Wakeboarder /Skier boat Question

[SNye45]

On the lake today I unintentionally got caught up in the wake of a wakeboarding boat ( I was in the calm water between the port and starboard wake - mind you a good safe distance from the wakeboarder and I was looking at him all the time. As I was turning to Port to try and cross the big wake the wakeboarder (who seconds ago had just turned to Starboard) fell down. I immediatly see this and as a precausion slow right down as I am continuing to cross the wake

Now all the books I have read about driving skiing boats say that if your skier should fall you should make the turn to Starboard and circle to Starboard (so that the driver can keeps eyes on the fallen person at all times.

Imagine my surprise when this boat suddenly turns to Port and after completing his turn and looking for his "swimmer" sudenly sees me and throws his arms up as if to say "you idiot". Why his Flag person was not informing him of what was behind him as well as his wakeboarder, I have no idea.

So here is the question: Is there a correct way to turn or is it up to the individual driver? which I think which makes it really dangerous.

 

[stevedar]

Re: Wakeboarder /Skier boat Question

That's a really good question! What your saying makes some sense - about the driver always having a good line of sight when looking to the starboard side. My experience has always been that if the lake's crowded either side is going to work as long as it gets you back to your skier quickly. Like you say, the flagger can also alert the driver.

 

[shaneb0422]

Re: Wakeboarder /Skier boat Question

In texas, you are not required to turn a specific direction, or have a flagger.
No spotter even required with a mirror 4" or larger.

Also, unless the lake is PACKED and I mean PACKED.
If someone is riding my tail while I am towing someone, or if I am being towed. Expect to hear some words from me while you drive by.
I have never been on a lake where there was not another path to use for a boat that is not towing anyone, rather than trail a boat towing someone. IMHO that's a bad idea, what if you looked down right when the boarder fell. Too many variables.
Either way, I do turn starboard when picking up fallen riders. But I also idle the whole way just about. I don't think I have ever had trouble really locating a fallen rider.
I also have never driven directly behind someone on a wakeboard. But I also wakeboard and I know that at any moment I can fail at a trick. Or one of the beginners I have out there can fall.

I'm not trying to bash, obviously I don't know how far you truly were, but if you were able to trail in between the wake at all, and not just be passing by some rollers left behind from a boat, I would say too close for my comfort. I had a Jet ski following me while I was riding, as soon as I fell he flew right by me probably within 30 feet. Needless to say, I got in the boat, and we went to where he beached, asked nicely for him to be careful of distance. I don't want to get run over, especially when there is 5k other acres on the lake.


EDIT. I just realized you said Unintentionally.
Clearly much of my post does not apply to you then. Just be careful!

 

[H20Rat]

Re: Wakeboarder /Skier boat Question

I will turn starboard, UNLESS I see a boat headed near my downed skier/boarder. In that case, I"ll turn whichever direction puts me between the boat and the person.

I've got a feeling they were probably doing something similar.

 

[haulnazz15]

Re: Wakeboarder /Skier boat Question

Also, unless the lake is PACKED and I mean PACKED.
If someone is riding my tail while I am towing someone, or if I am being towed. Expect to hear some words from me while you drive by.
I have never been on a lake where there was not another path to use for a boat that is not towing anyone, rather than trail a boat towing someone. IMHO that's a bad idea, what if you looked down right when the boarder fell. Too many variables.

Again, he said he was well back from the boat, so I'm not sure it's prudent to come to the conclusion that you would have been upset by him being in the center of your track. Many boats do this from time to time to take advantage of the smoother water in between the wakes, so as long as they are a good ways back, I see no problem. Yes, I would be annoyed if they followed all the way down the lake, but for a minute or two is no big deal if they maintain a safe distance (say, enough so that you can look down/away for a few seconds, see that the skier has fallen and still be well clear of imposing any danger or concern to the skier in the water).

 

[oldjeep]

Re: Wakeboarder /Skier boat Question

It usually depends on the wakeboard boat. You'll find that Malibu's and Correct Craft tend to turn left and mastercrafts tend to turn right due to the direction that their engine rotates and which side turn is easier to make.

 

[Home Cookin']

Re: Wakeboarder /Skier boat Question

I've been skiing and pulling people on many objects since I was 14, and never heard of the starboard turn rule, even though it makes some sense. But I can see my skiier either way I turn, unless I suppose I was leaning hard over in a 25' cabin cruiser, which is not your best ski boat.

I would not allow someone to track behind me; I don't know how careful, experienced, inexperienced, distracted or drunk they may be, unless they were 1/2 mile back. I would also avoid tracking someone, so they do not have to worry about my skills and condition. I think marine patrol might ticket you if you are tracking someone. A better rule is to be on the flat water outside their wake. If boat traffic doesn't allow this, they shouldn't be skiing there in the first place, but not much you can do about that.

 

[oldjeep]

Re: Wakeboarder /Skier boat Question

I would not allow someone to track behind me; I don't know how careful, experienced, inexperienced, distracted or drunk they may be, unless they were 1/2 mile back. I would also avoid tracking someone, so they do not have to worry about my skills and condition. I think marine patrol might ticket you if you are tracking someone. A better rule is to be on the flat water outside their wake. If boat traffic doesn't allow this, they shouldn't be skiing there in the first place, but not much you can do about that.

That is probabally the best advice. If I see someone following or cutting anywhere near my skiier/boarder, we peel off and drop them. Too many dummies out there who don't realize that they need to stay far from a skiier/boarder.

