Can you smell that?

Wakeboarder3780 · Posted: Feb 14, 2011 7:31 am Post subject: Can you smell that?

Wakeboarding season is coming. It's about a month and a half away from when the ice finally breaks and if you have a drysuit (or if you're insane) you can get out and tear it up. How close is it for others that are currently (or have recently moved out of) the off season?

(This means all you southernors who think 65 degrees is cold need to find another thread to comment on Wink

)

WhackedRampage · Criminal Joined: 22 Jun 2010 Posts: 70

I went wakeboarding the first week of May last year (after the college semester was done haha). The water was cold, but it was a ton of fun.

The season is still about 2 months away here (Minnesota).

Wakebrad · Ladies Man Joined: 11 Dec 2003 Posts: 12257 City: Dallas

Oh yeah, it's 70 degrees here all week. I'm already starting to get the itch. Jumped on the tramp for about a half hour yesterday.

tyty401 · Posted: Feb 14, 2011 10:59 am Post subject:

I probably won't go out for another three months here in Utah. I'm sure I could go out sooner but I don't have a dry suit so I think I'll wait it out Laughing

Plave · Newbie Joined: 26 Mar 2010 Posts: 34

Our season has started, I know plenty of people who've been riding a few weeks. I don't get lake access until March 1st though so I'm counting down in days.

Getting my drysuit out and kit prepped this weekend. I don't mind wearing a drysuit, I have a custom made one and wear it for probably 4 of our 9/10 riding months.

holdsworth · Posted: Feb 14, 2011 4:43 pm Post subject:

Just pulled my buddy yesterday Smile

I can't ride... trying to qualify for indoor nationals in pole vault.

3MileBayWaker · Posted: Feb 14, 2011 11:44 pm Post subject:

Ice will be gone around end of April, water won't touch the 50's till memorial day weekend.

chawk610 · Addict Joined: 06 Jul 2010 Posts: 668 City: Fort Worth

I'm with Wake Brad... I tinkered with the boat all weekend... got the serious itch!!!!!

The Heez · Newbie Joined: 09 Aug 2010 Posts: 41

Rode last weekend, air was about 70, water in the low 50's. Rocked the drysuit but could have easily ridden with a fullsuit. Our taxes and property prices may be high but CA is awesome!

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

hitting 70's all week here in MS, got a feeling we'll be blowing the fog out of the cylinders this weekend, tramp has been getting some good action this week and will continue that way, at a minimum the boat will get cleaned up and taken out for a test run this weekend, will definitely be wearing a 3/2 wetsuit though

swift6six · Criminal Joined: 02 Nov 2010 Posts: 74 City: Boise

Was out sunday.. air temp at the water was 51, and water temp was 34.. wetsuit kept me warm, except for hands and face when crashing.

wakemads · Posted: Feb 16, 2011 3:42 am Post subject:

will start getting the boat ready during March. start season mid April, with drysuits. Still snowing here in Denmark.

JeffreyCH · Posted: Feb 16, 2011 3:53 pm Post subject:

Might get an early start this year, never know in Nebraska, it's been hitting the 50's here for about a week. Usually we hit it up about mid May, but....

kent2010 · Soul Rider Joined: 14 Jun 2008 Posts: 281 City: Needles

Go out pretty much any day its not really windy and the sun is out here in Long Beach. It was around 77 the other day, just a 3/2 full, or a heater top will do. Or you could trunk it, but its pretty chilly.

HHI Dave · Posted: Feb 20, 2011 8:23 am Post subject:

These threads always make me feel so fortunate. Laughing

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

put the SANTE in the water yesterday for a post winter test, started right up, after 5 minutes idling ran it up to 2k rpm's and let it sit for a minute, temp started rising, checked under the hood and sure enough no water flowing through the system, didn't get to ride today, off to the shop tomorrow, sure it's something simple but i was ready ride today, oh well

NKCrider · Posted: Feb 21, 2011 6:18 am Post subject:

our season doesnt start here in south eastern VA until memorial day weekend, cuz its too cold til then and its mah birthday weekend Mr. Green

erikneufeld · Criminal Joined: 27 Aug 2010 Posts: 72

"Slidin out" prolly just ur water pump, they go out every 2-3 years it seems... your better off than me, im near galveston so we dont even think winterizing,.. went to put in the first session of the season yesterday and almost sank the boat, all the freezerplugs on the engine block were blown out from a freak winter storm, didnt realize what was happening untill i was strapped in the board and the engine starts to beep, opened it up and the only thing sticking out of the water was the carborator... lol rammed the boat lift to get it on and im amazed the lift was strong enough to lift that boat with who knows how many gallons of water the whole thing was swamped... but its okay now, just gotta jack the engine out and re-do freezer plugs =/ 2 week delay...

