newb boarder/boat

[xjcj3a]

just bought a boat the other weekend, 115 evinrude 16ft glastron. we went out today pulled a skier and some tubes just fine. put my buddy on a wakeboard and tried to pull him like i did a guy on double skis. which i realize probably isnt right.the boat has a ski pole in the back, about 1 foot above the motor. so a few questions

1. fins or no fins?
2. what kind of throttle do i use to start out?
3. does board size matter?

the board we had with us is damn near 4 feet tall, im 255. so should work for me, he is only 155. but wouldnt the bigger board make it easier?


thanks for the help.

 

[smitty1258]

Re: newb boarder/boat

just bought a boat the other weekend, 115 evinrude 16ft glastron. we went out today pulled a skier and some tubes just fine. put my buddy on a wakeboard and tried to pull him like i did a guy on double skis. which i realize probably isnt right.the boat has a ski pole in the back, about 1 foot above the motor. so a few questions

1. fins or no fins?
2. what kind of throttle do i use to start out?
3. does board size matter?

the board we had with us is damn near 4 feet tall, im 255. so should work for me, he is only 155. but wouldnt the bigger board make it easier?


thanks for the help.

1. No fins IMO
2. ease into the throttle, takes much less for a boarder to get up
3. yes, should be a # stamped on the board you have somewhere like 144cm 138 cm etc...

your size you need at least 140.

 

[xjcj3a]

Re: newb boarder/boat

but for my buddies size, would say the 140 be too big for him?

 

[sickwilly]

Re: newb boarder/boat

The bigger board will make it easier if you all have the technique right. You start totally sideways to the back of the boat, and only move to where the board is oriented like the boat after you are up above the water.

 

[xjcj3a]

Re: newb boarder/boat

yeah we have the basic technique down, i was just hitting the gas to hard, making him push water. he never really got on top of the water. water is still way cold here so gonna wait alittle while longer before we try it again. gonna take the fins off, and just try and start out slow and see if it works.

 

[xjcj3a]

Re: newb boarder/boat

so on my boat infront of the outboard is a ski pole, extends about 1 foot over the outboard. my question is, could i take a pole that is say 5 feet over the motor. put it in that hole, then run a rope/cable to the front eye hook and use that to pull a boarder? anyone try it? i know ive seen similar things before, just never homemade.

thanks

 

[haulnazz15]

Re: newb boarder/boat

That pole will bend or rip out the floor fitting with that much torque on it. If you want a wakeboard tower, buy (or build) a wakeboard tower. There's no need to worry about the ski pole right now until you guys learn to get up consistently and get comfortable on the wakeboard.

 

[xjcj3a]

Re: newb boarder/boat

if its supported with a cable line that runs to the front, wouldnt that take the stress out of the pole mount and spread it over the boat?

 

[smitty1258]

Re: newb boarder/boat

I dont want to say, you dont need a pole or tower, because I would never want to discourage anyone from either.

But this early in the game, i think its safe to wait, until your riding progress's

 

[Billdc]

Re: newb boarder/boat

I dont want to say, you dont need a pole or tower, because I would never want to discourage anyone from either.

But this early in the game, i think its safe to wait, until your riding progress's

Is the tower/ pole only needed for greater height off the wake? I want to learn howto board this year. At 47 yo and a bad knee, can't see myself getting alot of air.

 

[xjcj3a]

Re: newb boarder/boat

went out again this weekend, pulled my buddy a good 10 times, could never get the board to plane up out of the water. ended up just pulling him for 50 feet at a time, i tried slow pulls, fast pulls medium pulls. nothing worked. dont know what else to do at this point.

 

[mrsemi05]

Re: newb boarder/boat

hey this is from a newb last year. it took me and my buddy a hole dayof none stop tries with a 85 hp merc. and you just have to get your own technique down.

 

[Utahboatnut]

Re: newb boarder/boat

how fast are you pulling your buddy? If the board is just mushing along and wont plane out at all you may be going too slow. I start with a good amount of throttle to get riders up and on top of the water then ease the throttle back to where they like it(around 20 ish) Remember to have him keep his knees touching his insides of his elbows, the board side edge about an inch or so out of the water and let the boat pull him all the way up on top of the water and it will straighten the board on its own. It sounds like the board is getting straightened too quick and not enough grunt to get him on top and keep him there, more like he is plowing water like a huge slalom ski. The board needs to be __ to start out then once on top and going it transitions to l.

 

[xjcj3a]

Re: newb boarder/boat

the board never straightens out, just pushes water. ive tried several speeds, gonna go out again tomorow and try again. its just a learning curve im sure.

 

[Utahboatnut]

Re: newb boarder/boat

Are there fins on the bottom of the board? If not pick up a set and see if that helps, cause if it stays __ the whole time you will never get up. Usually once the water starts to move against the fins it forces the board straight. Plus they will help the board track straight once up. Remember its not like slalom skiing you dont want to lean way back with all of the weight on the rear foot even weight to get the board on top of the water then once up and straightend out put some weight on rear foot to keep the tip up a bit. Dont fight the board either let it go where it wants until you are up on the water then control it from there. Stay in a ball when first coming out of the water with those knees touching the insides of your elbows let the boat do all of the work and use a good amount of throttle to get out then back down.

 

[xjcj3a]

Re: newb boarder/boat

board does have fins, i think i may of been trying to go to slow. gonna go out today and try it again, will let you guys know what happens.

 

[Utahboatnut]

Re: newb boarder/boat

I like to drop the hammer until they are up then back down, if you are consistantly pulling your boarder over the front of the board on take off, then back off a bit. Otherwise give er heck until they are out and then slowly back down to where your rider wants to be 18 - 22 is about right. You may have to keep a close eye/ear on the speedo, tach, and general feel of your speed once going as it likes to either go off plane and mush too slow or come on plane and be going way to fast. Unless you have an inboard with ballast and perfect pass then you are fine. Otherwise you need to really be on your game at the helm, as it can make all the difference.

 

[xjcj3a]

Re: newb boarder/boat

well making progress, got my buddy on top of the water ____ that way, but it was alittle choppy and he couldnt get it balanced out right. i tried it and got to the part where i was coming around but standing up swamping the front of the board. water is still cold so didnt try it much.


having issues with the motor flooding out, trying to figure that out for now. thanks for all the pointers, keep em coming if you got em.