Too big to ski behind?

[elwopo]

I'm thinking about a boat purchase but am looking into one more factor.

A 25' Pro Line 231 walk around with a 250 Merc outboard.
Is something like this just too big for the motor to ski with?

 

[kenmyfam]

Re: Too big to ski behind?

Possible but could be deemed overkill by many. Work out the variables.

 

[arks]

Re: Too big to ski behind?

I'm thinking about a boat purchase but am looking into one more factor.
A 25' Pro Line 231 walk around with a 250 Merc outboard.
Is something like this just too big for the motor to ski with?

Not really.
I used to have a 23' boat with a 260 HP I/O Mercruiser. We would tow skiers, tubes and kneeboards regularly. It worked OK but threw a pretty big wake and was slow out of the hole compared to a smaller outboard or dedicated ski boat.
If you're planning to use the boat primarily for skiing then there's other boats that'll do a better job. OTOH, if you plan to do other things and only ski once in a while, then it should be fine. The larger boat could actually be a benefit if you ski in rough conditions.

 

[elwopo]

Re: Too big to ski behind?

My bad.
I didn't mean to come across as I was buying the boat for skiing primarily. That would indeed be overkill.

My main purpose for a boat is fishing. My location presents opportunities for river access and watersports, and ocean access...all within minutes.
This boat would allow me to get out to the Gulf stream and do deep water fishing while possibly being small enough to still go for redfish and snapper in the river.

The only rub is that my son wants me to take his friends out to ski and tube.

I'm thinking there is no perfect boat for all uses...so if this boat isn't suited to it I'll let it go and get something for his wants.

 

[kenmyfam]

Re: Too big to ski behind?

My bad.
I didn't mean to come across as I was buying the boat for skiing primarily. That would indeed be overkill.

My main purpose for a boat is fishing. My location presents opportunities for river access and watersports, and ocean access...all within minutes.
This boat would allow me to get out to the Gulf stream and do deep water fishing while possibly being small enough to still go for redfish and snapper in the river.

The only rub is that my son wants me to take his friends out to ski and tube.

I'm thinking there is no perfect boat for all uses...so if this boat isn't suited to it I'll let it go and get something for his wants.

Hard to let it go if it is the right size and price and you want to fish !!!!!

 

[OhWellcraft]

Re: Too big to ski behind?

When I was growing up we skied behind my dads 27 footer all summer long, for many years. It did have twins but they were volvo I-6 170's so it wasn't jumping out of the water by any means. We could pull four on two skiis or two on slaloms. The wake that thing threw out was huge not the best for skiing but would be awesome for wakeboarding(didn't have them back then) as stated above will flatten out rough water very well if you stay behind the boat. That was thirty + years ago and I am still hitting the slalom as hard as ever and have fond memories of that old beast. It would take 3-4 foot waves like they weren't even there, the ride those big boats give is so nice. Good luck

 

[elwopo]

Re: Too big to ski behind?

Thanks for the responses!

It sounds to me like, while it may not be the ideal ski boat, it is possible.

Looks like I'll be making a 9 hour trip to SC to have a look at this boat.
Now....if I can just find something that will tow it....LOL

 

[Frank Acampora]

Re: Too big to ski behind?

Most kids now prefer wakeboarding and tubing. These sports do not require the quick acceleration that skiing requires so the boat will most likely be ok. And once you have experienced a boat with a couple of Kids in it, you will appreciate the extra room.

 

[dcg9381]

Re: Too big to ski behind?

I'm thinking about a boat purchase but am looking into one more factor.

A 25' Pro Line 231 walk around with a 250 Merc outboard.
Is something like this just too big for the motor to ski with?

When I was little, my first intruction to skiing was a 12' aluminum boat with a 15hp outboard.. Man, what an improvement from the 7hp!

As long as it's got enough power to plane the boat with the skier back there, it'll ski. I imagine that one will do just fine.

The worst ski boat I was ever behind was a ~1987 Larson with the 3.0L motor.. It would drag you for miles.

 

[Locke]

Re: Too big to ski behind?

When I was growing up my dad had a 36' 1961 Chris Craft w/ twin Lincoln 430's. We would take multiweek trips up and down the Illinois and Mississippi River's, occasionally we would talk him into pulling us behind to give us something different to do. We got real good at staying up no matter what because it was a pain of to have to turn that monster around and come back time and again. Not a lot of turning but it really works the legs to stay up for 30 minutes at a stretch.

Locke

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: Too big to ski behind?

it will ski just fine. i also learned with a 15 hp rude. we now have a 23' Chris Craft deck boat 5.7 volvo, ski's just fine.

 

[beach89]

Re: Too big to ski behind?

I ski behind a 24' Sea Ray with a 260.(Might be a bit bigger engine) It can pull smaller beginners up on idle easily. I get out of the water almost instantly(though not on idle) with 2 skis, and only a little slower slalom.

 

[edzzed]

Re: Too big to ski behind?

my old man used to have a 30ft aluminum cabin cruiser, as a joke one day he lined up 10 people to see if he could get them all skiing at the same time. and he did it. mind you the boat was built for use in the fishing industry and we actually towed quite a few seine boats and on one occasion a barge. thing had a huge diesel engine with a big diameter prop. Ed