Is Skurfing Hard on a Mercruiser IO

[sadibo]

I have alot of friends who only want to skurf unless it is glass. I think the conditions required to make a skurfing wake (basically trying to climb your own continuous bow wave) are hard on the drivetrain of the boat. Am I being ridiciulous?

 

[superpop]

Re: Is Skurfing Hard on a Mercruiser IO

It depends on how you are trimming it out. I have seen some people trim the outdrive way up in an attempt to raise the bow with the assumption that this would make a bigger wake. Driving a boat under that kind of load with the drive in raised or trimmed up position could be hard on the u joint just like turning real hard while gunning it is hard on the joints. U joints are not designed to take a lot of torque while at an extreme angle, same with the gimbal bearing. Trimming it out a little is fine but I would listen for any growling or knocking and stop if you hear either.

 

[wakeboarddude]

Re: Is Skurfing Hard on a Mercruiser IO

Do you mean wakesurfing, like directly behind the boat? If so it is EXTREMELY dangerous on an I/O. Even with a swim grid. The propeller sticks out way to far. You need an Inboard V or Direct Drive Ski Boat.

 

[tommays]

Re: Is Skurfing Hard on a Mercruiser IO



I will not post the gory pictures but it so easy to fall into the prop



Tommays

 

[Hondo65]

Re: Is Skurfing Hard on a Mercruiser IO

Oh puhleeeeze post the gory pictures

Hondo

 

[Haut Medoc]

Re: Is Skurfing Hard on a Mercruiser IO

It put alot of drag on the drivetrain, so it would depend on the size of the engine & what drive as to how much it is affected....
Skurfing is for those not man enough to slalom with a regular ski....​

 

[mikeneal]

Re: Is Skurfing Hard on a Mercruiser IO

I ride (wake board, wake skate and surf) nearly every week in the summer and I have an I/O, but I a buddy has inboard wake-board boat and we alternate what boat we take. We ONLY surf behind it, to surf behind a I/O is beyond dangerous. If you have an I/O you cant surf, simple as that. If you want to surf get a inboard, it is required unless you enjoy pain , gore and possibly dieing .