Custom/Hybrid Matrix Talk

[OCD Solutions]

I will post more later but for now, all I can say is WOW!!

After some repairs and a refresh, my Mag will be for sale.

 

[OCD Solutions]

Everybody agrees, the new pump is a hit!! The ski slides out much better than before and is so much easier to ride. It carves, it slides, it comes unhooked exactly when I want it to now. I wasn't sure what to expect with the 11/17 Hooker but it seems spot on and without the slight lag off the bottom like my others have. I burned 2 tanks of fuel on it before my wife landed a big jump and snapped the driveshaft on her Superjet and ended our day early.

I am going to play with a few parts and see what else I can do to it including a stubby pump cone, shorter steering nozzle and cutting the D-cut a few more inches deeper. Since I will have the 140 mag out of my wifes ski, I may swap things around for a ride or two.

I am sure that there are many that will disagree with what I am saying but there always will be. Ultimately, a ski has to be tuned for a riders particular riding style and I am only speaking here about my riding style. I mostly slash waves and pop re-entries. I am not racing anyone, puling backies or rolls and really don't care too either. If I was riding flatwater, I would keep the Mag. If I raced, I would keep the mag. If I was doing anything other than slashing waves, I would probably keep the mag.

 

[ScottS]

I spent some time on Boyer's ski yesterday, wow putting the OEM pump back on made a huge difference in the surf. His ski with the MAG pump would just whip you in the surf. It had so much traction, when you gassed it, it would grab, stand you up and accelerate with no slide. Then when backed off, it was like hitting the brakes. That grab, brake, grab, brake, in the rough surf would just wear you out, not much fun and could get you in trouble quick.

With the OEM pump, as you feather the throttle, it's smooth, you can throw it in a turn and slide controllabily, not that grab and over the high side feel. It did make the ski feel like it lost 20 HP, but the smooth control makes it worth while. I can see where the MAG is a must have for flat water, but for surf riding, it's a bust, at least for the Matrix hull.

As far as the TBM super cone, I felt it made little to no difference when I put it in my ski with the big hub C-75 prop. It probably would make a big difference on a small hub prop setup. Yesterday, I felt that Boyer's Matrix with the OEM pump and Hooker prop had a little more bit than my OEM pump with the TBM and C-75, but they are close. Keep it mind that all of these comparisons were done in the surf on a simi rough day. I'm sure flat water is a different animal.

 

[OCD Solutions]

Well summed up Scott. Can't wait for some bigger surf to push it even more.

 

[OCD Solutions]

Here are some pics to further fuel the Mag discussion towards a happy compromise between the benefits of a mag versus the freedom of an OEM.

12 vane 144 setback versus an 8 vane 140 non setback.

 

[Idok]

I dont miss mine in the surf not even a little bit.............

 

[Matt_E]

I wonder if that's a hull driven thing more than anything else.
I have absolutely no problems breaking loose and sliding mine. I spent the entire weekend doing wave riding. I never once had the problems you are describing here :dunno:
I haven't put a stock pump into mine, so maybe I am not making a fair comparison here. But I have ridden plenty of SJ's with stock pumps to know what they feel like on a wave and my hull with the 12 Vane mag slides easier.

 

[OCD Solutions]

It may very well be a hull thing.

Jetmaniac and Tem do alot of riding together on similar Superfreaks and switch skis like me and Scott. Chris runs a mag and Tem does not and they do not notice anything like I am describing either.

Tem's has done alot of surf inspired mods to the intake and lower real hull to improve handling where as the Matrix lower rear is essentially the same as a superjet.

 

[Idok]

matt its not so much the slide that is difficult..but makes the recovery too violent (at least thats why I ditched it).............glide across a wave, grab the throttle and the mag would just hook and grab which would high-side me right off the boat especailly if tired....






part of it could definatly be a hull thing as well....

 

[OCD Solutions]

Yes, that is exactly the problem. Sliding out is not an issue, it was the instant hookup the second you gave the ski any power.

Imagine yourself in a vehicle doing a powerslide down the road and then suddenly being jerked back to dead straight and thrust forward at the same time. All your motion changes direction so fast that it becomes exhausting just holding on.

It is one helluva core workout though and my abbs have definately benefitted. :biggrin:

 

[Matt_E]

Ok, that makes sense. I haven't experienced that (on this hull), but I don't ride surf all that often.
I did burn 25 gallons this weekend at Surf Slam and didn't get high-sided once, though. But I know exactly what you are talking about - my Superjet would do this to me quite a bit on wave faces. The SF doesn't, but I attributed that to the super-wide stance and the stability it brings.

 

[OCD Solutions]

Another thread on Mag Pumps got me thinking last night. How much difference could my reduction nozzle be responsible for?

Scott says that even with an OEM pump, my ski still felt like it has more thrust than his. Also I seem to be the only one having a problem with the Mag so it makes me think it's more to do with my combo of parts and not the Hull alone. The hull afterall isn't that different from a superjet, at least not in the rear anyways.

I also run a Sato Engineering trim system which came with a reduction nozzle and steering nozzle. The reduction bore is something like 82mm and the steering nozzle is about an inch longer. I know racers reduce their outlet size to increase velocity so I am wondering now if this reduction, along with the increased water flow thru the Mag is contributing to my increased thrust? If I was a racer I would be thrilled with this setup but since I surf ride, it works against me in undesireable ways.

 

[Matt_E]

I know that nozzle size and shape made a huge difference in overall pump performance on my 140 mag.
I tried a 61X nozzle @ 84mm and a Skat nozzle at 82.6 mm. The smaller Skat had marginally less bottom end but so much more everywhere else. I can't comment on hookup though. I don't think that felt any different.

 

[OCD Solutions]

Thats along the lines of what I was expecting to hear Matt. I have a 61X reduction nozzle here somewhere, so I guess I need to add another variation to the test unit.

I wasn't implying that this had anything to do with hookup either, just thrust.

 

[OCD Solutions]

Had fun with the Triplets today. Tybee Island was all about the Matrix today.

It is amazing how different each one of these skis ride.

 

[FL-cracker]

Damn they look good! Its funny when I look at all the other aftermarket hulls out there they just look a bit Gay compared to the Matrix. With all due respect

 

[djkorn1]

Thinking about a Matrix. I love my EVO, but want it to be a bit more playful and lighter. I love the quality of my Trinity. I really want a 'do it all' ski, not a flatwater only ski....but a BIT smaller and more nimble than my EVO....I see Gomez going insane doing all kinds of stuff on his Matrix.

Maybe this is the hull for me? I still need to ride one and decide...Right now I like the Superfreaks and KDXs out of all the aftermarket hulls I've ridden (for my riding style). All the mini hulls suck for what I want to do and my advanced age!

Might just stick with my Kawi powerplant and sell my Trinity EVO hull....not sure.

 

[OCD Solutions]

I'd be real curious to see what you think of the Matrix. You guys see some nasty blown out surf and I think you are already on one of the best hulls for it. Nimble is good up to a point but when things get rough, I'd want the security of knowing that I could rip back into shelter in a hurry. I rode Hurricane Sandy with a guy on an SXR and he was gone. On the way back in we experienced chop from 3 different directions and that SXR was nose down and home bound while I was left floundering in the slop. I've seen plenty of video of the slop you guys ride up there and I'd say it's pretty comparable to what I was in that day and something to consider. What are you willing to give up to get nimble?

Upgrading is a tricky thing. I'm not going to come right out and say that I regret upgrading from my ES to the PRO, but I sure do miss my ES and the $$ missing from my account. My riding experience has only been slightly improved.