How WIDE should the wake be?

Pop Addict · Criminal Joined: 25 Jun 2010 Posts: 79

Question about the width of the wake that different boats throw. I have an inboard that's basically a ski boat ('01 Aztec sunstar). Got a tower but no ballast. I don't wanna sink anymore $$ into the boat since I'll be upgrading next year. Based on my hull type, is it possible that my boat throws a really wide wake compared to a core wakeboard boat? Reason I ask is that I can consistently jump 3/4 of the wake, good line tension, extending legs, edging thru the wake. I'm getting good pop for my relatively small wake...but I just cannot seem to get any more distance out of my jumps even riding at 65'. I probably just suck at jumping, but it just seems like my wake width is very wide. Seems like it's at least 30' wide. Is that normal?

Here's a pic of my wake - not a representative jump but only wake pic I could find.

Suprahunter · Soul Rider Joined: 28 Apr 2008 Posts: 486 City: Lowell

Increase speed or decrease rope length.

Pop Addict · Criminal Joined: 25 Jun 2010 Posts: 79

Already ride at 22-23 mph. Already riding on a pretty short rope.

Anyway - it probably IS my technique, but my question is more about the wake width at 65' on true wakeboard boats? And does the hull on an inboard competition ski boat result in an abnormally wider wake than a core wakeboat.

kartman · Posted: Aug 12, 2011 5:31 am Post subject:

check your speedo. i bet it is off.

vette74 · Posted: Aug 12, 2011 6:05 am Post subject:

Your speed is off borrow a GPS and put it in your boat. Also, shorten your rope to 50-55' until you get use to clearing the wake.

buckthis · Posted: Aug 12, 2011 6:29 am Post subject:

Pop, thats not much of a wake, I had a competition ski boat and the wake is not farther apart, tower makes no difference. I had a wedge on mine and since you don't have that youre going to have to weight it down, thats why inboards are so great, the weight doesn't effect the performance of the boat as much as an I/O

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

What's the beam on that boat? (width of the rear, in inches) 01 model ski/wakeboats usually weren't very wide.

Some wakes are just wide in general. The important thing is setting the rope and speed to a spot where you can reasonably clear the wake, and it's clean. So increase speed until you think it's right and then bring the rope in. Some ropes start out pretty long and you may have to add loops to them to shorten them. On a lot of boats 60-65' with handle is right at normal speeds (22-23).

If your boat is crazy wide you may have to go shorter than that. At the speed you're riding in that picture you need to bring the rope in probably 10 ft.

vette74 · Posted: Aug 12, 2011 6:41 am Post subject:

I would buy ballast also. The good thing about ballast is you can take it with you to the next boat.

Pop Addict · Criminal Joined: 25 Jun 2010 Posts: 79

Interesting comments on my speedo maybe being bad - I'll check that right away.

Wakebrad, transom width looks to be about 90"-91". Is that particularly narrow or something?

Pop Addict · Criminal Joined: 25 Jun 2010 Posts: 79

Ok, checked and you guys are right...speedo is off.

Thanks - wake is much more reasonable now.

kartman · Posted: Aug 15, 2011 12:55 pm Post subject:

glad you got it figured out. throw a pic of the improved wake up.

Eric Golsan · Posted: Aug 22, 2011 8:49 pm Post subject:

Boat speed and rope length - you should ride right before the wake curls over into white wash. So adjust your rope to clear the wake, then adjust boat speed to clean up the wake.