Hopefully not a dumb question

[kaylex]

I have never wakeboarded before and would like to try. I have a 20ft boat with a 190hp I/O. Can I still wakeboard behind it if I don't have a tower? Can you start from in the water like skiing?

 

[kyle f]

Re: Hopefully not a dumb question

boat is fine, attach to ski eye, put on wake bord, have driver hit it, have fun! (run around 20mph at first until you get comfortable)

Yes, deep water starts are the norm. You can find plenty of info on youtube.

 

[kaylex]

Re: Hopefully not a dumb question

Thank You

 

[H20Rat]

Re: Hopefully not a dumb question

for the beginner, towers make it SLIGHTLY easier to get up, but the difference is not really that much. 5 years ago, it was rare to see a tower. Towers are now like an SUV going offroad. Everyone wants one, and not that many people actually use them.

 

[brick75]

Re: Hopefully not a dumb question

Yea, no problem with the boat you have, and you don't need a tower (although nice to have).

Very important though, if you've never done it before, look up some instructional videos on youtube on how to get up on the board....makes a huge difference if you know what you should be doing with your body.

 

[sebber83]

Re: Hopefully not a dumb question

If you have trouble getting out of the water at first, just try it from the dock. Put on the board, sit at the end of the dock and once there is NO slack in the rope, have the driver hit it. You will get up instantly and get a good feel for what will happen from the water. In my ow experiences when pulling newbies, 1-2 sitting dock starts and they are good to go from deep water after!
Your boat is fine, just enjoy it for now and eventually you might want to add a tower, not just for wakeboarding but to keep boards and skis out of the boat, also nice to install a few speakers and boom it!

 

[smartwork]

Re: Hopefully not a dumb question

Another yes on your boat, as well as looking up some youtube how-to videos - specifically on how to start. What you'll see a lot of is what NOT to do and much of that is NOT trying too hard. Trying really hard to stand up too soon instead of allowing the boat do most of the work is what will tire and frustrate you. Shaun Murray also has a video series out that may interest you.

 

[kaylex]

Re: Hopefully not a dumb question

Thanks, I will look at some videos on you tube and practice.

 

[oceanbarrel]

Re: Hopefully not a dumb question

your boat will be fine for wakeboarding, even pulling doubles if you want. I have a boat pretty much like yours it works great. I do have a tower and it does allow your jumps to be higher, but its not a big deal at all. Although if you have kids and a wife that like to wakeboard and you need to bring three wakeboards and a wakeskate out in your boat its nice to have the tower to store them on. Ive seen guys on the river doint tantrums behind little jon boats with small outboard motors on them, so you can pretty much wakeboard anything that will get you up!

 

[pat8839]

Re: Hopefully not a dumb question

I have never wakeboarded before and would like to try. I have a 20ft boat with a 190hp I/O. Can I still wakeboard behind it if I don't have a tower? Can you start from in the water like skiing?

I have a 19ft 190hp I/O without a tower and I use it for wakeboarding. I have not attempted to add fat sacks to build the wake up as I also am just learning. However, after going out for my 2nd time ever I was able to get up each time without a problem. Your boat will pull the rider up no problem. Just as these guys said, if the rider cannot get up it's all in technique.

In fact I just bought myself a new wakeboard last week and can't wait to get out this weekend...if I can find buddies to go...

 

[Utahboatnut]

Re: Hopefully not a dumb question

In addition to what has already been said(which is all spot on) you may key word may want to look into a power prop depending on what is on there now. Your current might be just fine but if you notice a drag when pulling people out a lower pitch or 4-5 blade prop would be my next step. I have like many others gotten lots of people up for the first time on a wake board, pretty simple really. My usual speech goes like this- get board on on the swimdeck lot less thrashing around for beginners. take out all slack in rope, have rider in a ball knees touching insides of elbows. Roll back a bit so there is about 1-2 inches of the SIDE of the board above the water, but stay in the ball. have rider yell once ready driver throttles up nice and steady. Rider lets the boat do all of the work the board will come up on top of the water sideways then as momentum picks up the board will straighten out on its own. Stay bent until board is up on top and going then stand to a nice athletic stance and enjoy. Remember to keep weight on rear foot when learning, don't try to surface the board(surface 180) right away chances are you will catch an edge and face slap hard. As stated stay around 18-20 mph at first.

 

[splicer]

Re: Hopefully not a dumb question

...if I can find buddies to go...

You'd think they'd love to be out there, just as much as we do, but sometimes I have trouble rounding up riding partners. Luckily the wife is always up for a trip, and the 2yo daughter has no say, but I think she loves it more than us. Ever since the first trip out with her, whenever she sees the boat she starts screaming "Want go boooooooooooooaaaaaaaaaattttttttttt!"