New Driver Question

BobL · Newbie Joined: 15 Mar 2006 Posts: 33

Just purchased a wakeboard for my 10 year old (birthday present). He has been kneeboarding for a few years and is now ready to start wakeboarding. He and I have been searching and reading all the tips on getting up but I need some suggestions on the following:

Driving/Pulling a brand new beginner (never gotten up). I assume you start just above idle then when he is ready, hit it. Do I hit it hard and then slow down to 18mph as soon as he is up?

I have a lot of water ski experience (skiing and driving) but was wondering the differences in towing wakeboarders.

Thanks in advance for your advice.

phantom268 · Posted: Mar 15, 2006 7:36 pm Post subject:

When I'm driving boarders there isn't much need to "floor it" so to speak. Just a nice gradual acceleration up to boarding speed then just maintain it as steady as you can. A 10 year old should pop outta the water no problem. I have had people hit it hard and blast up to 30mph, then back down....and I dont care for that at all for boarding. Hope that helps. What kinda boat you using? Depending on its acceleration you might need more or less throttle when pulling people up. Also there is some handy driving tips, not to mention great wakeboard instruction in "the book" dvd set. That might help you with wakeboard driving technique and etiquette.

Wakemaster_17 · Outlaw Joined: 25 Dec 2005 Posts: 123 City: Vicksburg

pulling my dad up i just put the throttle horizontal then gradually change the speed to 22mph but i dont even have a drivers liscense yet to i might not be able to help you that much

Saber Toof · Newbie Joined: 15 Mar 2006 Posts: 2

nice and gradual like phantom268 said. a 10 y/o on a board will jump right out of the water.

BobL · Newbie Joined: 15 Mar 2006 Posts: 33

Thanks for the advice and I will use it.

Phantom...boat is a 19.4 Monterey with tower. I/O Mercruiser 4.3L.

phantom268 · Posted: Mar 16, 2006 9:03 am Post subject:

Sounds nice. You may need a bit more throttle / faster acceleration for pulling up adults, but even then it still usually doesn't take much. A prop upgrade can always help if your boat isn't accelerating as fast as you'd like. But with the right technique you can get up on a wakeboard behind just about anything.

miketh · Newbie Joined: 26 Mar 2006 Posts: 1

That boat has more than enough power. With smaller kids, throttle up slowly. You don't need to try to "yank" them out of the water. Try to slowly throttle up to about 14 MPH. I have found kids under 100 pounds can get out of the water with no effort from the boat at all. If the boat pulls too hard, they tend to shy away from wanting to try again when they fall. My younger kids tend to like to travel at slower speeds than adults when wakeboarding. Good Luck

Oasis137 · Addict Joined: 21 Aug 2005 Posts: 687 City: J-Town

When I drive and my dad drives we pull eachother up by just flooring the throttle. My boats got 195 horse, I got up first try from that. So thats really the only way i know, Just hold on and make sure the ropes tight before you go.