I've read a couple of threads about removing the OPAS for better handling and some have even said you get a bit more speed. On the 2002 GTX DI there was some damage to the OPAS due to hull paint job (the paint shop broke them trying to remove them). I restored this ski a couple years ago and sold it. The owner has too much money and decided to pay a paint shop to paint both skis. 
That's probably Big $$ and included custom graphics. Yikes !!! We ended up swapping skis and cash so he could upgrade to a RXT 255 IS I have. The ski is very nice with less than 10 hours on the restoration and rebuilt engine so I decided to keep the GTX for my wife. I purchased the OPAS block off plates which required some tweaking to get them to cover the holes sufficiently. Thank goodness I didn't remove the rubber tubes inside the ski because I sure needed them when I went back with the OPAS.
What happened was I took the ski out on the water for the first time since removing the OPAS. The steering was not set in the middle of the range so it was off a bit. Left turns were tolerable but I took up the whole bayou to make a right 180 degree turn and ended up backing off to slow speed. I think I would have ended up on the bank had I continued. I tried the about 5 or 6 times throughout the ride. I thought about adjusting the steering to center and try that but steering was terrible so I went back with OPAS. I believe the 2002 GTX DI is just too big and heavy to steer with the jet pump alone. As soon as I backed of the throttle the ski straightened up. The jet pump had little effect. I came home and worked for a few hours hooking everything back up. Thank goodness I found the parts I removed and neatly packed in a large Ziplock. Yay Me !! I am notorious for throwing the one thing I need in the trash. LOL
So just a heads up. Perhaps removing OPAS on the GTI might work better but after my recent experience I wouldn't even try that one. In my experience... If you want to faster buy a ski with a bigger engine, if you want performance handling buy a XP. Hope this helps !!
That's probably Big $$ and included custom graphics. Yikes !!! We ended up swapping skis and cash so he could upgrade to a RXT 255 IS I have. The ski is very nice with less than 10 hours on the restoration and rebuilt engine so I decided to keep the GTX for my wife. I purchased the OPAS block off plates which required some tweaking to get them to cover the holes sufficiently. Thank goodness I didn't remove the rubber tubes inside the ski because I sure needed them when I went back with the OPAS.What happened was I took the ski out on the water for the first time since removing the OPAS. The steering was not set in the middle of the range so it was off a bit. Left turns were tolerable but I took up the whole bayou to make a right 180 degree turn and ended up backing off to slow speed. I think I would have ended up on the bank had I continued. I tried the about 5 or 6 times throughout the ride. I thought about adjusting the steering to center and try that but steering was terrible so I went back with OPAS. I believe the 2002 GTX DI is just too big and heavy to steer with the jet pump alone. As soon as I backed of the throttle the ski straightened up. The jet pump had little effect. I came home and worked for a few hours hooking everything back up. Thank goodness I found the parts I removed and neatly packed in a large Ziplock. Yay Me !!
I am notorious for throwing the one thing I need in the trash. LOLSo just a heads up. Perhaps removing OPAS on the GTI might work better but after my recent experience I wouldn't even try that one. In my experience... If you want to faster buy a ski with a bigger engine, if you want performance handling buy a XP.
Hope this helps !!
