Private Wakeboard Lake Dimensions

S.Dot · Newbie Joined: 11 Mar 2008 Posts: 8

Does anybody know desired dimensions in regards to a private wakeboard lake. We'd like to wakeboard, wakesurf, and waterski.

Also, does anybody know the effects of large wakes in regards to eroding/damaging the shoreline? I'm wondering if there are any preventative methods such as a material or liner to prevent this.

Let me know, thanks!

S.Dot

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

2100 ft long. 200 ft wide. minimum. For wakeboarding a surfing you should go down to at least 12 ft or else you won't get full size out of the wake. Barbell shape is the best with islands at the ends to knock down rollers.

The less grade on your shoreline the less rollers will come back. I wouldn't worry about a liner for the rollers initially. If your soil is really loose sand you might need to put something down later, but I've never seen one on any of the private lakes I've been to.

key · Posted: Mar 13, 2008 10:49 am Post subject:

i dont remeber the dementions, but i google earthed "radar lake" and used the measurement feature to get length and width measurements. i wanted to do the same on my dads property. didnt have quite enough on the length of his property to get close to RADAR!!!!!!!

Hollywood · Posted: Mar 13, 2008 10:50 am Post subject:

rocks at a 10:1 ration

brinks · Addict Joined: 13 Jan 2003 Posts: 566 City: Orlando

200ft wide is a little small. The average wake rope is 85ft. So if you ride all the way out and the boat is just off the center of the lake you could end up on the shore. You would want atleast 300ft. You also want the lake to be 10ft or more deep to allow for a big wake. Here is a link for info on building a nice 3 event lake. For recreational wakeboarding a little bigger lake would be nice.
http://www.waterskimag.com/article.jsp?ID=4710

matt1808 · Wakeboarder.Commie Joined: 05 Feb 2004 Posts: 1981

1500 ft, not counting the turnarounds with islands, is about 6 or 7 back to back jumps. I would say that is the bare minimum you would want, with at least 250 ft wide.

Personally I wouldn't go less than 2000 ft though, I feel like I am constantly turning around on 1500.

S.Dot · Newbie Joined: 11 Mar 2008 Posts: 8

Thanks for all the info, it has really helped out a lot. Keep it coming!

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

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

I designed one. www.placidwaters.com

2150X280 feet - 15 feet deep, 10:1 side slopes.

abrider · Criminal Joined: 07 Mar 2006 Posts: 98

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

abrider · Criminal Joined: 07 Mar 2006 Posts: 98

Hollywood · Posted: Mar 14, 2008 7:16 am Post subject:

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

Who's tonto?

I don't know what I was thinking with the beam measurement, probably running too many numbers though my head.

I'll still maintain though that 200ft is enough room, and when you are paying for the cost of excavating an extra 50' could be quite significant compared to the rare potential of an 85' rope, a perpendicular rider and a driver 15' off center. If a rider with 85' of rope can't get him/herself in control by the time they reach being perpendicular to the boat (assuming they have that much momentum) there are other unknown forces at play.

abrider · Criminal Joined: 07 Mar 2006 Posts: 98

I agree that the extra 50' could be a lot of coin, and also the 85 ft rope is rare, and also the chance of going out that far without control are low, but still one accident and everyone will regret it for a long time.

flounderbout · Outlaw Joined: 30 Sep 2006 Posts: 224 City: London

I took a fall the other day which was so bad that I went 85 ft deep and hit the bottom (I was still holding onto the rope).

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

we ride the creek in houston and there's no way in hell it's anywhere close to 150' wide.

brinks · Addict Joined: 13 Jan 2003 Posts: 566 City: Orlando

Sorry about all the fuss. I was not thinking about an edge out to the side of the boat. I was implying that if some one was riding an 85ft+ rope and say did a big raley trick, landed on edge then took a fall and rolled there is a chance they could end up on shore or in very shallow water and get hurt. I was in no way saying someone would just cut out and hit the shore. I have seen plenty of rider take a fall after the landing and skip across the water a good 10+ feet.
The 85ft rope is more common than you think. I would say half the decent student we would get at our camp rode 82-87ft ropes. I ride at 85ft.
I am just trying to help him avoid any kind of accident that could be prevented. Any tournament 3-event (sorry for the bad word) site is going to be a minimum of 250ft and 300-350ft if there is a ski jump.
Again sorry for the problems.

S.Dot · Newbie Joined: 11 Mar 2008 Posts: 8

Brinks, do you work at a wakeboard school? Where is it?

brinks · Addict Joined: 13 Jan 2003 Posts: 566 City: Orlando

I ran a school in Arizona for about 5 years and now I am in Orlando and I coached out at OWC.