text: it is to be understood that these represent typical but not exclusive embodiments of the invention . 1 is a slot with a wide mouth 2 . 3 is a drain hole for a footwell with non - slip surface 5 . 6 is a foot restraint fitted to moulded position including screw holes 7 . 8 is a concave under surface with sides 4 or 9 . 10 is a symmetrically located connector bolthead fitted to slot 14 and moulded nut retainer 15 . 13 is a cellular rigid foam . 12 is a splash rail . 16 is a convex shape establishing vacuum for drain 3 at planing speed . 17 is an enlarged slot and 18 is a countersunk bolt receptable for a connector tube 11 . 19 and 21 are washers that sandwich a spacer 20 . bolt shaft 22 fits a nut 24 with an optional small washer and locker washer located at 23 . 25 is a symmetrical point of connector loading and substantially the pivot point for controlled ski roll schematically shown at midpoint 27 , to one side 26 , and to the other side 28 . the connector may of course be located horizontally at 25 , in which case it is restrained by shelf 29 . proceeding next to describe the variable geometry / controlled motion connectors for combination displacement planing and other buoyant water skis as a species of rigid or semirigid connectors for same , reference should be made to fig1 through 46 . this part of the invention refers to an improved connector for water skis of the displacement type ; it is a species of semi - rigid connector that incorporates specifically a capacity to allow additional relative controlled motion of the skis so that a variety of desirable configurations may readily be attained either at the discretion of the skier , or automatically . ( 1 ) a stable maximum beam situation with the skis restrained in a relatively parallel fashion , that is with the connector substantially at right angles to the principal axis of the skis . ( 2 ) a means to allow variation in the beam of the connected ski pair so that manoeuverability may be enhanced at planing speed when the maximum beam desired for low speed stability is no longer required . ( 3 ) a means to allow the waterline of the connected ski set to be increased , and to allow skier weight to be more readily shifted fore and aft , said conditions providing a less choppy and smoother ride that is also more easy to control given the fore and aft stance available to the skier &# 39 ; s feet . ( 4 ) a means to provide for a limited or restricted roll of the skis relative to each other . ( 5 ) a means to allow for the relatively free but controlled pitching of the skis relative to each other so as to facilitate independent response to wave action and to allow for optimal steering control while at the same time preventing unrestrained pitching motion so as to facilitate mounting . of the skis from the water . ( 6 ) means to control or restrain the relative roll of the skis so as to facilitate manoeuverability while preventing an unrestrained roll whereby mounting of the ski set is facilitated . these last named restraints allow for best minimizing the displacement of the ski set by allowing them to act substantially as a single somewhat flexible platform to share in carrying the skier load . practical , but not exclusive , means for realizing the above requirements is illustrated and described . ( 7 ) a means to disconnect a pair of otherwise rigidly or seemingly connected skis so as to allow for planing or single &# 34 ; slalom &# 34 ; ski operation . ( 8 ) a means to realize the various combination of connector features with a single connector bar , said bar being fitted with restraints so as to limit or allow the connector motion as follows : it is understood that one or a combination of the above features may be coincidentially realized by such restraining devices . except for the last requirement , all the above requirements may be reasonably satisfied by providing the ski connector with either a single pair of elongated slots , of constant section at region of the midpoint 30 where it is narrowest , and above 31 where it is broader , but of varying section below where it is narrow 32 at the outside and flared wide towards the center 33 . the slotted connector is itself a form of torsion connection tube made of suitable material , typically plastic as abs , pvc , or high density polyethylene . the connector may freely and readily be connected to each ski by means of a bolt 34 or the like being secured from above and travelling through the slot so as to be fixed to the body of the ski , a washer may be used to improve bearing contact between the ski and the connector . it will be useful to provide the ski with a mounting point for the connector such that said point can accommodate the connector mounting bolt and be elongated so as to restrain motion from the parallel when beam maximum is desired . preferably the mounting point will be towards midships and to one side and on the top portion of the skis ; this best facilitates movement of the skis and minimizes the required connector length , a connector bar of just under double the ski width being most suitable . where the ski post has been formed with a neck that can readily fit through the mid - portion of the slot so as to allow for a sliding motion then additionally a lock washer may prove to be useful . a slotted connector as above described may further be modified by altering one of the ski slots so that it opens to allow one of the connector points to come free of the main connector bar , obviously many various configurations or devices could be fashioned to perform this task . this invention describes simple and adequate means for realizing this task for rigid or semi - rigid ski connectors as applied to combination displacement - planing water skis . under the disconnect condition it becomes desirable to either place the connector point / post to the rear so as to clear the skier &# 39 ; s body upon disconnection or to provide a recessed connection . further , it becomes desirable to mould a second foot - well into one of the skis , preferably this second or rear foot restraint will be slightly elevated and sloped down to the front relative to the first or front foot - well . further , one or a series of recessed connector points may be provided so as to allow user discretion in placing of the connector bar , thus both left and righthand kick - off skis can readily be chosen including the preferable midpoint connected ski variant when this is desired . an alternate realization utilizing a tracked recess , of which several variations will be obvious to those skilled in the art , is available where a flush hull mount is desired . here the principal