull, perhaps they sell an insert to tighten it up?

[OHIOPRO205]

My 94 205 has 2 U bolts. Top and bottom and turned opposite directions.


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[Spork]

My 94 205 has 2 U bolts. Top and bottom and turned opposite directions.


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So does mine, should have mentioned that earlier...

[JohnMogs]

I've purchased the boat so I'll know soon if there is a second U bolt on the bottom

[nkorep2]

there should be 2 bolts that keep it in place.

[pbgbottle]

heres a pic of my tristar 190 pole ,looking through the hole in the floor
you can see the top Ubolt and the bottom one .





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[JohnMC]

I see the same U-bolt on the upper support, but not the lower at bottom of pole. I don't have a pic yet, but it looks like the bottom of the pole rests in a fiberglass base which is part of the hull, I'll have to pull up the floor and/or reach towards the front to see if there is a U bolt on the lower base. If there isn't a U-bolt, I assume I need to put something around the pole at base to stop it from moving, so I wonder if an insert or cup is used for this?

[thatsmrmastercraft]

Sounds like the bottom u-bolt is missing and needs to be replaced.

[JohnMC]

I've looked at this again and believe this 1986 model year TriStar did not use a lower U-bolt, just a base that is part of the hull. I've posted pics in my album, got one to show in this thread too. I think the fix will be something to eliminate excess play, a sleeve, etc, ill see if the dealer knows of this as common and has a solution

[petermegan]

I wonder if they were smart enough to make the cup at the bottom tapered. You may be able to loosen the top u-bolt and just lower the pole until it tightens. Otherwise pack it out with some stainless shims maybe. Have fun.

[JohnMC]

Dealer didn't have a service part, they were trying to shim it, which is what I was thinking too.

[JohnMC]

Shims didn't last long, need a better solution. I took the pole out and measured it at 45" but noticed the bottom has a large section of the OD turned down about 1/8". Also noticed the floor hole that the base of the pole was sitting in is hollow, there is a piece of fiberglassed plywood that is about 3" off the bottom of the hull. Also the top u-bolt is mounted to a cross member that has a cast sleeve the pole goes through then the u-bolt is below the sleeve.
Anyone know how high off the floor or above the doghouse the ski pole should be when installed?
I'll try to upload pics from my phone tonight.