Towing Multiple Wakeboarders?

[ianrgordon4898]

Hey all. I am vacationing on the finger lakes and want to tow multiple wakeboarders behind my Tahoe Q4 135 hp 3.0 l mercruiser alpha one. Is that enough power? Also, how do you do it? No wakeboard tower, but eye hook. Should I do dock start? How to tie ropes on? Thanks!

 

[jwells36]

Re: Towing Multiple Wakeboarders?

I would not recommend towing multiple wake boarders or skiers behind any boat. To me it would a huge pain if one of them falls to try and stop and get back to them while still pulling another boarder. You also run the risk of them crashing into each other and unless they are young kids I don't think you have a chance to get them up with a 3.0 with no tower.

Just go one rider at a time and have a good safe time!

good luck,

jw

 

[brick75]

Re: Towing Multiple Wakeboarders?

Yeah, not sure why you'd want to pull two boarders at the same time. What makes boarding fun is jumping back and forth across the wakes. Not sure how you'd do that with two people. I guess if they just rode straight the whole time it would work, but that seems boring. You could probably pull it off with your boat as long as the people boarding were experienced and could fight through a little drag before having enough pull to get up.

 

[jafo9]

Re: Towing Multiple Wakeboarders?

it doesn't take much power to get a wakeboard out of the water and your boat isn't terribly big/heavy. it should work fine. it might be a slower pull than they are used to getting them up. if one falls, tell the other one to drop as well. this makes picking them up or restarting easier. we've done it a bunch. sure you can't do tricks, but the kids like it. we've even done different length ropes to let folks swap sides. and this was all behind a ...gasp... pontoon.

 

[ThreeMileBayWaker]

Re: Towing Multiple Wakeboarders?

What finger lake?

 

[ianrgordon4898]

Re: Towing Multiple Wakeboarders?

Keuka Lake... just got back and absolutely loved it! Considering buying a place up there...

 

[Al Bee]

Re: Towing Multiple Wakeboarders?

When towing mulitiply skiers, you either have a pick up boat, or more likely, one falls, you all fall. I routinely go doubles with both of my daughters and my wife on kneeboards and my older daughter and I jump the wake, leaving each other space to land, its actually alot of fun family time. I wouldn't hesitate to go doubles with my older daughter on our wakeboards, my younger daughter and my wife still need more experience tho! Oh yeah, we also go doubles on singles belly tubes, that can be a real riot...

 

[Augoose]

Re: Towing Multiple Wakeboarders?

I disagree- towing two skiers, boarders, whatever at a time is fine as long as you do it safely and correctly. I've been skiing and wakeboarding dual/with others for a years now and as long as you follow some safety rules, everyone can have a fun time. The taller skier will be in the back, the shorter up front (closer to the boat). Ensure one rope is much shorter, but not too short, than the other and they can tie into the same eye. When both skiers are ready, start a slow drag until slack is out of both ropes, then hit it. When the skiers are up, each person will need to communicate and time their crosses with the rear skier paying close attention and lifting the rope at the appropriate time. I always found it easier to be in the center of the wake when the other skier crossed. If one skier drops, both drop. Be safe, have fun.

I weigh 210 and I've skied with a range of other sized people behind a 4.3 liter which popped us up with no issue whatsoever. It might be a little struggle with the 3.0 but still not bad with wakeboards which require far less power than pulling up dual skiers.