Water Ski Wax?

[valkyr]

Is there some type of wax you can use on water skis to reduce drag. My skis felt like they were pulling weights behind them this weekend when coming out of the hole.

Suggestions? (other than buying a better set of skis)

 

[deejaycee_2000]

Re: Water Ski Wax?

No, waterski's aren't like snow ski's or a sandboard than can be laminated as they call it ..... this is the first time in my life I have ever hear somone complain about the ski's dragging behind .... what kind of ski's you have?

 

[valkyr]

Re: Water Ski Wax?

They came with the boat and are probably Walmart specials I think they're HO something or other....

 

[retooferab]

Re: Water Ski Wax?

Try sanding them - recommended to reduce drag.
HO makes some serious slalom skis, btw, and I bet they're textured on the bottom... to reduce drag. I know my high perf slaloms have all been sanded/textured.

Possible it's a power:weight issue? Either you or the boat??

 

[valkyr]

Re: Water Ski Wax?

I don't know...I only weigh around 155lbs and the boat was a malibu something-or-other. Think he said a 350ish V-8 inboard.

When I was coming up out of the water there was alot more drag than I ever remember having before. (Different skis). Felt like I was going to go over the front of them....

 

[retooferab]

Re: Water Ski Wax?

Power:weight not likely an issue, then!
It could just be the skis presenting more of a drag than what you used previously; they do vary. I bet sanding the bottoms and just giving yourself some more time to get used to them will work out. By the way, two skis always feel kinda "draggy" to me, so work on progressing to slalom! Lots of fun awaiting you there... and that's what the Malibu was built for.

 

[valkyr]

Re: Water Ski Wax?

Once I teach my wife how to drive the boat (now that I have one) I fully intend to migrate to slalom skiing. Before, I didn't get many chances to go out on the water so I chose to combo ski instead of wasting time/energy trying to get up on a slalom.

 

[valkyr]

Re: Water Ski Wax?

Whats really odd is that I can find any information for or against waxing water skis. Why is it a bad idea? Has anyone actually done it?

 

[8AteEight]

Re: Water Ski Wax?

Whats really odd is that I can find any information for or against waxing water skis. Why is it a bad idea? Has anyone actually done it?

WHY!?!?!?!? what happens when the skis sit in the hot sun for a couple of hours?

I did it on a cheapo kneeboard a long time ago for the same reasons, and the wax got all over the boat. Seats, carpet, everything.....
Trust me, It didnt help a thing, except straining relations with my father. (it was his boat)

 

[valkyr]

Re: Water Ski Wax?

Hmm...my skis don't sit in the sun. There is a compartment the skis fit in.

 

[Chris1956]

Re: Water Ski Wax?

Valkyr, I have skiied on many kinds of skiis in my 30+ years of waterskiing. The only ski weight difference I noticed was when doing a jumpstart with a wooden ski versus a composite ski. I found myself leaning over the front of the wooden ski, do to it's inertia (weight). It is something one can get used to, however.

BTW, I never felt the skiis were dragging on any deep water or dock start. I think what you were feeling was the extra pull of the V-8. That kind of power will double you over, before you get the chance to flex your muscles and transfer the power to the skiis.

 

[valkyr]

Re: Water Ski Wax?

BTW, I never felt the skiis were dragging on any deep water or dock start. I think what you were feeling was the extra pull of the V-8. That kind of power will double you over, before you get the chance to flex your muscles and transfer the power to the skiis.

Thats quite possible I guess as the previous boats didnt have a V8 that I skied behind.