Kneeboarding tips.

[omcdolt]

Looking for some kneeboarding tips.
I kneeboarded alot behind my stepdads boat when i was a kid and happened to be great at it, effortless. Well i recently acquired my own hole in the water. We took it out about a month ago and brought an old kneeboard with us. We had several issues while out, the biggest being prop slip and cavitation, but i think ive got that issue mostly resolved. The biggest issues i was running into was once the boat broke onto the plane, it had to be throttled back ever so slightly to maintain speed, but even then, the kneeboard would start porpoising wildly, bashing the rider about before they could even get up on the board. Going any slower resulted in the board not planing enough for the rider to mount the board. Any thoughts as to why the board would porpoise like that as soon as it started planing? i NEVER had that issue when i boarded as a kid, nor when i did it a few years ago behind a friends boat. so its gotta be in the board or the boat. Any tips?

 

[metriccrescentwrench]

Re: Kneeboarding tips.

What speed was the bouncing / porpoising happening at? I believe I'd try to go a few mph faster and see if it doesn't smooth out.

 

[got2bgreen45]

Re: Kneeboarding tips.

From my experience, what works best for me is to start on my stomach, and push my self into a kneel with my elbows and forearms.

It's something you just have to go out there and do until you get a feel for it and find your own style, and whats easiest for you!

 

[79Merc80]

Re: Kneeboarding tips.

What worked best for me was to put my elbows on the pad where my knees would end up, as soon as the driver gives it throttle, I would start walking my knees up and get into position on my knees as soon as possible, that way you don't have the problem of the porposing while on your chest/stomach.

Another way (If you have a boat that you can hold at any speed) watch the board, as soon as the board begins to plane, hold that speed and allow the rider to get up and strapped in before going any faster.

Hope this helps.

Craig

 

[skibrain]

Re: Kneeboarding tips.

If the kneeboard is bouncing/porpoising, you are too far to the back. Scoot your knees forward another 2-3" and the front will stop bouncing.

 

[tawood]

Re: Kneeboarding tips.

If the kneeboard is bouncing/porpoising, you are too far to the back. Scoot your knees forward another 2-3" and the front will stop bouncing.

Ditto....my son has a friend that is afraid, for what ever reason, to sit in the middle of the board. Watching him on the kneeboard is sad but hilarious: he will usually make it 15-20 seconds before the kneeboard beats him half to death and throws him into the water with all the porpoising.

 

[omcdolt]

Re: Kneeboarding tips.

The problem with the porpoising is occuring before the rider even gets up on the board. As for holding speed once the board planes, is tough with my boat, because it has a narrow band where it really likes to plane at.Also the board would begin porpoising badly as SOON as it got on a plane, wich was a rather high speed We ended up not being able to try the kneeboard yesterday, as my steering mechanism broke, leaving me with 4 missing teeth on the small gear. I managed to get it functional enough to limp home, but never got to try the kneeboard again. will try again once i replace the steering assembly.

 

[skibrain]

Re: Kneeboarding tips.

Doesn't matter.

Fast or slow, when you first start up or after you have gone a 1/2 mile...
If the front of the kneeboard is bouncing, the rider is too far to the back and the solution is having the rider move forward on the board.

Knees should be within about an inch of the front of the knee pad if its a flat knee pad. If the pad is shaped with depressions for the rider's knees the knees should be as far as you can go forward.

 

[siotwo]

Re: Kneeboarding tips.

Definately too far back.
While I'm on my belly, my elbows are in the knee recesses. If I wanted, I could ride in this position, thats how balanced you should be, even on your belly. If I start to bounce, I force my legs deeper in the water and it helps some. Getting to my knees is a quick motion, as if doing a crunch excersise, not a knee walking affair. I shoot my knees all the way to the recesses, or as far as I can and wiggle the last 2 inches. I think its important to wait until the board is fully planed, so that I don't have too much drag and a lot of pull while positioning myself. As a driver, watch the board and the spray in front of the board. Coach the riders to wait until you give the signal, if they are going to knees too soon.
Ron

 

[BigBoatinOkie]

Re: Kneeboarding tips.

