What do you mean by power turn?

Trainwreck · Soul Rider Joined: 17 Apr 2006 Posts: 375 City: Baytown

I have seen this mentioned and how you shouldnt do it, ect. What do you mean by this? I'm thinking a rider falls and you stay in the power to get back to them. If I let off the gas all the way with the sacs full water comes up over the back of the boat. I also dont want my rider floating in the path of someone whos not paying attention either.

Fill me in.

E.J. · Ladies Man Joined: 15 Jan 2003 Posts: 7597 City: Mogadishu

Ripping around when your rider falls.

You want to pull off the gas, turn 45 degrees and let the wash turn you. Let the rollers go by....then wakeless back to your rider.

E.J. · Ladies Man Joined: 15 Jan 2003 Posts: 7597 City: Mogadishu

So in conclusion, DO NOT power turn back to your rider unless there is some idiot putting your rider in danger. If done right, you should have NO issues with water over the back or taking rollers over the front.

jpminter · Posted: Jul 10, 2006 9:41 am Post subject:

Listen to everything E.J. just said. It's basically when you make a turn-around at full speed to pick your fallen rider up. It sends rollers up and down your smooth water.

chavez · RIP MHL 04/25/1958 - 01/11/2006

My dad who didn't know any better did a power turn in his cabin cruiser when coming back to pick me up.

It was quite funny, but quite disturbing all at the same time. I tried to explain to him the error of his ways, but he was not so responsive. Neutral

boarditup · Addict Joined: 01 Dec 2003 Posts: 731 City: Allendale, MI

One of the most common injuries/deaths in our sport is being run over by the boat during recovery. Most fallen riders/skiers are not injured or killed by other boats, but by the boat that was towing them.

Never point the bow of the boat at the fallen rider/skier.
Approach only at dead slow.
Turn toward the driver's side of the boat keeping the fallen rider/skier in sight at all times.
Pull past the faller rider/skier at neutral before hitting reverse to stop the boat. This prevents the boat from swinging into them (except RH props).

When the rider/skier drops or falls:

Keep in straight path (or slight turn to the driver's side) and go to neutral. This keeps the boat in line with the fallen so that following boats do not approach. The side benefit is that the wakes continue in the same direction and you don't throw rollers into your intended path or screw up the water for others.
Turn toward the fallen at dead slow.
Point the bow 10 feet to the left of the fallen while approaching at dead slow.
Approach as described above.
Turn off motor when they are boarding.
Take in the rope. It really sucks when a PWC pilot runs over your rope, taking it into the intake, while they pass too close. It can cause quite a bit of damage to your boat if the impeller does not cut it cleanly.

Trainwreck · Soul Rider Joined: 17 Apr 2006 Posts: 375 City: Baytown

Thanks for the responses. I usually try to get back to the rider ASAP, I guess I've been doing it all wrong.

When I back off of the throttle the boat sinks down in the water quickly and water rushes up the back. I have an 06 21V. I just got the boat and have 23 hours on it, so I'm still getting used to everything. With PP set I have to pull back almost to neutral to disengauge it so I have been pulling out of the power, just getting back on it a bit to spin the boat around. The boat doesnt handle that well without any juice. Tell me if something is wrong and it should be different.

I'll practice what you guys mentioned. Where we ride there aren't as many jet skis as there are Bajas and other people zipping around. It bothers me when I have someone in the water and I'm putt putting back towards them. I'm sure these guys are watching but it makes me nervous.

My girl was giving it a try yesterday and I was busy watching her and we ran over the rope ourselves. Colorful

Needless to say, I spend quite a bit of time under the boat after that. Felt like a tool.

jt09 · Ladies Man Joined: 16 Jan 2003 Posts: 22083 City: Austin

Happens to everybody - have you gone out without screwing your plugs in yet? You will!

Big thing is to turn as you kill your speed as stated above - that way the waves help turn you and wont come up over your stern. Also, unless someone's bearing down on your rider, there's no reason to hurry back to him/her. Hell, I appreciate having a minute or two to rest a bit.

Where are you riding? I'm assuming you are in Baytown, TX.

K-dub · Ladies Man Joined: 12 Jan 2003 Posts: 14760

there's nothing worse than someone power turning to come back and get you, and they send an assload of rollers all over you half drowning you while burning the skin off your palms with the rope.

midwesty · Posted: Jul 10, 2006 12:10 pm Post subject:

thank you sir for asking this question

you get a STAR!

that is a compliment by the way

atolman · Posted: Jul 10, 2006 12:16 pm Post subject:

I discovered a little trick in the past week or so. When you let off the gas after a rider falls, turn slightly left before turning right to turn around. You'll completely avoid your own rollers & make it easy to idle back to your rider.
No more water over the bow, etc. Wink

logan · Posted: Jul 10, 2006 12:26 pm Post subject:

Ok I want some light shedded to me on the topic. When we ride on our local lake we NEVER powerturn, however we're starting to ride the delta more and my dad was telling me he may have to there just because of the busier boats, we ride over in paradise by ski beach and windmill cove launching out of lads, do you guys that ride the SJ Delta powerturn a little bit? He doesn't full on power turn but he does gas through the turn a little more... Just curious so I can let my dad know...

vette74 · Posted: Jul 10, 2006 12:29 pm Post subject:

Trainwreck, The advice above is good. I assume you are going to the LSJ with baja boats zipping around. Try going to a place not as crazy like the Trinity or the San Brenard it is a little easier to learn there. Also, pull the rope in after every set you as well as others are less likely to run over the rope.

K-dub · Ladies Man Joined: 12 Jan 2003 Posts: 14760

logan, power turning on the Delta is a HUGE no no......people get extremely pissed off if you do them there.

the ONLY reason you should have to PT on the Delta is if there is someone barreling down on your rider.....

