Who Went with IBR? How Much did you Pay?
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I just thought that I would post up a video that shows what the IBR system does. It seems like a nice feature to have but not something that is necessary. Being that I like the Spark in part because it is affordable, I'm not so sure that I am going to put out the extra money for the IBR system.
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199 Posts
I own one with the IBR will never own another ski with out it ...its great i was doing 45 hit the brake and only slid about 4-6 feet stops real fast love it netrual and reverse are smooth .. to me its worth it.think it was 800 .
IBR package = Reverse also
Remember, the IBR package, which cost me $800, was not just for the brake. It also is the only way to get reverse. Sure, you can purchase a manual reverse package, but for that price, you might as well get the brake package instead. It's not cost-effective. Reverse is nice when you overshoot the trailer, have high winds and you are trying to dock, launching without pushing, or you have friends and get too close to their boats. For me, the $800 will save you a new hull and or some scrapes and unhappy boating friends. The brake is a great bonus, but the reverse is the big deal to me.
Remember, the IBR package, which cost me $800, was not just for the brake. It also is the only way to get reverse. Sure, you can purchase a manual reverse package, but for that price, you might as well get the brake package instead. It's not cost-effective. Reverse is nice when you overshoot the trailer, have high winds and you are trying to dock, launching without pushing, or you have friends and get too close to their boats. For me, the $800 will save you a new hull and or some scrapes and unhappy boating friends. The brake is a great bonus, but the reverse is the big deal to me.
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337 Posts
well I suppose the counter argument is that because the spark is so fecking lightweight that docking and the like are much easier than with any of the big boys 
Another question if you don't mind. Do you value the ease of docking and reverse functions more than the increased stopping distances? Or vice versa...
Another question if you don't mind. Do you value the ease of docking and reverse functions more than the increased stopping distances? Or vice versa...
I don't think I will ever NEED to stop in a hurry but I got it just in case. If I every need it I will be a very happy camper(sea-dooer) lol. The docking/launching will be the most useful part for me. My opinion might change when I start using it... I just cant wait until mine arrives
Rationale
Yes, the Spark is incredibly light. But that also means it will get tossed around in high winds and from wakes. Launching while you are still dry is a huge plus to me. The alternative is of course getting off, getting wet, and pushing away from the trailer.
As far as the reason the brake/reverse is useful, on very busy days on the lake, like Independence Day and Memorial Day weekend, that added maneuverability will be incredibly useful in avoiding other watercraft, docking without bumping into someone one (dock tie-up), and trash in the lake. On regular days, I can't see that this would be such an issue.
Overall, the brake will be more useful for docking situations, but will be a great tool to have in case of the rare emergency. It also has another factor: it is a new way to play around on one as the brake can help you do some "tricks" other craft can't, or so I read.
Yes, the Spark is incredibly light. But that also means it will get tossed around in high winds and from wakes. Launching while you are still dry is a huge plus to me. The alternative is of course getting off, getting wet, and pushing away from the trailer.
As far as the reason the brake/reverse is useful, on very busy days on the lake, like Independence Day and Memorial Day weekend, that added maneuverability will be incredibly useful in avoiding other watercraft, docking without bumping into someone one (dock tie-up), and trash in the lake. On regular days, I can't see that this would be such an issue.
Overall, the brake will be more useful for docking situations, but will be a great tool to have in case of the rare emergency. It also has another factor: it is a new way to play around on one as the brake can help you do some "tricks" other craft can't, or so I read.
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337 Posts
Thanks for the input man! I like the sounds of IBR, but we have a private dock up at our cabin, and I know were not going to get nearly as much use out of our Spark as some of you guys down in florida. Just trying to figure out if the extra expensise is really worth it for us. Although I suppose if its still around when the kiddies are old enough it would be quite invaluable to my piece of mind...
hmmm
I bought the IBR because I will have a family soon and also if I am taking new people who haven't rode one before, it will be more intuitive for them to figure out which decreases the likelihood of anything bad happening. To me, the $800 was part of the insurance policy.
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337 Posts
yea that's pretty much what I'm thinking now, thanks for your input man!
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