wake boarding tips

[scooper77515]

Re: wake boarding tips

Glad to read this. Everyone has told me 17-18 mph is spot on. I am miserable at those speeds.

I am fluctuating between 195 and 210 lbs, and I like it up around 22-24 mph. Seems fast, but I am comfortable at that speed, and besides, I am slaloming more than I am hopping wakes (do that a bit too).

I was doing a search to see how to better hold it at 18, since the boat wants to sink at 18, so the wife is gunning it to 24, and slowly letting it settle to 18, then it falls off to 14 where I am struggling to stay on top of the water.

She will be happy to hear that she can go faster and keep it on a plane better.

 

[Utahboatnut]

Re: wake boarding tips

I realize different hull design etc. etc. but I have a 20' Crownline 350 mag alpha 1 gen 2 with a hi five 21p. I can hold pretty much any speed I want from 21 me boarding to 15 with my 5 year old on a knee board. I do lose some off my top end but 90% of what we do is watersports and it will get to 34-35mph in a hurry and hold it well thats where I like to ski. I love the prop they are expensive but worth the $ to me.

 

[scooper77515]

Re: wake boarding tips

We tried it out this weekend and she was MUCH more able to hold a steady speed at 20-21, and I had a bunch more fun. Boat stays planed at that speed, and doesn't fight back trying to lose plane and sink.

 

[sethjon]

Re: wake boarding tips

I am hopeing someone can maybe give me some hints or suggestions. We have a 22 foot regal. When pulling a wakeboarder who weighs in the 200-220 range who likes to wakeboard at about 20 mph, we seem to have a very difficult time holding a constant speed. 20 mph seems to be about the speed that the boat wants to come down on plane, so we seem to always have to be throttling up or down to keep the speed there. The same thing happens when he makes hard cuts. We drop speed, then have to throttle up again. Anyone have any suggestions that we might try to keep a more constant speed.

Thanks

First, 20 is toooooo slow. You need to be at 23-25. If the throttle keeps moving down you might need a cable adjustment. The slightly extra speed will also benefit the boarder.

 

[scooper77515]

Re: wake boarding tips

The throttle isn't moving, the boat is slowly losing it's plane at 18 mph. Then when it falls off plane, you are all of a sudden at 14 mph and sinking the board.

At 20 mph, my wife can let go of the throttle and not have to make any adjustments until she makes a turn.

 

[Hansolo99]

Re: wake boarding tips

First, 20 is toooooo slow. You need to be at 23-25. If the throttle keeps moving down you might need a cable adjustment. The slightly extra speed will also benefit the boarder.

I agree 100% 23-25MPH is the best for wakeboarding anything less is just dragging and overworking the motor and driver.

I bought Smart Tabs, but not for wakeboarding it was to keep the Bow down as my wife gets worried when she would be driving the boat. I bought a retractor kit for it so when we wakeboard I lift them up and out of the way, but again they are terrible for wakeboarding. I have no idea how someone can tell when the boat is going 20 or 23 MPH especially someone that is not experienced at wakeboarding. Throttle up enough to have room to play as mentioned and DON'T TELL HIM HOW FAST YOUR GOING!

When I got my Bayliner I forgot how much work it was compared to my Ski Nautique-I hated it until I learned to just make constant adjustments. Different boats for different applications. If playing with the throttle is not your cup of tea (and it will be with an I/O) then Perfect Pass is the next step............................

 

[scooper77515]

Re: wake boarding tips

I have no idea how someone can tell when the boat is going 20 or 23 MPH

My wife and I made a system when I first went out. I told her to keep an eye on the GPS and keep it as close to 18 mph as possible (poor advice I was given by another who claimed to be a good wakeboarder).

I told her thumbs up meant increase 2 mph, and thumbs down meant decrease 2 mph and attempt to hold it steady, until I got to a speed that was comfortable for my size board and my weight. At 18 mph, our boat pulling me just wouldn't stay at a constant speed and on a plane without her having to constantly adjust, and often over-adjust to replane it.

But if we get it to 20-22, it stays on a plane and doesn't fluctuate speed nearly as much, so she has to make much less adjustments, and never large ones that affect my speed in a way I can feel it while being towed.

We have gone a little faster and I told her when I was comfortable and when I was not. So she has already figured out where to keep me, and it is usually 20-23 depending on wind and water conditions, and where the boat will cooperate with all of the above. Usually 20-21 is fine for us.