HELP KEEP THE WATER FLAT

Rob74 · Criminal Joined: 14 May 2003 Posts: 90

This may seem like common sense, but so many people do not follow this rule and I feel compelled to post it.

If your rider falls, do not zip around in a huge circle to pick him/her up (The 911 pickup).

Just slow down to neutral, let the waves go past, then turn 180 degrees, and SLOWLY go pick your rider up.

Not rocket science - Just consideration and a desire to keep the water flat for everyone.

Peace

90redgsx · Criminal Joined: 08 Jul 2003 Posts: 80 City: Michigan

Yea it is so simple but everyone seems to forget it. But I always let the driver know because I hate getting hit in the face with rollers.

BIGMAC · Posted: Jul 22, 2003 4:58 am Post subject:

Good post. many people don't know this!!

wakeboarder · Addict Joined: 24 Apr 2003 Posts: 702

even the people that do know it dont want to take the time to make a slow turn

Jim M · Wakeboarder.com Freak Joined: 17 Jan 2003 Posts: 2933

My friends girlfriend took a power turn RIGHT in front of our bow us last week and we took on about 100 gallons, there was standing water all the way back to the stern and all our gear got completely drenched. We now have a rule that they aren't allowed within 300yds of us.

I can hardly going out with other people that power turn to pick up fallen riders, it makes me cringe. It is SO EASY to slow down and just wait an extra 10 seconds, you turn around gradually and what do you know, no massive rollers anywhere! FIGURE IT OUT IF YOU DONT DO THIS ALREADY, PLEASE!!!!

jumalian · Ladies Man Joined: 12 Jan 2003 Posts: 7625 City: san diego

We tried to give someone this very same advice. It wasn't taken as riders tryin' to help out other riders. They took it as "criticizing my driving."

Most people that we talk to regarding powerturns are actually quite thankful. Thankful because a. they had no idea that the powerturn impacted the water condition that much, and b. they had no idea that people hated them for it.

That's exactly what we do...we talk to them about it. We don't do it in a dick kind of way, either. We try to be cool about it, knowing not everyone knows that they don't have to powerturn. Some just take it as attacking their ego though, which is kind of sad. In this sport, you learn something new everyday...whether it's riding or driving.

Partyb · Posted: Jul 22, 2003 7:37 am Post subject:

Amen. I can't stand power turns. They make my blood boil. Good post.

FRANKIE · Guest

this pointer was on my "GOOD DRIVER" list of qualities sub the "how important is a good driver" thread. we had headed out to our spot this sat. at mwwf, it WOULD HAVE BEEN perfect had we not encountered the "rowdy" malibu performing such power turns. it's not that we were upset some one found our spot... it was that they ruined the butter for all of us. we tried to get them to stop and talk to us, so that we could politely notify them of this and they got pissed off and started pulling their rider with in ~ 4 feet of ours - it was unnecessarily rude, but i don't know how else we could have approached them???

take care all.
frankie

Dpierce37 · Ladies Man Joined: 23 Apr 2003 Posts: 7659 City: Austin

I get frustrated at telling my friends to stop power turning. Not only does it screw the water up, but it waste's gas as well. I will just have to keep beating it into there heads. The only time I power turn is when a dumby wumby Lake Rat, water roach, or shoobie in a boat are in close proximity to my fallen rider! His/her safety comes first, smooth water second....although it was a close race Laughing

Mad Trix · Posted: Jul 22, 2003 8:16 am Post subject:

yah, power turns are pretty gay. I remeber when i was in Canyon Lake (San Antonio) an i was pretty small my Dad almost got run over by a guy doing that. Power turn are bad! Just take it easy!

J_DOGG · Posted: Jul 22, 2003 8:33 am Post subject:

I ride with people that knows what's up, we don't have this problem with anyone in our group. Other people on the lake now that's a different story, Wally's.

It's all about the butta, baby.

89comp · Posted: Jul 22, 2003 10:13 am Post subject:

Hmmm...I'm torn here. My boat (89 Supra Comp) has a bow that is sloped down so if you go nose first into any rollers, then they come onboard, roll up over the windshield and soak everyone and anything (camera, etc) in the boat. If my rider falls and I just pull back on the throttle to idle go back and get them then I'll get wet and potentially ruin my stuff.

With that being said, you guys seem to be suggesting that when your rider falls, you continue in a straight line till you pull it back to idle, then let the waves pass, then turn around at idle speed. Seems like it would take forever. Am I understanding you all right?

Boardbrat · Posted: Jul 22, 2003 10:15 am Post subject:

Well there has been a couple of times that those stupid Jet Skiiers (Lake Roaches) have been so close to us that we have had no choice but to hall ass back to the rider, if we don't they might get ran over.so sometimes I have seen it necessary to turn fast....once again, blame the Jet skier when ever possible

jumalian · Ladies Man Joined: 12 Jan 2003 Posts: 7625 City: san diego

It doesn't take as long as it sounds. And if you're headed straight for a big roller, the bow of your boat slopes down, and you're goin' slow, take the roller on its side or go in reverse and "ride" the roller.

Grouch · Posted: Jul 22, 2003 10:27 am Post subject:

Definately a good post.