connector 34 ( see fig2 to 31 ) incorporates an elongated slot or slots that are fitted with a pair of slidable restraints preferably fitted with quick release ratchet , thumbscrew or wing bolt control , same being fitted to an enlarged rigid nut protruding below the connector track so as to provide controlled restraint . such principal connector being also fitted below and at the ends 35 with an elongated post 36 and below this a round extension 37 that is threaded and fitted with a washer secured by a small screw 34 &# 39 ;, said washer securing the connector to the recessed track with the post providing variable restraint by engaging the sides of the recess . the principal connector end fitting goes into a recess moulded into the ski hull , said recess being wide or open and untracked towards the ski center so as to facilitate release and engagement of the above mentioned washer . where connector release is not desired this feature may be omitted . the recess then becomes narrower by reason of a track or plate fitted to it , such tracks secure the connector to the ski , by reason of the flanges formed by the washer fitted to the bottom of the connector , while allowing for rotation of the connector in the plane of the deck of the ski hull at the mid - section of the recess . at the end of the recess nearest the ski edge the slot narrows so as to receive the elongated end of the connector post , in this position the connector is restrained substantially at a right angle to the ski as compared to midpoint rotation and end of track release where desired . the slots may simply be fitted with simple bolts , washers and wings nuts that may be either secured at a beneficial location along the slot , so as to control its useful length ( thereby actuating the variety of configurations desired ), or removed altogether as desired ski use indicates . 38 is the slidable connector restraint , with knurled nut fitted to a rust resistant knob fitted with threaded shaft . 39 is a washer for knurled nut , to bear upon principal connector track and 40 is a bolt shaft fitting of corrosion proof material and preferably squared to prevent rotation about connector slot and optionally fitted with ridges so as to prevent connector slot separation by engaging underside ridges of same . obviously selection of only some of the above features could still provide a connector of practical merit . it should be equally obvious that several variations of the above that are within its spirit are possible , as will be obvious to those skilled in the art , and such are included within this specification . given a preference for fixing the principal connector to one of the skis , with the need for this connector to be capable of both a fixed and slideable mounting to said ski , the connector detail shown in fig2 , 22 and 23 , and lefthand side of fig1 , 14 and 15 becomes preferable with section fig1 that is obviously a compatible modification of the section in fig2 . here a flush mount on the disconnect ski may be realized simultaneously with the above full mounted post condition . see fig3 to 43 for this combination variation . improvement in other water ski hardware is shown in the foot restraint side holding plate detail whereby improvement is made over conventional flat sections by provision of a curved or rounded surface at the inside bearing surface of the plate where it meets the foot restraint &# 34 ; strap &# 34 ;, this curved surface may be smooth or textured to increase the friction between it and the foot restraint so as to improve the bearing surface character between the plate and the restraint . by reducing the discontinuity between the stress pick - up point between the plate and the restraint an improved service life for the restraint is realized , similarly maximizing surface contact , and minimizing point loading at the screws by maximizing plate / restraint friction increases the benefit where restraint material is suitable . the preferred embodiment is illustrated in fig4 to 52 inclusive and included in the species of connectors above mentioned is a simple tube 41 , of abs plastic or other material with elasticity or &# 34 ; memory &# 34 ; so as to allow torsion spring action , fitted with ends moulded so as to engage the ski hulls . knurled nuts 42 and accompanying friction reducing nylon washers 43 are well suited to fix such device via a threaded shaft 44 embedded in the hull , to said hull . further where the attachment point on the hull is located to one side of the longitudinal axis 45 of the hull ( as shown in fig5 and 51 ) then this simple tube may realize a variety of configurations ( as shown in fig5 , 51 and 52 ). where the hull connector point is splined as at 46 or otherwise deviates from a round section , then the connector tube ends 41a may be suitabley mated so as to be capable of relatively rigid mounting ( as shown in fig4 , 48 , 50 and 51 ). with mounting points on hulls placed inboard ( fig5 ) the skis can be fixed in a broad beam ( 47 ), outboard . with the ski hulls switched , ( fig5 ) the beam of the connected pair is more narrowly fixed ( 48 ). this variation is desirable so as to accommodate different levels of skier skills . further , the skis may be moved even further together ( 49 ) by staggering one ahead of the other before fixing the connector in place ( fig5 ). where the connector at the tube end lacks splines or deformation from the round , on one side , then both variations in beam and waterline can be sustained by turning over the connector tube 41 ( fig4 , splines up ). in this case some rigidity in the horizontal plane is eliminated . while a splined hub extending from the ski hull is here shown ( fig4 . hub diameter 50 , height 51 , is splined or indented to diameter 52 .) it is obvious that a variety of alternate configurations is possible ; the hub could be indented for example . reference to this connector is made because of its relative simplicity , it being but one preferred embodiment of the species of connectors above referred to previously . given the above it is obvious that a single tube 41 fitted with ends 41a suitably moulded , splined on one side ( fig4 ), smooth on the other ( fig4 ), could readily and simply realize a broad range of useful configurations . since various modifications can be made in my invention as hereinabove described , and many apparent widely different embodiments of same made within the spirit and scope of the claims without departing from such spirit and scope , it is intended that all matter contained in the accompanying specification shall be interpreted as illustrative only and not in a limiting sense .