kneeboarding trouble

[kenny26]

Took my family out on the boat this weekend. We tried to get up on the kneeboard and none of us were able to. Setup is 20' tahoe deckboat with 4.3L 190hp carbed, 19P 4 blade solas prop, smartabs, off the ski-tow ring.

Anyway my two nephews both college aged and in good shape, and i'm in average shape for a 38 year old.

The board is an older roto-molded board without a hook, using a 55' rope. We had a hard time holding onto the board and the rope. We are all tall guys 6'+ and it seemed if we were up towards the front of the board it submarined, and if we scooted back we were draggin in the water too much and couldn't hang on. We were starting off a slow speed and trying to get up before the board fully planed out. We were holding the rope with both hands at the tip of the board but had a hard time holding on. Any help as to how we can get up next time.

 

[BigBoatinOkie]

Re: kneeboarding trouble

You'll get it eventually. If I remember right, the first day we tried, it took us a while to get it down, but once we did, it was no prob after that. Your boat is fine, doesn't take much power to pull a kneeboard. You need to stay back far enough that you don't submarine it, but not too far back. I put my elbows near the front of the pad. Some like to grab the front edge of the board with the handle in their hands, I actually grab the handle with one hand and one hand on the tip of the board. You need to try to pull your knees up on the kneepad in one big pull just as the board comes on plane. It sounds like maybe you guys are trying to pull too slow. You should be able to accelerate relatively quickly, but not quite like pulling up a skier. Just keep at it, and I bet you will all get up on your very next try. I you have a nice sandy beach, you can just strap yourself on the board sitting in a couple feet of water, lean back so the tip of the board is near the top of the water, and hit the throttle. That's the easiest way for me. My brothers and I are 6'3''-6'5" and 260-280 lbs. Oh, if you have an ancient board like we did when we started, they are harder to get up on in my opinion. When we switched to a newer one, it seemed more stable. Then again, we may have just been getting better at it. Who knows. Good luck.

 

[SeanT]

Re: kneeboarding trouble

If it helps, my wife found that the right speed to drag me at on my kneeboard is 10-12MPH. If I'm positioned right, I don't porpoise while climbing on, and the water is hard enough I don't submarine. Once I'm on and I grab the rope, I give a "Hit it" and she guns her up to my preferred speed.

 

[SeanT]

Re: kneeboarding trouble

Oh, and my board has the hydro hook which eliminates the need to hold the rope and the board together. That definitely complicates it a bit but you'll get the hang of it.

 

[tcgobucks]

Re: kneeboarding trouble

Just keep trying....your boat isn't an issue, a full grown man get kneeboard behind a 12' jon boat with a 10hp engine with no issues. It just takes a little getting used to, especially if you're 6'+ tall and trying it for the first time. Nothing better than trying to kneeboard all day then waking up with noodle arms the next morning as you head off to work.....

 

[EricR]

Re: kneeboarding trouble

It takes some trys buy you'll get it. Main problem with me is lack of a tow driver or right now boat problems, other than that my equipment is good to go.

 

[jkust]

Re: kneeboarding trouble

I am 37 and learned to kneeboard behind a 9.9 mercury on a 12 foot boat and a 16 foot Bayliner with an 85 hp engine way back in the day. We got to be serious with it doing all sorts of tricks and flips plus floating jumps. It sounds like you have the right idea and your gear sounds just right. The second the board starts to take off after you have just a bit of speed, slide up onto you knees using your elbows as support and quickly strap down. It is a split second motion. It is infinitely harder to get onto your knees once the board has planed out as I am sure you have figured out. Eventually you will shorten the rope to half the length to the sweet spot in the wake and you will be doing barrel rolls in no time. It is like riding a bike or learning golf which is much easier done when young than old.

 

[rrkyle]

Re: kneeboarding trouble

Have you ever boogy boarded? Thats how i explain it to people learning on my boat.

I usually start strapped in but when i dont i hold the front of the board and the rope with a pronated (both palms down) grip.

Try holding the board with your finger tips and the rope in your palms. Arms bent and chest on the pad then lean back. Once you feel the board lift up pull yourself to your knees. As soon as your knees are in let go of the board and lean back. Then get yourself strapped in and ride.

I wouldnt suggest getting a hydrohook. Its not hard to get up without them once you learn how and once you start going big that hook could be a safety hazard.

One of the biggest problems i see with beginners is they wait to long to pull up. If the board starts to bounce you waited to long. As you get used to it you will realize you can pop up almost as soon as the boat begins to pull you.

 

[sickwilly]

Re: kneeboarding trouble

I don't hold the board at all. I hold the rope with both hands palm down. I place my elbows at the front of the knee pads, right on the ridge where the foam ends. Arms and wrists are bent to where from the side they would have the appearance of a preying mantis.

