boat speed

kellman · Newbie Joined: 08 Jun 2010 Posts: 5

My daughters are learning to wakeboard this year. We just went out for the first time and because we watched a youtube video, we were able to get them both up on the second try. They are both 17. We are fairly new at boating and definately new to wakeboarding. I am learning to pull them as they learn to wakeboard. My question is that once I get them up, what is the best speed to pull them? What is too fast or too slow? Thanks for any advice.

JeffreyCH · Posted: Jun 08, 2010 6:30 pm Post subject:

As beginners 18-20 would be a good speed to learn at.

Okie Boarder · Ladies Man Joined: 03 Mar 2008 Posts: 10056 City: Edmond

I agree with 18-20. Speed up or slow down based on comfort level and also you can use speed to help clean up the wake. As they progress, they may find they are really comfortable at 21-22.

In addition to speed, you might watch some video clips on how to drive a good line and keep the water smooth, including picking up a fallen rider and doing a turn around.

ckdollar · Criminal Joined: 28 Mar 2010 Posts: 75

I was pulling my girlfriend at about 15 mph when she started.

kellman · Newbie Joined: 08 Jun 2010 Posts: 5

Thanks for the info. They both got up pretty easy and I was pulling them at 30mph. They seemed comfortable but it just seemed fast to me. I will slow down and maybe they can start to experiment and see what they can do with the board. Laughing

dalderman · Soul Rider Joined: 08 Aug 2008 Posts: 356 City: Carlsbad

30mph! Slow it down by at least 20mph. You're going to have some bummed out kids if they catch an edge at that speed. Once they start jumping the wake you start experimenting with the right speed and rope length they are comfortable with going w2w.

slidin_out · Soul Rider Joined: 05 Mar 2010 Posts: 353 City: Pearl

30 mph, bwwwaaaahhhahaaahaahaa, you're going to get those kids concussed at that speed, keep it about 16-20ish until they get a feel for crossing both wakes consistently, then speed up to 21-22 to clean up the wake so they can start learning to jump, wow...i really hope you were kidding about the 30mph thing, that's insane!!!

kellman · Newbie Joined: 08 Jun 2010 Posts: 5

They are good snowboarders and they can water ski so the 30mph seemed comfortable to them... they were not trying to do tricks and they were crossing the wake comfortably...I would never do anything to hurt them..That is why I asked the question about speed...now I know and will definately slow it down...I feel lucky they did not fall and we will work on some fun stuff at a slower speed.. Embarassed

thanks

slidin_out · Soul Rider Joined: 05 Mar 2010 Posts: 353 City: Pearl

you weren't kidding, catching an edge at 20 hurts some kind of bad, i couldn't imagine at 30....OUCH!!!! yeah slow it down a little for those two, get The Book fundamentals DVD and let them watch it to learn the basics or sign up for LearnWake.com, they will probably be hooked if not already

Wakeboarder3780 · Posted: Jun 10, 2010 4:05 am Post subject:

kellman · Newbie Joined: 08 Jun 2010 Posts: 5

Thanks everyone for not scolding me too badly. They did nothing but ride behind the boat and cross the wake and yes I have video. We live ten minutes away from a ski slope in Indiana and my daughters started snowboarding 3 years ago. One of them was an instructor last year. They will be seniors in high school next year. We got a boat about 4 years ago and live ten minutes to the river. They always tubed and learned to ski a couple years ago. They did not ski alot but are already in love with wakeboarding and I believe its because they love to snowboard. They both got up on the second try , so I think I have the pulling them up under control lol. Now learning to pull. We try to go out at least once a week It all depends on my husbands hours. Any way I will keep you guys informed on our progress.

Wakeboarder3780 · Posted: Jun 10, 2010 4:37 pm Post subject:

girl powa

JeffreyCH · Posted: Jun 10, 2010 9:15 pm Post subject:

LMAO....30 mph, crazy kids Very Happy

I have rode at 35-40 behind my brothers bass boat, the slingshot out HS was VERY intense. He said he was backing off and the speedo read 35. On a side note why the hell does anyone need a fishing boat that goes 70?

Nooga678 · Posted: Jun 11, 2010 3:19 am Post subject:

kellman, It probably wouldn't hurt to check your speedo with a GPS. On my buddy's old boat it was off by about 5mph. Knowing it made it easy to correct for.

Wakeboarder3780 · Posted: Jun 11, 2010 4:32 am Post subject:

mobywake · Criminal Joined: 06 Apr 2010 Posts: 52 City: Fort Worth

wow, crazy fast fishing boats scare me!

I pulled my sister at about 17-19 for the first couple days when she was learning and now she is comfortable with 19-20.

Good Luck!

faceplant920 · Outlaw Joined: 07 Apr 2010 Posts: 178 City: Brookhaven

Not knowing any better when I first started like you, my dad pulled me 30 behind his bass boat, I was riding pretty comfortably and started trying to learn some new stuff, ie boardslide. On my first try, I turned the board sideways and then my world turned into pretty colors with this unreal ringing in my ears. I also bloodshot both my eyes. It was very unpleasant.

kellman · Newbie Joined: 08 Jun 2010 Posts: 5

Yes the girls seemed absolutely comfortable behind the boat, but there they were not trying to learn any moves or tricks. Just getting up and crossing the wake. I am so glad I found out the proper speed before they started trying stuff. It scares me now to know how far off base we were. Since getting info from you guys, I got on youtube and found some low key wakeboarding videos of people going at a comfortably slow speed jumping the wake. Nothing fancy but good to watch for beginners. I had the girls watch it and they are excited to go back out and try. (that is if the sudden threat of rain ends and the river is a little less muddy. Cant wait. One more question. My husband had trim tabs put on the boat this spring. Does that have any effect on the wake? Is there a right or a wrong way to use them?