Keeping Constant Speed while Wakeboarding

[murphini]

Have a 20' I/0 with 5.0 V8 w/ 3blade Rapture Stainless Steel prop. Put a monster tower on and wakeboarding works great for my 14 yr old, 11 yr old and my 41year old self.<br /><br />Here is problem/advice wanted: WIth the kids I want to keep speed around 14-15mph, and for me closer to 17-18mph. But, that is just about the planing speed. I'm either speeding up or slowing down. I keep the outdrive trimmed down, try to keep a constant RPM of 2500-2700 depending on who's behing boat, use a GPS to monitor speed.<br /><br />Frustrating for my kids that I am not keeping speed constant. Any sage advice (outside of buying a Wakeboard Boat) on how to keep constant speed would be appreciated.

 

[Speedwagon]

Re: Keeping Constant Speed while Wakeboarding

A lot of people here seem to use the Smart Tabs to get the boat to plane off quickly. I don't personally use them, but it seems that you can get a boat to plane at about 10mph or so with them.

 

[Boomyal]

Re: Keeping Constant Speed while Wakeboarding

I also vote for Smart tabs. They completely move that displacement/plane envelope down considerably. The absolute best thing you can do for consistancy in the rpm/speed range you are playing in.

 

[salty87]

Re: Keeping Constant Speed while Wakeboarding

here's a much more expensive alternative, it works great though...<br /><br />www.perfectpass.com

 

[WSUDERMAN]

Re: Keeping Constant Speed while Wakeboarding

We have been dealing with this issue for about 2 years now and here is my take... The problem is based on the boat wanting to plane out. So you need to either get it on plane sooner, any kind of tabs will help with this. Or keep it down off plane longer - ballast. <br /><br />On plane your wake is much smaller - bad for wakeboarding...<br /><br />So we went with ballast a 250# bag in the anchor locker was the key for us. this kept the wake large and nose down. <br /><br />Another method that works well is to trim up/down to keep the speed stable. Takes some trial and error, but you will find a trim setting that will help hold the boat a specific speed. <br /><br />However none of these methods are anywhere near perfect (except "perfect pass"), you still need to adjust the speed. its just a mater of how much adjustment.

 

[tommays]

Re: Keeping Constant Speed while Wakeboarding

if you really want to hold speed for wakeboarding a smaller than normal prop and trim tabs will give the best result<br /><br />one size smaller is going to put the motor in a better place in the power band <br /><br />even perfect pass would be all over the place trying to hold speed on a bad setup<br /><br /><br />tommays

 

[KCSteve]

Re: Keeping Constant Speed while Wakeboarding

Holding a steady speed for wakeboarding with a I/O is almost impossible without some kind of speed control. Trim Tabs are not the answer. As you and the young ones advance you will want a bigger and more defined wake. Tabs tend to make your wake small and washed out. Props can help get on plane quicker but don't seem to help much holding speed. The cheapest thing to do is to practice adjusting the throttle using 2 fingers and slight adjustments easier on a inboard than an I/O Also try keeping RPMs steady instead of MPH. I have an I/O with Perfect Pass, trim tabs, tower and 2 fat sacks. Even the Perfect Pass will struggle maintaining a constant pull in MPH mode. It will sometimes drop out when making turns or going through rough water. I run it in RPM mode although the speed will very it will maintain a steady pull and the rider will seldom notice any variation. And it never looses control. I think the PP was well worth the money. We use it for sking and tubing as well as boarding. Once it's set you don't have to worry about the speed you can devout your full attention to driving. Heck for what you can send on props and tabs you could probably buy the PP<br />Good Luck and Have Fun

 

[Boomyal]

Re: Keeping Constant Speed while Wakeboarding

Originally posted by KCSteve:<br /> Holding a steady speed for wakeboarding with a I/O is almost impossible without some kind of speed control.

Not at all true, KC, if you are playing at a speed between planing and displacement running. Many of these activities occur at speed where the boat is just trying to get up on plane. Once the boat crosses the planing threshold the speed leaps up. You try to throttle down slightly and the boat falls off of plane and the speed plummets.<br /><br />With tabs, you signifigantly lower the planing speed so that you may be on plane, at a constant throttle, at a speed that you previously had been yo-yoing between plane and displacement running. (and the wide variation of speed that those two conditions dictate).

 

[WSUDERMAN]

Re: Keeping Constant Speed while Wakeboarding

Originally posted by KCSteve:<br /> Holding a steady speed for wakeboarding with a I/O is almost impossible without some kind of speed control.

