New boat, new wakeboarder? Need Advice

[um0RION]

Hey, Ive been getting my boat ready to go this spring, got a 4 blade prop, 18' bayliner with a 120hp motor, and Id like to get into wakeboarding (never been boarding or skiing, and really havent ridden on a boat this small in a long time)..

I know some basics, but dont have anywhere to read up on what to get, that sort of thing (besides lurking around here). For what you all should know about me, Im 6'0", 185lbs. My friends are similar in build to me, and im sure they'll want to try it out too.

If I buy gear, I feel that a beginner board wouldnt last me long, as I would want to do intermediate stuff later on. Can you guys recommend me some good boards, and some bindings? Id also need a tow rope, as The boat isnt set up for anything right now besides maybe fishing.

Also, Ive seen a lot of stuff about ballast, creating a bigger wake without planing, that sort of thing. Do you guys just use fat sacs, or something else?

Thats not something Im worried about now, but the board/bindings is kind of important. What would you all recommend?

 

[smitty1258]

Re: New boat, new wakeboarder? Need Advice

any good pro model board/boot setup will work for you. Get last years gear at half the cost as well.

If you going to be sharing your boots with someone else I say get the LF vantage boots, they are velcro and open toe.

If your the only person riding in them, closed toe is the way to go.

I have a 08 Shane 140 (6'1" 205 lbs) and 08 LF Watson CT boots. It took a few weeks for the boots to get broken in, but now I love them!

Ive also heard really good things about the slingshot boards.

For a rope, just get no strech line for $~50.

You can also make a DIY pylon. Just search through the wakeboard forums here and youll see a few of us that have done it.

 

[sebber83]

Re: New boat, new wakeboarder? Need Advice

I use Ronix gear, I am usually not Brand Biased, but I love their gear and products. I am 6'2, 195lbs and I ride the Ronix One 144cm with Ronix one boots. They are by far the best set-up I have ever had.

For ropes, check sales on buywake.com or evogear.com, i got a 83 foot 5 section no stretch for 34.99 before x-mas.

Cheap but solid towers, check monster towers!

 

[Subliminal]

Re: New boat, new wakeboarder? Need Advice

Your situation sounds a lot like the majority of my wakeboarding 'career'. I have been going out with my neighbor every few weekends, all summer long, for like the last 5 years. He has a Sear Ray 18 ft'er with a 125 on.

It has a little tripod dealy that puts the rope above the outboard.

We just use a standard old waterskiing rope

The wakeboard he has needs to be replaced, but it really has been good. It's been a cheap-*** entry level board with adjustable strapped/velcro bindings.

The problem with getting anything good or catered is that one of us is lefty, one is a righty, and one likes it set up for either direction. The bindings get moved on almost every run, so they get loose, they don't get put into the optimal position between runs every time, etc...

If I could have done that board over, I'd've carved my initials into the optimal position...it was always a pain in the *** to get it set right and not too uncommon to dismount in the water and switch the bindings.

This year I bought my own boat. I don't have ANYTHING yet.

My plan is to buy a used board off Craigslist or something. I haven't really looked into pricing yet, but that's my hope.

 

[Campylobacter]

Re: New boat, new wakeboarder? Need Advice

Check out Ebay, and look for factory "2nds" or "3rds". You can last year's models very cheap this way. I would go with the name brands for now. I have a hyperlite my son and I share and and liquid force my daughter uses. Both have only surface blemishes and the decals aren't completely straight. They function fine. Super cheap.

I got a package deal with the hyperlite, It worked fine but we replaced the bindings after 2 years. Our feet are now the same size so upgraded to closed toe.

The bindings can be a serious pain to get on, don't forget some slime or bio-degradable soap to help lubricate you feet.

 

[um0RION]

Re: New boat, new wakeboarder? Need Advice

Great info, for whatever reason (I have no idea why) my mind is leaning towards hyperlite. Ive been browsing CWB stuff, hyperlite, and I come across a liquid force every now and then. Ronix is a little more rare.

Im looking in the 136-140 cm range, is this about right?

Also, for bindings... What is out there, and what type of binding is best? Ive seen velcro, lace-up.. open toe styles, closed toe.. I dont mind paying a bit more for a quality binding that I wont break my leg in.

