PP Star Gazer reviews? Anyone have any?

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  • MNSuperAir
    Senior Member of PLANETNAUTIQUE
    • Sep 2005
    • 591

    • St Paul

    • 2016 SAN 210

    #1

    PP Star Gazer reviews? Anyone have any?

    Thinking of upgrading my PP to Star Gazer this winter. I am sick of tuning in my kDw and NN. My boat still fluctuates speed quite a bit. Does anyone know if Star Gazer handles this better? It must still have a NN but I don't know.

    Just looking for some feedback before I pull the trigger.
    2016 SAN 210
    2006 SANTE sold
    2001 SAN - sold
    1991 Sport Nautique - sold
  • bchesley
    1,000 Post Club Member
    • Feb 2006
    • 1252

    • Tyler, Texas


    #2
    RE: PP Star Gazer reviews? Anyone have any?

    Get with East Texas Skier. He I think he had his all last season so he should be able to comment on it.
    2001 Super Air Nautique
    Python Powered
    100 Amp Alternator
    Dual Batteries
    Many upgrades coming...

    Comment

    • east tx skier
      1,000 Post Club Member
      • Apr 2005
      • 1561

      • Tyler, TX


      #3
      My experience with SG is entirely in the slalom realm. I hear they are going to do an update to the software this year that will eliminate such past problems as speeding up in turns and the like. Update will be $75 and will no longer require a module swap. Overall, I've been very pleased with the performance for slalom. Some of the more hard core skiers have had issues with it speeding up in the second segment of the course to get an overall better course time, but we haven't noticed that as much.

      I'm also not sure if it will make use of your paddle wheel for anything other than water temp as the paddle wheel is no longer required.

      As for the install, it shouldn't take you more than 15 minutes. Just swap the MM and attach the antenna. If you need the newer styl multiline display, it'll take you a bit longer, but not much.
      1998 Ski Nautique (Red/Silver Cloud), GT-40, Perfect Pass Stargazer 8.0z (Zbox), Acme #422, Tunable Rudder.

      Comment

      • Chexi
        1,000 Post Club Member
        • Aug 2025
        • 2119

        • Austin

        • 2000 SAN

        #4
        Before upgrading to Stargazer, you might want to try going into RPM mode on your current setup. I was going to upgrade my Perfect Pass Plus (RPM mode only, no paddlewheel) to Stargazer, but after actually giving it a try, I fell in love with a constant RPM pull. The only thing I have to do is give manual assist in the turnarounds. This is for wakeboarding. That said, my boat does an almost unbelievable job holding a constant speed with no pp speed control.
        Now
        2000 SAN

        Previously
        1999 Air Nautique
        1996 Tige Pre-2000
        1989 Lowe 24' Pontoon / Johnson 100HP outboard

        Comment

        • MNSuperAir
          Senior Member of PLANETNAUTIQUE
          • Sep 2005
          • 591

          • St Paul

          • 2016 SAN 210

          #5
          I might give the RPM a try then. I currently have the multi line display so the swap would be easy. I am just sick of the lunging after a cut. Is it a new MM or just the chip? I also read that the paddle wheel will only be used for water temp.
          2016 SAN 210
          2006 SANTE sold
          2001 SAN - sold
          1991 Sport Nautique - sold

          Comment

          • snowboardcorey
            • Dec 2007
            • 105

            • Minneapolis, MN

            • Past: 1968 Ski Tique

            #6
            We did an Stargazer install in an X-1, I never got to run the system but the owner loves it and he was coming from a heavily loaded 205 with Wakeboard Pro. His X-1 runs about 2500-3000 lbs of ballast and runs the 310 hp engine.

            Wish I would have gotten a chance to drive and ride this setup to get you some first hand experience. FWIW I do actually trust this customers opinion, he's had a number of boats and spends a good amount of time riding, his wife skis. He would not be afraid to tell us if something was not working right.

            I agree with trying the RPM mode, I've run a couple boats like that including my buddies and it works really well, again weighted with about 3K of ballast plus people.
            Sold my boat to buy a house, the house is much less fun.

            Comment

            • east tx skier
              1,000 Post Club Member
              • Apr 2005
              • 1561

              • Tyler, TX


              #7
              Originally posted by MNSuperAir
              I might give the RPM a try then. I currently have the multi line display so the swap would be easy. I am just sick of the lunging after a cut. Is it a new MM or just the chip? I also read that the paddle wheel will only be used for water temp.
              Upgrading from WB Pro, it will be a new Master Module. Upgrading from last year's version 7.x of SG, it will be a cable to do the upgrade (with a laptop, I suspect). Apparently, not a chip swap like Digital/WB Pro upgrades over the past several years.
              1998 Ski Nautique (Red/Silver Cloud), GT-40, Perfect Pass Stargazer 8.0z (Zbox), Acme #422, Tunable Rudder.

              Comment

              • causewayskiier
                • Mar 2006
                • 101



                #8
                Anyone installed a stargazer from scratch (no cruise control at all)? How difficult is it? What all is involved? How long will it take?

                Comment

                • east tx skier
                  1,000 Post Club Member
                  • Apr 2005
                  • 1561

                  • Tyler, TX


                  #9
                  For the current version, the install is the same as Perfect Pass DP/WB, except that you don't have to mount a paddle wheel, but you do have to mount the GPS puck. The most difficult part, I think, is getting the wiring snaked through the bilge to the dash.

