The newbiest question of all time...

Dave576m · Newbie Joined: 13 Jun 2006 Posts: 3

I have never wakeboarded, but I surf and snowboard, and always wanted to try it. So I came into a little bit of money, and want to get a boat. I know a guy that is selling a boat, but I dont know if it is worth getting if I want to wakeboard.
The boat is an 18' stingray open bow, it does not have a wakeboard tower, and it only has 135 hp...is that strong enough to pull a wakeboarder and have a few people in the boat at the same time?
If it's not what should I be looking for?

Thanks in advance for your help,
Dave

HHI Dave · Posted: Jun 13, 2006 8:40 am Post subject:

I'm only less of a newbie than you because I've wakeboarded before...once. Very Happy

This past Sunday I got up behind my boat for the first time. Its a 19.5 ft. Tahoe Q4L bowrider with the 3.0L 135hp Mercruiser I/O. It pulled me up and out of the water with no problems at all. It also pulled two of my friends (not at the same time though).

LINK TO VIDEO

I'm 225 lbs, my friends are both around 200 lbs or so.

If you're a neophyte wakeboarder, like I am, I don't really see a need for a specialized wake-boat. Unless of course you just have money burning a hole in your pocket. Very Happy

The boat you described should work just fine. Cool

BioliteRy · Outlaw Joined: 26 Nov 2005 Posts: 206 City: O-town

Do some shopping on the boats before you just buy that boat. There are deals out there. Take some time be patient

CDawg · Outlaw Joined: 29 Jul 2005 Posts: 130 City: Bellevue

Dave576m · Newbie Joined: 13 Jun 2006 Posts: 3

Well thanks for the advice. It seems as though from the reading of other posts, that people seem to think a wake tower does not do much but allow someone to sit in the back seat. So really does it do anygood at all?

drdubie · Outlaw Joined: 18 Dec 2005 Posts: 161 City: Lucedale, MS

I ride behind an outboard with a 3ft ski pole on the back deck and do fine. I have only ridden behind a boat with a tower 1 time and I have to say it does make it easier when landing tricks. If you are pulling low the rope can have a tendency to pull you forward on your face but the tower seems to make it easier to stay up due to the upward pull.

Ian_82 · Addict Joined: 24 Mar 2005 Posts: 803 City: Longview, WA

there are plenty of decent I/O's out there to buy, that work just fine for wakeboarding. a tower isnt a necessity, but will help you progress later. just ask nearly everyone on here who learned behind a waverunner, or fishing boat. towers can be bought for a couple grand, or if your lucky you may find a good deal on craigslist, or ebay. i know of several towers in my area on craigslist that are being sold for under 1k.

it is possible to find an older wakeboat for the low 20k range, but any boat really will be fine. but like was mentioned, you said you surf, so if you wanna do wakesurfing as well as wakeboarding, youll either need to meet someone who has an inboard, or buy one yourself. i suggest buying the cheaper boat to learn on, and possibly on a nice day talk to some of the other wakeboats out there. maybe theyll give you a pull behind theirs and you can decide later if you want to spend the money.

narxs70 · Criminal Joined: 05 Jun 2006 Posts: 69 City: Beaver Lake

CDawg is right.

i have been thinking of what boat to buy for a while now. i need something that can haul like 8-10 folks and rides nice but is also more of a wakeboard boat. just do your research and decide what works best for you. i would say an open bow v-drive wakeboard style boat is what i will be getting. Like the Malibu vRide. i have done the "buy a boat now and upgrade later" and only ended mad b/c i could have had more boat for the same money (without the repairs i had to do to the stupid thing to get it ready for the water) if i had looked a little harder.

burntorange77 · Soul Rider Joined: 31 Jan 2006 Posts: 321 City: Kingwood

Dave576m,

I currently ride behind a 16' 85hp outboard that I paid $1500 for. Is has no trouble pulling me up and I'm 6'3" and ~240lbs with 2-4 guys in the boat. The wake is less than desireable, but I'm just learning so it's fine for now. I got a pull from a friend with a new Malibu last weekend and to be honest I didn't think it pulled me up any easier than my 85hp. The size of the wake freaked me out though.

My first pull was behind a 16' river boat with a 45hp outboard. That was tough to get up behind, but I learned how to and am better off for it now.

option21105 · Criminal Joined: 22 May 2006 Posts: 59 City: Chattanooga

get a inboard boat with a tower...a much better time than a i/o and much much better wake