There was some guy out there this weekend in a new Supra SSV and the guy was doing huge power turns and eh would pull his rider at like 25 mph to catch up with us and get about 10' from our boat and wave to us. Rolling Eyes

If your excited about yuour boat and wakeboarding great, but have some respect for everyone else in the water.

If your reading this and you know who you are I hope that you learn from it.

NAW · Posted: Jul 22, 2003 10:38 am Post subject:

YES!!

IMO, the only time a power turn is acceptable is when your rider is in danger. There are times that you must get your boat between an oncoming boat and your downed rider. That is only a fraction of the time though.

89comp, There are a couple of things you can do to prevent rollers over your bow. I'm assuming you're talking about taking on your own rollers, right? A trick that comes in handy is: Rider falls, you pull back throttle and make a slight turn left while your boat is stopping. When stopped or close to it, you turn back right to go pick up your rider. Your rollers will already have gone by the right side, then you just idle back to your rider. I don't know why it works, but it does. OR, when approaching other boats rollers, give your boat throttle, so the bow is up and over them. When you've passed the rollers, throttle back to idle and complete your pickup at idle speed.

dba4life · Outlaw Joined: 20 Feb 2003 Posts: 129

Mark (89 Comp),

As you know I have a 90 Comp. We have no problem with our own rollers - even with 1000lbs in the boat. I just pull back on the throttle come to a slow stop and turn it around in place. Doesn't take that long. My girlfriend says when she drives she does the slight turn bit and that works for her. Either approach will work.

I have not swamped the front of my Comp in over a year now. Just takes a little getting used to.

Tbonez · Posted: Jul 22, 2003 11:26 am Post subject:

I have a supra comp and have figured out how to do the slow turn around thing. The one that gets me is not doing race tracks in the lake. I try to run a single line. When I make my turn to get back in the same path it is either suicide corner for the rider or I end up doing small race tracks...Cant figure out how people run the same line. Riders seemed to get ticked when I do the sharp turn to get back on the same line.

89comp · Posted: Jul 22, 2003 11:27 am Post subject:

I'll try this turning thing tonight and I'll let you know if it works for me. thanks for your help.

tdes · Soul Rider Joined: 07 Feb 2003 Posts: 270 City: Orlando

Yeah, just a little bit of throttle will pitch the boat so that you don't have problems with your own rollers. i had that problem when i first started the correct way to pick up a rider.

But if it's busy and I don't want my rider to be unsafe, I'll do the stand-up Hasselhoff-style power turn. That way I LOOK like the crazy guy on the water and people back off a bit. Or, if the rider falls in a wetland-type area that may be prone to gators - in that case I rev it up a bit to scare them away (although this is probably not necessary, it makes my girlfriend feel a lot safer when she falls in those not-so-safe areas of the lakes we go on).

But those are the only times, and I think it's pretty much justified.

Zach M · Posted: Jul 22, 2003 11:42 am Post subject:

I had to resort to power turns the other day because it was so crowded on the river. If I didn't get back to my rider fast, he would have been hit by another boat. It amazes me that a river can be filled with boats, but people think that they don't have to watch ahead of them. We've come really close to getting into accidents with people because they are either drunk or not paying attention.

eldorett · Criminal Joined: 15 Jan 2003 Posts: 96 City: Massachusetts

I don't know about the whole "waiting for the rollers to pass" part, but the rest I agree with. Your rollers are going to have to be dealt with regardless so it doesn't matter if you're heading into them or away. We slow down to idle, make the turn, and blub back to the rider. I don't really ever stop moving. Occasionally you have to goose the throttle for a second so as not to get swamped heading back through your wake but overall this process is pretty efficient and doesn't seem to add any extra disturbance. I wish I could say the same for everyone else on the lake... Sad

FRANKIE · Guest

i was told that you should split/hit rollers at a ~45 deg angle; this "method" supposedly is the best way to handle the roller the gentlest.

otiswunguy · Addict Joined: 13 Jan 2003 Posts: 871 City: Sammamish

no powerturns. eldorett- if you use the method described above, you will never hit your own rollers they will continue past you in a v pattern and you will be left in the calm part of it. it works and makes a huge difference. most people take passes parallel to the shoreline the length of a lake. if you turn while still having the boat on a plain, you send rollers the whole length of the lake. the rollers sent towards the shore disapate and are not an issue. GOOD POST!

tdes · Soul Rider Joined: 07 Feb 2003 Posts: 270 City: Orlando

I think the 45-degree angle thing is related to when you're cruising (>~25mph) and you see some rollers ahead of you. if you turn slowly it really doesn't matter as long as you're going slow...but it's much easier to just wait for the rollers to pass, then make the turn. Sometimes if I'm impatient I'll gun it a little bit towards the rider after I turned a complete 180, since you're just sending rollers to the shoreline and the rider typically never sees them except MAYBE at the very beginning.

Jay Dutton · Posted: Jul 23, 2003 2:29 pm Post subject:

I was recently introduced to a new technique. My boat is super lowride all sacked out and the slightest ripple will come over the bow. What I do now is pull back the throttle then crank the wheel to the left, when I come to stop I thow her in reverse for sec then go back in my path. No rollers to go through. Works really well.