The Heez · Newbie Joined: 09 Aug 2010 Posts: 41

erik, that is one crazy story! You dodged a bullet. That's definitely not something you expect to have happen.

slidin out, like the man said, you probably just wore through your water pump. Some engines go through them faster than others. It's one of those easy and cheap fixes that can mess up a day of riding. As cheap as they are and as much a pain in the arse it is to go through a block and pick out the pieces, I suggest changing your pump before every season. We even carry an extra in the glove box.

To keep with the spirit of the thread, CA descended back to winter. Where I was riding last week actually got snow and the lake came up 10-12 vertical feet. That kind of rise means no riding for a few weeks because of debris, F!!!

Wakeboarder3780 · Posted: Feb 22, 2011 10:40 am Post subject:

Plave, a custom fitted dry suit huh? I didn't know you could get those made. Do they modify existing ones or make them from scratch? Something I might be interested in some day. I have a build that essentially means my suit is going to be a bit too long and it can get quite puffy in my midsection.

Great to hear that some peoples seasons have already started. Amazing to hear some people are able to run the boats already, I'm certainly jealous there. My family is having an ice fishing weekend this weekend and I know all I'll be thinking about is when the ice will finally melt.

erik, thats a crazy story man, I'm glad you guys ended up getting it on the lift before things went real bad.

I've got a slew of additions I want to add to the new boat as well so I'm itching extremely bad just to get warm enough weather where it rains instead of snows so I can take the boat out of storage and get cracking on the additions!

Glad to hear some of you have started the season, safe boarding wishes to all. Until the ice breaks I'll be really jealous Smile

Plave · Newbie Joined: 26 Mar 2010 Posts: 34

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

got word back today, fried impeller and new water pump, but hey at least I'll get to ride this weekend, just will be about $750 poorer (fixed pump, impeller, and trailer work), back on a good note it is already filled up with premium!!!

i wouldn't winterize in galveston either

chawk610 · Addict Joined: 06 Jul 2010 Posts: 668 City: Fort Worth

Gonna be 78 in Ft. Worth this weekend... looks like it might be the kick off... Of course... I will have to stick my big toe in first... just to make sure! Laughing

erikneufeld · Criminal Joined: 27 Aug 2010 Posts: 72

750$ for that?! 0.0
wow... at least on my boat that little impeller was 45$ and the water pump was 180$.... i just cant imagine needing enough shop hours to drive the cost up that high considering it takes probably 2 hours to do depending on the boat.... =/
But best of luck hope your 100% afterward,.. get out there n shred!

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

water pump was $400, impeller about $45, checked it out on Nautiqueparts.com before i agreed to cost of the pump, anyway it's game on this weekend! high 70's around here

chawk610 · Addict Joined: 06 Jul 2010 Posts: 668 City: Fort Worth

You know what they say about boats.... Just another 1000.00!

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

yep, cant ride without one around here though

moto96s · Newbie Joined: 21 Oct 2010 Posts: 13

Up here on the north end of the Chesapeake Bay, we are usually lucky to get out with long suits in the beginning of May. Last year, we had a warm snap in the middle of April with 4+ days of over 80degree weather plus bright sunshine the whole time. The combination got the river up to 65, degrees and we had a great time for a couple of days. I was out in a spring suit and it was great. It did get cold again for a couple of weeks, but we were back out in may as usual. I love the early season and late season because there is NO ONE on the river and it is easy to find beautiful calm water and no conflicts with anyone. Hoping for a similar situation this year because the winter has really sucked up here.
Moto96s

cadunkle · Criminal Joined: 16 Jul 2009 Posts: 60 City: NJ

About another two months here in NJ. Late April/early May depending on the weather. Finally got a full 4/3 suit that came too late to use last season. Can't wait to try it, should be sweating compared to just a heater top. Heat wave today, topped 50* so I uncovered the boat and checked on a few things I need to do before the season. It's getting close.

neverwinter · Criminal Joined: 12 Aug 2010 Posts: 66

It was 85 degrees yesterday in Austin..we've been riding for about 2 weeks now..season is HERE!

Wakeboarder3780 · Posted: Mar 04, 2011 4:24 pm Post subject: