Can I Ski/wakeboard on my boat?

[Stepney55]

Hi,
Family just bought a new boat last year, Its an '88 Celebrity 210V Cuddy with a Mercruiser 3.7 LX with a 4 barrel carburator getting 200hp on a mercruiser Alpha 1.

The boat has a loop at the stern for skiing. What kind of watersports could I do off of this boat on Lake Michigan?

 

[OhWellcraft]

Re: Can I Ski/wakeboard on my boat?

You can do any water sports you want behind it. Might be a bit underpowered for getting slalom skiiers out but may be okay with the right prop. Wakeboards, kneeboards, two skiis, air chair, none of those require tons of power or top speed. An experienced slalom skiier can get up behind something that is low on takeoff power but its hard to teach someone if you are dragging them. Plus when I ski I like to be pulled around 32 - 33 mph. I'm pretty aggressive slalom skiier but you can pull a slalom skiier less than that my wife skiis at around 25-28 mph. Take it out and see how it does might be just fine for all activities. When I was a kid I used to ski behind my dads 27' with twin engines the wake was huge but you could ski behind it fine. good luck be safe and have fun.

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: Can I Ski/wakeboard on my boat?

if you do not have Smart Tabs on it. install them will really help. for the size and weight of the boat the 3.7 will be straining, the tabs will help it.

 

[kyle f]

Re: Can I Ski/wakeboard on my boat?

Your struggle will be getting up... f you can do that.... you can do anythign behind the boat. Others may be better if you hoose to take it to th enext level, but for learning and goofing off you should be fine.

Though, with the size and weight of that boat, you might want to consider a vehicle better suited to tow. Read, Full Frame, Tranny Cooler, Class III or IV receiver and Bigger Brakes.

 

[rndn]

Re: Can I Ski/wakeboard on my boat?

Is that a minivan you're towing that boat with?

 

[bayman]

Re: Can I Ski/wakeboard on my boat?

For the sake of safety it probably goes without saying that you don't want to do certain less common water sports with this boat such as wake surfing where you are right behind the boat. For most people this is very obvious but I mention it sometimes because of the number of people who continue to do this since the results are not pretty. You have the double hazards of hitting the propeller and carbon monoxide poisoning. Certain boats with the right configuration are ok for some of these sports where you are close behind the boat.

- bayman