The big problem with throwing PT's on the Delta is that the rollers will go straight down the slough messing up the water for yourself as well as everyone else. People will pull up to you and say thier mind almost everytime. If they don't you will get the bird....

K-dub · Ladies Man Joined: 12 Jan 2003 Posts: 14760

speaking of running aver a rope.....I had the Ranger boat on my local lake the other night run over my rope when he flew up on us to tell us to go home because the lake was closing.

Flag up, rope in the water, and a rider on the swim platform....the douche flew up on me doing almost full speed close enough to the back of my boat to run over a 75' rope smack dab in the middle of the line....luckily it just got wrapped around the lower unit of his outboard.

logan · Posted: Jul 10, 2006 1:06 pm Post subject:

K-dub, ya thats the only time we did and it was a very small PT at that... I'm assuming you're familiar with taco tuesday? You gonna be out that way tuesday?

LFADAM · Posted: Jul 10, 2006 1:06 pm Post subject:

jt09, I didnt want to make a whole thread about this, but Ive never understood this: Why on earth do people take their plugs out in the first place?! If you cover your boat, that keeps 90% of the water out and the little bit that does go in just goes into the bilge. If its too much the bilge comes on. (Thatll take a long time to get enough water) So why do people take plugs out? Am I missing something?

ap1 · Criminal Joined: 21 Feb 2006 Posts: 79 City: FFX

Cover or not, water tends to get in your boat man.

E.J. · Ladies Man Joined: 15 Jan 2003 Posts: 7597 City: Mogadishu

K-dub · Ladies Man Joined: 12 Jan 2003 Posts: 14760

logan, nah....not making it out on Tuesday. I get off of work too late.

LFADAM, water sitting in the bilge makes your boat stink.

lcap · Ladies Man Joined: 13 Nov 2003 Posts: 10973 City: Homeless

Batman turns are great if you have a boat that can do them. Unfortunately CC turns on friggin rails. Feels like driving a Ferrari on a 20 mph corner at 90 mph. Now in an older Prostar--now those babies are like an old vette. Goose it a little and the back end will swap with the front at 30 mph. Ahhh good times, good times.

lcap · Ladies Man Joined: 13 Nov 2003 Posts: 10973 City: Homeless

LFADAM,

I don't take my plug out either. Unfortunately my dealer did when it was winterized. I found out that no matter how fast I drove the boat was filling up. I also found out that water in Seattle is damn cold in February.

jryoung · Ladies Man Joined: 19 Mar 2004 Posts: 7664 City: Man Jose

K-dub · Ladies Man Joined: 12 Jan 2003 Posts: 14760

jryoung, no joke.....wakesurfers and tubers banished to old river.

Nothing worse than epic glass conditions on Vics. and some tool pulling his kids doing s-turns right down the middle of the slough sending rollers a million directions.

jryoung · Ladies Man Joined: 19 Mar 2004 Posts: 7664 City: Man Jose

K-dub, I think the wakesurfing situation is getting worse, which is unfortunate because most of these people wakeboard too. We were rolling down vics away from the bridge. About 100 yards before the little "s" turn the boat started porpoising, and porpoising, all the way through the turn until it opened up again and we say the culprit.

If F'n sucks, at least tubers often pull at speeds where the wakes hit the walls and they can't really turn around and do circles. But, surfers toss huge 10mph rollers directly up a slough, they F it up worse than anyone, they can literally take out 2-300 yards of water.

goofyboy · Posted: Jul 10, 2006 4:41 pm Post subject:

trainwreck - i'd be more than happy to go out with you sometime and give you some pointers. Very Happy

do you ride the creek or LSJ? if you ever want to hit the water at sunrise, i can be there!

justsomeguy · Guest

Great comments about power turning and signaling with a raised hand that you see a downed rider. Unfortunately too many of the culprits won't see these suggestions.

Slightly altering course helps as well if you're approaching a boat with a downed rider. They can see your bow swing away and will be less likely to power turn back to protect their rider.

After some close calls with boats and lake lice bearing down on my riders in tow from directly behind, I busted out the air horn. It works very well at getting people's attention and hasn't yet failed to get them to alter course.

Trainwreck · Soul Rider Joined: 17 Apr 2006 Posts: 375 City: Baytown

A very good read in deed! I'm glad I asked this, I feel like I've learned a ton. Now to pass it on to my driver so that he gets it when I'm out in the water. (probably alot of whats wrong with my riding, I'm worried about the boat)

I am riding LSJ. I drag ass when it comes to getting out in the water and its always about noon when I leave on Sunday. To go to the San Bernard it takes what, an hour? I can get to LSJ in about 15 - 20 minutes and its easy to clean up and go home and store the boat. I like to ride until dark.

The problem on LSJ is the guys in the jet boats. They get to hauling butt and racing and I'm like Shocked

MY FRIENDS ARE IN THE WATER A HOLE! Of course they always surprise me and swerve and wave, but damn! Its a serious butt puckering moment every hour or so out there. I guess thats why I never get hollered at for power turning. I will stop doing it though. I'll practice next time we are out.

Thanks alot for all of the input! Very Happy

cloud · Criminal Joined: 03 Nov 2005 Posts: 60 City: Austin

Enzoborder230 · Posted: Jul 10, 2006 7:55 pm Post subject:

i frickin hate it when you wake up for the glass, and theres one clown boat trying to teach someone to get up, and they power turn everytime the rider falls

lowdrag · Outlaw Joined: 28 Aug 2003 Posts: 188

Trainwreck,

I'm surprised you're having water come come over the stern on that boat when you cut the throttle. It has a ton of freeboard. I try not to usually, but even with the ballast full and a bunch of passengers I've still never had any water come up to the rub rail even if I completely chop the throttle.