                  Perfect Pass used to throw around 2.5 hours as an install time. I'd say, for SG, knock 30 minutes off of that for the paddle wheel install assuming you don't spend a few days, like I did, trying to snake that wiring and, ultimately, giving up and taking it to the dealer.

                  BTW, a lot of people use the throttle cable slack to pull the wiring through to the bilge. I'm sure that works great if the throttle cable isn't zip tied to something else up under the bilge. :x
                  1998 Ski Nautique (Red/Silver Cloud), GT-40, Perfect Pass Stargazer 8.0z (Zbox), Acme #422, Tunable Rudder.

                  Comment

                  • Hlymons
                    • Nov 2005
                    • 223

                    • Roseville, Ca.


                    #10
                    I installed one from scratch. My original plan was to get the servo mounted and the wire pulled through and have my friend that has installed one before take over. after working on it for about 2 hours I realized I was just about done so I just finished. The next day I went to the lake thinking I would be tinkering with it most of the day getting it set up. took about 15 minutes to baseline and we were done. The directions are great and if you have any trouble PP is great about answering questions by phone or email. to make a short story long "its very easy"

                    Comment

                    • skijones
                      • Mar 2005
                      • 235

                      • COLUMBUS OH

                      • 1985 2001 1999 Snob

                      #11
                      If you have a depth finder, use the cable for that, pull from the dash to the bilge and double up on the string or wire you use. Then pull from the bilge back to the dash, with the PP wire and the depth finder wire together. Use lots of tape to make is smooth. I left the extra string tied off in case it is ever needed again.

                      If no depth finder, get a wire fish and tape a ping pong ball to the end. Poke a hole in the ping pong ball and stick the end of the tape into that. That should keep it from getting jammed in between the wires and cables that run in the tube from the helm to the bilge. Usually easier if you take the footboard out from in front of the drivers seat and work towards the bilge.

                      Take your time and it is easy. Usually works better with several cold beverages and a buddy who can tell you if he hears anything hitting in the bilge. Biggest problem I had with PP is finding the nerve to drill a hole in the bottom of my boat. I don't think I ever measured and used magnets so much in my life.

                      I slalom in open water, so the RPM mode works very well for me. As it has been said before, it is a marriage saver .

                      Comment

                      • MNSuperAir
                        Senior Member of PLANETNAUTIQUE
                        • Sep 2005
                        • 591

                        • St Paul

                        • 2016 SAN 210

                        #12
                        Upgrading from WB Pro, it will be a new Master Module. Upgrading from last year's version 7.x of SG, it will be a cable to do the upgrade (with a laptop, I suspect). Apparently, not a chip swap like Digital/WB Pro upgrades over the past several years.[/quote]

                        I have the NG version. Looks like it is $500 from PP for Star Gazer. So is it worth it? I only wakeboard and Surf with speed control.
                        2016 SAN 210
                        2006 SANTE sold
                        2001 SAN - sold
                        1991 Sport Nautique - sold

                        Comment

                        • east tx skier
                          1,000 Post Club Member
                          • Apr 2005
                          • 1561

                          • Tyler, TX


                          #13
                          If you have 6.5ng, it should be around a $400 upgrade (perhaps a little bit more if the prices have gone up; I think it was $429 when I bought mine and I got a bit of a discount). I purchased mine from MC of Charlotte (with the Nautique gauge). Mike has always been able to get me and others very good deals on this kind of thing. There's someone on the MC forum selling the upgrade for $275 or so (check the marketplace). I know these aren't CC sources, but they are good deals.
                          1998 Ski Nautique (Red/Silver Cloud), GT-40, Perfect Pass Stargazer 8.0z (Zbox), Acme #422, Tunable Rudder.

                          Comment

                          • MNSuperAir
                            Senior Member of PLANETNAUTIQUE
                            • Sep 2005
                            • 591

                            • St Paul

                            • 2016 SAN 210

                            #14
                            Originally posted by east_tx_skier
                            If you have 6.5ng, it should be around a $400 upgrade (perhaps a little bit more if the prices have gone up; I think it was $429 when I bought mine and I got a bit of a discount). I purchased mine from MC of Charlotte (with the Nautique gauge). Mike has always been able to get me and others very good deals on this kind of thing. There's someone on the MC forum selling the upgrade for $275 or so (check the marketplace). I know these aren't CC sources, but they are good deals.
                            So, How do you like it? Will it fix my surging?
                            2016 SAN 210
                            2006 SANTE sold
                            2001 SAN - sold
                            1991 Sport Nautique - sold

                            Comment

                            • CAN'TSKI
                              • Feb 2007
                              • 205

                              • Boerne, TX

                              • 2008 196 Limited 2007 211 Team 1995 MC Prostar 190 Tournament

                              #15
                              I put in the latest upgrade a couple of weeks ago. I just plugged a little card thing in for a few minutes to re-program.
                              We are running a short set-up four ball course on a private lake for the winter. To get 34 and 36 before the gates, I have to throttle hard. As soon as I get the beep, I start slowly pulling back on the throttle (about 1 1/2 inches in my case). This eliminated the surging also on our 6 ball course.

                              Comment

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