DaV8or

I have a stock 15F with the exception of Beach House sponsons, which I love, but now I'm wondering about ride plates. I don't really want one for the purpose of making the boat go faster, I just want to improve handling in choppy water and jet wash from other boats. The 15F has a tendency to chine walk in other people's wakes. I'm wondering what improvements, if any, people have seen with the various aftermarket ride plates out there. Also, I want to still be able to use my reverse bucket.

Thanks for your input.

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"Beer, the cause of and solution to, all of life's problems." - Homer Simpson

D-Ace

There are only a few companies that make a ride plate for your ski. The best is http://shred-master.com/STX.htm and for what you looking for improving handling in choppy water and tracking a day and night difference over anything I have rode. The thing I really like about it is how much it made the feel of 15F better all around especially turning. The STX Shred Master ride plate changes the ride as much as when I first rode a Shred Master on an Ultra 150. But it does have about a 2.7 to 3 mph speed gain too.

DaV8or

Cool! Thanks for the link. Did you change yours out yourself? I changed the ride plate on my old Polaris myself and I found getting the old plate off to be a pain. That sucker was seriously glued on there and the new one needed a great deal of hand fitting because the casting and machining weren't very accurate. I don't know what Kawi does to put their plates on or how well made the Shred Master is.

Anybody else change the ride plate on their 15F?

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"Beer, the cause of and solution to, all of life's problems." - Homer Simpson

puckoach

The screws on the ride plate have a very light torque. While I did one 45 days ago, I can't recall the inch setting. But, you need blue medium thread locker when you put it back on. I roll the trailer onto a couple of wood blocks, to get clearance to use a power screw driver.

OEM plate should have to be "pulled off", at least at the front. Not huge pull, no tools. As I'm not a speed guy, I don't bother with silicon when I put it on (use the removable if you do). Clean off the sand, and I use a little rubber cement (cut and paste kind for paper) to hold the rubber "Wings" in place.

This is the same hull used on the two stroke 1200. There's a lot of stuff available, at least used. Slap up another post about your ride plate interest under the regular Kawi thread.

dennisd

R&D seems to be the other popular choice. Any input about the R&D? Is the Shred Master really $100+ better?

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'09 STX15F; '07 STX12F; '09 Kawi Versys; '06 HD Roadking; '06 Mazda MX5; '05 Dodge Hemi quadcab 4X4; '95 Suzi DR350S; '94 Suzi DR350S; '77 Triumph Tiger (restored); '83 Suzuki ALT125 (kinda restored); '03 Honda TRX350 4 wheeler; O'brian sailboards; skiboat is gone replaced by the SXR which is now replaced by the STX15F

Yes, I like my toys!

texas347

Any other Shredmaster owners that can speak up? I'm wondering the same thing and am about to buy a ride plate. I cannot decide between the R&D and the Shredmaster.