I am with boomyal on this one, either get it on plane or keep it off and it will help keep the speed consistant.<br />We went with off plane by adding weight. With our current setup, just a couple of adjustments after the initial pull and its set. Something that has not been mentioned is weight balance. ever notice how the bow rises and falls during exceleration? If you can keep the nose down prevent the rise it will help hold the boat at a specific speed because the angle of the hull to the water will remain consistant.

 

[KCSteve]

Re: Keeping Constant Speed while Wakeboarding

Okay quess I should make myself clearer. Tabs can keep the boat on plane at lower speed and can help control speed. The problem with tabs is they destroy the wake for boarding. If you don't believe me put your tabs down and run between 17 to 21 mph and look at wake. Know lift the tabs up and you will see a major differance. I have tabs on my boat and love them but not for wakeboarding. My last boat a 20ft I/O did not have PP and it was a constant battle to maintain speed, Riders making hard cuts, driving through through wakes double ups and making turns would all cause trouble.I would hate to see someone invest in tabs and find they can"t use them when wakeboarding. I may not be the best driver in the world but I think I'm pretty good and pulling a rider and trying to maintain a constant speed is quite a challenge

 

[KCSteve]

Re: Keeping Constant Speed while Wakeboarding

Murphini, You might want to check out wakeboarder.com. There are people there with alot of experiance with your issue

 

[tommays]

Re: Keeping Constant Speed while Wakeboarding

now here is were it gets interesting many new shaft drive wake boats have a single big WAKE tab in the center which allows then to tune the wake <br /><br />kind of like my doel-fin does which is the root of all evil in many minds <br /><br />we prefere to ski on the old correct craft but the doel-fin on the I/O puts out a heck of a wake <br /><br /><br />tommays

 

[KCSteve]

Re: Keeping Constant Speed while Wakeboarding

Good point Tommays. I think they call them a wakeplate or wedge. The differance is they are located in the middle where tabs are located on the outer edges of the hull. Seems to me they would have a similar effect to your doel-fin. Just curious can you hold a steady speed with your fin which was Murphinis question. Definitely cheaper than tabs.

 

[KCSteve]

Re: Keeping Constant Speed while Wakeboarding

Hey murphini just noticed your in KC. If you would like we could meet up and I could show you how tabs effect wake and how the PP works. Would enjoy giving you and you kids a pull<br />Steve

 

[Jdeagro]

Re: Keeping Constant Speed while Wakeboarding

Trim tabs will allow the boat to maintain lower on plane speeds, and even before the boat planes the bow will be down to the point that visability is good. Once the boat planes (with tha tabs) the boat will rise out of the water (displace less water) and the wake will get smaller. But, the boat could be stern loaded ( ie water bladers) to increase the displacement and the trim tabs will keep the bow down.

 

[QC]

Re: Keeping Constant Speed while Wakeboarding

Not to throw gasoline on the fire, but . . . <br /><br />My experience with adjustable tabs such as Bennett's is that I can absolutely vary wake height at almost any speed. If you use them in combination with trim you can get as inefficient a plane as you want which gets the big wake. I have experimented a lot with my wakeboarder kid and between 14 & 22 MPH I can make a lot of changes. I can make an absolute launch ramp at 14 MPH AND hold the speed.

 

[murphini]

Re: Keeping Constant Speed while Wakeboarding

KCSteve: We go out to Hillsdale a lot. Been to Perry once and am going to check out Clinton and Pomona before end of summer. Mine's the red/sparkly/NASCAR-ish VIP with the black MonsterTower, hot (IMHO)wife, good looking kids with some balding guy driving. Where to you wakeboard?<br /><br />Rest of you: thanks for the input. In order I'll:<br />1. Bring my fat brother in law for ballast.<br />2. Keep practicing trimming and keeping off plane.<br />3. See # 1<br />4. As I'm stuck right now in the Philadelphia Airport, maybe I'll get a Geno's CheeseSteak "wit" to help with #1 and # 3

 

[KCSteve]

Re: Keeping Constant Speed while Wakeboarding

Murphini, Go to Hillsdale sometimes Wed or Sun evenings. Prefer Pomona less boat traffic. Usually hanging out down by the ski clubs ramp and slolam course. It can get shallow in that area so watch out. Most of the boats there are boarding or sking. Jet Fleas hang out by the damn. This weekend going to Truman but maybe could meet up next weekend. I have the yellow Rinker with tower and graphics that look like something from the movie Alien