When the boat starts out, I wait about a sec or two, then basically jump from laying up to kneeling with one smooth movement. The strap is perfectly positioned because its was in front of my elbows.

Get on the board on the back of the boat and practice the jump a couple of times.

I do have a hook on mine, added an aftermarket one. I don't use it, though.

I will say, though, I watched a guy trying to teach a couple of kneeboarders how to get up the other saturday and he gunned till they bounced the sense right out of their skulls, and gave up, letting go. I felt so bad for those poor souls!

 

[SeanT]

Re: kneeboarding trouble

Yeah, that's no good. That's why my driver (wife) and I clearly define the "drag" and the "go" phases. Drag has a maximum speed of 12MPH for me (and 8MPH for my boys as they are much smaller).

Once the boarder has the rope, the driver "goes" to the preferred top speed, which for me is anywhere from 23MPH to 26MPH, and for the kids 15MPH to 17MPH.

I know it SOUNDS complicated, but it's not. We developed this through trial and error. And it works great! I don't need to rush to get on the board as the driver goes nearly WOT. The really good boarders can, I need some time.

 

[Dkrager]

Re: kneeboarding trouble

Yeah, that's no good. That's why my driver (wife) and I clearly define the "drag" and the "go" phases. Drag has a maximum speed of 12MPH for me (and 8MPH for my boys as they are much smaller).

Once the drive has the rope, she "goes" to the preferred top speed, which for me is anywhere from 23MPH to 26MPH, and for the kids 15MPH to 17MPH.

I know it SOUNDS complicated, but it's not. We developed this through trial and error. And it works great! I don't need to rush as the drive goes nearly WOT. The really good boarders can, I need some time.

Like this!!! Well said

As the boat driver, you have to watch how the board is acting. IF the board starts hopping before they get strapped on, then you are going too fast... You have to find that happy medium speed to get them up, and every boat may be different.

 

[SeanT]

Re: kneeboarding trouble

I had some grammar errors above that I corrected (I type too fast when I'm excited!)

Yes - that's how we developed our process with the driver watching closely. But now it's automatic and much less work for my wife. My wife gets me to 10-12MPH, I climb on. Then I say go and/or she sees that the rope is in my hands, and we're off to the races.

 

[SeanT]

Re: kneeboarding trouble

Incidentally, we use something similar for wakeboarding.

Once I have the rope, I issue an "OK" for the driver to get in gear, which starts a very slow drag (idle speed). Then I issue a "Hit it" for the driver to firmly accelerate (not WOT, for my boat anyway). Once I'm up she slowly adjusts to where I like it (22MPH - I'm a big guy so I need more speed so I don't tire too quickly).

 

[2003 Pro V]

Re: kneeboarding trouble

As I recall when we were Kneeboarding once a week the boat needed to be going around 10 mph to be stable enough to work your way up the board and put your knees in the pocket. Each person came up with a little different method but keeping your Elbows on the board and sliding your knees forward like an inch worm worked best. Once you get your knees on the board you could always put your elbows back on the board to move your knees forward into the pockets.

You don't want to go too fast when mounting the board this makes the process much harder!

Keep trying and you will get the feel for it!

 

[kenny26]

Re: kneeboarding trouble

Thanks for the advice guys. I ended up getting a newer kneeboard with a hook. Got up on the 2nd try! Learned I needed the driver to get in the gas harder at the start to keep the board from submarining. The new board made a huge difference. I'm sure I'll try again without the hook, but for noobs with no experience it helped alot. I'm still not at the point of getting into position in one swift movement like I see some do, but I'm up and riding!

 

[griz066]

Re: kneeboarding trouble

Strap yourself in on the bank and start from there. Just lean back as the boat starts to take off. Easiest way of all

 

[SeanT]

Re: kneeboarding trouble

Right, that's how we used to do it back when lakes were lakes and men were men.

Now adays the beach areas are either roped off, or simply too shallow to do a ski type start with the boat even 60' away from the shore.

I'm jealous of those that have lakes who's beaches slope enough for that.

At my parents lake, we start out in about 3 feet of water, and one person helps steady the front of the board for the other so that the nose is out and tail of the kneeboard rests on the sand. We still do deep water starts anyway, otherwise if the rider wipes they're done.

 

[oldjeep]

Re: kneeboarding trouble

I don't hold the board at all. I hold the rope with both hands palm down. I place my elbows at the front of the knee pads, right on the ridge where the foam ends. Arms and wrists are bent to where from the side they would have the appearance of a preying mantis.

When the boat starts out, I wait about a sec or two, then basically jump from laying up to kneeling with one smooth movement. The strap is perfectly positioned because its was in front of my elbows.

That's the same way we get up. Just having the driver hit it and go. Usually have hopped up on the board before the boat even gets planed.