 

[mikeneal]

Re: Wakeboarder /Skier boat Question

I have been riding and towing people on wakeboards for over 15 yrs and I never heard of the starboard rule. Certain boats turn/hold speed better one direction and I always turn that direction . IMO you should never follow a watersports person, too much wide open water. If you followed my rider (even at your "safe" distance) I would do same as that driver and try to discourage you from doing such. If you were close enough to care what direction he turned to pick up his rider then you were far too close IMO.

 

[H20Rat]

Re: Wakeboarder /Skier boat Question

one unwritten rule of turning after dropping a rider is to drop off plane, THEN turn. Reason is that a full power turn sprays your wave down the entire lake. Not really that important on big bodies of water, but extremely important on man made water ski lakes.

 

[convergent]

Re: Wakeboarder /Skier boat Question

I will turn starboard, UNLESS I see a boat headed near my downed skier/boarder. In that case, I"ll turn whichever direction puts me between the boat and the person.

I've got a feeling they were probably doing something similar.

That's what I was thinking and I do just like you. The only time I don't turn to starboard is when I see a boat near my downed skier, and I will then put the throttle wide open and put my boat between the skier and the approaching craft. The skier's safety is my primary concern.

one unwritten rule of turning after dropping a rider is to drop off plane, THEN turn. Reason is that a full power turn sprays your wave down the entire lake. Not really that important on big bodies of water, but extremely important on man made water ski lakes.

Same here... and again, the only time I will not do this is if I'm trying to beat feet back to protect the downed skier; or, if I have reason to thing they may be injured.

I also just read a tip this week about if while you are slowing to drop the wake you turn partially to port, then make your no wake hard turn to the starboard, there are no rollers to go over. Works like a charm and no more dealing with water over the bow from my own rollers.

 

[asm_]

Re: Wakeboarder /Skier boat Question

one unwritten rule of turning after dropping a rider is to drop off plane, THEN turn. Reason is that a full power turn sprays your wave down the entire lake. Not really that important on big bodies of water, but extremely important on man made water ski lakes.

That's a good one.

I can speak from my experience while driving my typical low free board bass boat. During the incident, I slow my boat down to no wake speed due to a near by skier fall down. The 22+ feet towing boat made a power tight turn that kicked up wake that was almost 3 feet high, right in front of me. I end up taking water over the bow.... Of course, the offender didn't even notice. Only if I knew, should have speed by the down skier instead...

Back to the starboard or port turn question. Some lakes in California does have rule that tow boat must turn starboard side when returning to down skier.

B

 

[2ndtry]

Re: Wakeboarder /Skier boat Question

To the OP, I think you were too close.

I also think you knew this, as you state you got there "unintentionally", IMHO you should have peeled off as soon as possible. That being said, when the boarder fell, you should have dropped to no wake speed immediately and indicated your intention to get as far away from the downed boarder by turning in whichever direction would do this faster.

I tow boarders all the time and am VERY protective of them. I get pretty mad at anybody who tracks us. You will get the stink eye at the least, and if they are within yelling distance perhaps some helpful instructions on how to operate the boat (or jet ski, which is more typically the case).

As to the starboard rule, I always circle around with the swimmer on my starboard side to return the rope (better visibility), but it is not always practical to turn to starboard each time. No other boat should really be close enough to make a difference on which way the turn is made.

 

[haulnazz15]

Re: Wakeboarder /Skier boat Question

The only issue with dropping off of plane is there's a good chance you'll create a bigger wake then you would if you just went on by. Same thing when going by fishermen on the water, don't slow down below planing speed since it will create a bigger wake then if you were running WOT.

 

[sleek2004]

Re: Wakeboarder /Skier boat Question

i am confused y turn starboard?

 

[convergent]

Re: Wakeboarder /Skier boat Question

i am confused y turn starboard?

Because the driver is on the starboard side and when you circle around the skier/wakeboarder to bring the rope back to them you do so fairly closely (visibility). While its not that big of an issue (visibility) when you turn around the boat to go back, it kind of sits you up to make the same turn at the downed skier vs. doing a figure eight.

 

[metriccrescentwrench]

Re: Wakeboarder /Skier boat Question

As to the original post, to me it sounds like you were too close (I think you kind of admitted as much). Whether intentional or not, if you find yourself too close to a skier / wakeboarder / tube what's stopping you from slowing down to let them get some distance on you? It bugs the crap out of me if someone is anywhere near my son when he's skiing.

As for which direction to turn, it depends. I agree with the guys who say they turn to put themselves between other boat traffic and their downed rider. If that's not an issue, turning to port isn't a bad option if your boat allows good visibility of the rider, as that puts them next to the ladder if they want to come back in the boat.

 

[sleek2004]

Re: Wakeboarder /Skier boat Question

on my boat the driver is on the port side so i turn to the port side. same thing easier to see to get the rope back the the downed skier. when i am on the lake and i see someone towing i try to stay as far away as i can. cuz i would like other people to do the same.

 

[ovrrdrive]

Re: Wakeboarder /Skier boat Question

I skipped all of the replies in this thread because in my opinion you should never be close enough to a boat pulling a skiier to get in that situation. When a boat has someone in tow you shouldn't be behind them or even beside them unless you also have someone behind your boat and you just ended up together. In that situation you just have to give them as much room as you can and be vigilant. Otherwise you should never be close enough for this to be an issue IMO.