 

[Campylobacter]

Re: New boat, new wakeboarder? Need Advice

If you are going to sharing the board, you may want go toward the longer boards in your range and the open toe bindings. At 180 you could ride a 140 no problem, and if any of your friends are larger they might need the extra length (surface area) to get up behind a 120. The open toe bindings also tend to work in a wide range of shoe sizes (like 8-11 or 9-12).

I'm not sure I would trust an all velcro binding. The one's I've used all use at least some laces (one in combination with velcro on the toe and ankle). My son once used a friend's board that had a hinge and cable binding (like snow skis), he really liked them but are quite expensive.

 

[kc95gt]

Re: New boat, new wakeboarder? Need Advice

http://www.wakeworld.com/BoardGuide/

That site has good reviews on boards for the last 10 years or so. Also get lace up bindings, not velcro.

 

[Subliminal]

Re: New boat, new wakeboarder? Need Advice

I'm not sure I would trust an all velcro binding. The one's I've used all use at least some laces (one in combination with velcro on the toe and ankle).

We've used a board with velcro bindings for the past 6 years.

The plastic plates that attach to the board gave out before the velcro did...just fyi.

 

[um0RION]

Re: New boat, new wakeboarder? Need Advice

Well, I found some gear, and im really hoping it will fit I found a Liquid Force board that is supposed to be for intermediate/advanced skiers, but I got it for a good deal on ebay ($45) and found some hyperlite byerly bindings ($26) that I hope will fit on the board. You can mismatch boards/bindings right? Now Im looking to get a tow rope, and a self-centering tow harness. Ill post the links to the wakeboard/bindings/tow rope below, tell me your thoughts!

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=260526078438&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=280462366178&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/t...t_shr?_encoding=UTF8&m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&v=glance
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/t...t_shr?_encoding=UTF8&m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&v=glance

 

[seaboo]

Re: New boat, new wakeboarder? Need Advice

Dang dude.....BARGIN!!!!!! I'm new to wakeboarding too (I just bought a used set up from a friend....It was a HIGH dollar setup last year and a good deal for me as he bought a new boat and had to get a new board to match it). Anyway in answer to your question, yes you can mismatch board/bindings.

 

[ThreeMileBayWaker]

Re: New boat, new wakeboarder? Need Advice

I tried wake boarding last summer and absolutely fell in love with it. I'm a tall guy myself 6'3 210lb and the only trouble I had was trying to find a nice fitting boot. I have a size 13 shoe and many of the boots/bindings are only up to a 12 shoe. I also just bought a new boat recently with a factory installed tower and I will be searching out a custom setup board for myself that I won't be sharing.

Like mentioned above, I found the perfect adjustments and always ended up loosing them by sharing a board with other buddies. You'll enjoy it, I found it by far easier than trying to learn how to waterski. Your feet are trying to go everywhich direction. lol..

 

[mpod]

Re: New boat, new wakeboarder? Need Advice

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I have a size 13 shoe and many of the boots/bindings are only up to a 12 shoe.

My son had the same problem with his size 13 feet until he got this setup;
http://www.evogear.com/outlet/Mashups/CWB-Kink-Blem+CWB-Vapor-Bindings.aspx

The hinges on the Vapor bindings make it really easy to get on and off. He used to have to use dishwashing liquid to get into his old size XXL bindings. Not anymore.

He also loves the CWB Kink board with the adjustable fins. He only had time to go out a couple of times with the new setup before we winterized, but he couldn't stop smiling. Priceless.

 

[ThreeMileBayWaker]

Re: New boat, new wakeboarder? Need Advice

[

My son had the same problem with his size 13 feet until he got this setup;
http://www.evogear.com/outlet/Mashups/CWB-Kink-Blem+CWB-Vapor-Bindings.aspx

The hinges on the Vapor bindings make it really easy to get on and off. He used to have to use dishwashing liquid to get into his old size XXL bindings. Not anymore.

He also loves the CWB Kink board with the adjustable fins. He only had time to go out a couple of times with the new setup before we winterized, but he couldn't stop smiling. Priceless.

I'll have to keep those in mind. Thanks!