In my experience, the driver and the rider both need to be paying close attention to what's going on. As a rider, it works best to pop up on to the knees in one big jerk. My goal is to make it all the way to the front of the pad in one big pull. Most times I don't make it all the way, but usually within an inch or two. I pop up right at the moment that the board begins to plane. If I hesitate, it's porpoise time. This is where the driver paying close attention comes in. If I see that the rider didn't make the big pull at the critical moment, then I immediately back off enough for the board to just come off plane and let the rider have another shot. It took some practice for both the drivers and riders to get the hang of it, and once we did, it's automatic. It helps when the riders and drivers know what each other are going to do, but it comes with practice, and every rider is a little different. It all happens pretty fast. Now, we started out on an old board that my dad's neighbor gave to him, and it was terrible. Yeah, we figured out how to do it, but whenever we bought a better quality board, it was way easier. The little kids tend to porpoise quite a bit more also. They just float too well I guess. Anywho, that's how we do it.

 

[omcdolt]

Re: Kneeboarding tips.

Well after reading all the replies, i think the problem must be the board, its an old late 80's kneeboard, and its very curvy and rounded in design, its smaller in surface area than a modern board, I really have NO reccolection of these problems im having ever coming up in the past with other boards. Also i am as far forward on the board when laying down as possible without the tip of the board going under, so im not sure that is the issue. Will eventually get a diff board and go from there.

 

[BigBoatinOkie]

Re: Kneeboarding tips.

I don't know if you have an academy sports and outdoors store in your area, but they have some pretty cheap boards there. We bought our board there last year for less than half price at the end of the season. Well, it was end of the season for them but it was only august and we can go well into october around here. We bought an HO Joker for $140 and it was selling everywhere else for $300. That's a more proffesional style compression molded board though, a cheaper roto molded board should be great for you guys. Some of them even have a pop up hook to hold the handle while you get up, but after a few successful runs you probably won't need or want it.

 

[siotwo]

Re: Kneeboarding tips.

I really miss Academy

 

[sickwilly]

Re: Kneeboarding tips.

The board is fine. I have an old curvy hydroslide and newer flatter O'brien and got two beginners up at once yesterday with the two boards side-by-side.

When pulling them up go slow at first. If they start to bounce, get them moving forward on the board and you slow down to stop the bouncing. Once they get up and are to the front of the pads with their knees, it wont bounce again.

So now lets talk boats. You need to hold plane and speed around 17-22. You might try a lower pitch aluminum 4 blade prop. You can get a solas one right here at iboats for a hundred bucks.

A foil or tabs will also help the boat hold plance at kneeboard speeds.

 

[BigBoatinOkie]

Re: Kneeboarding tips.

I totally agree with sickwilly about how to pull a kneeboarder, but I know that our old board was quite a bit harder to get up on. The new one seems much more stable. I don't know what the old one was, but it had to be the very first kneeboard ever made.

Our preferred method is starting from the beach. Just strap in sitting in a couple feet of water, have the driver idle out to take the slack out of the rope. Just before all the slack is gone, lean back and bring the tip of the board up to the surface of the water and yell hit it. Takes way less energy than deep water starts, but you definately need to know how to do deep water starts for when you or your rider crashes.

 

[rrkyle]

Re: Kneeboarding tips.

If it starts porpoising before they get up they are taking to long to get up and you need to slow down a little.

The way i teach new people is to hold the rope with both hands pronated and wrap fingers over the front of the board. That way they feel more secure hopping to their knees. But as soon as they get to their knees they need to let go of the board and lean back.

I start out by strapping in on the boat and sliding off so i can get in super tight. But it takes a while to learn to balance on your knees while not moving.

 

[SeanT]

Re: Kneeboarding tips.

I start out by strapping in on the boat and sliding off so i can get in super tight. But it takes a while to learn to balance on your knees while not moving.

Thats hard to do with some of these really floaty, thick boards you get these days. I like to do the same but just can't on my kneeboard. It turns me upside down in the water like a corke. I've got my eye out for a compression moulded board that hopefully floats a little less.

 

[rrkyle]

Re: Kneeboarding tips.

Yeah it does take a while to get used to. I ride an Obrien Lowrider and just got a Body Glove CRK but havent ridden it yet. Your mind will be blown by the difference in compression molded boards.

 

[SeanT]

Re: Kneeboarding tips.

Good, I will prepare for my mind to be blown!

I refuse to pay full price for any of these silly boards though. I probably won't get a new kneeboard until end of season clearance, but I have my eyes peeled.

 

[sickwilly]

Re: Kneeboarding tips.

got a sun faded compression molded Obrien richochet -- mind was blown. that thing has wings and flies! Even with an old 41 year old 195 lbs man on top of it!