Wake boarding and water skiing setup

[masonburdette]

OK, I am a novice. Just purchased a 71 Reinell 18ft with a 115hp Johnson outboard. We've taken it out tubing and it works great! Want to move on to wake board and skiing but not sure if I can use the same setup. I have two heavy duty eye bolts, one on each side of the motor on the transom and I use a 12ft "Y" harness to attach the tubing rope. Can I use this same configuration for wake boarding or skiing or do I have to add some kind of arched ski rope attaching device? Thanks!

 

[haulnazz15]

Re: Wake boarding and water skiing setup

Nope, the setup you have is perfectly fine for skiing/wakeboarding. Go have at it!

 

[cannonman]

Re: Wake boarding and water skiing setup

You will certainly be fine with your setup. I believe the raised pylons or towers help for jumping or other tricks because your being pulled up instead of down. They probably help make getting up easier too for the same reason.

 

[haulnazz15]

Re: Wake boarding and water skiing setup

You will certainly be fine with your setup. I believe the raised pylons or towers help for jumping or other tricks because your being pulled up instead of down. They probably help make getting up easier too for the same reason.

The aide of a tower in getting out of the water is minimal at best, boat holeshot has more to do with it than anything, and holeshot is worse with a tower because of the leverage point. The tower is only helpful for wakeboarding, and most of the time doesn't make the experience any better unless you have already mastered the tricks you can do off of the low-line.

 

[rallyart]

Re: Wake boarding and water skiing setup

You want a different line for wakeboarding and waterskiing. You can use a wakeboard line for a novice or intermediate skier easily because they don't need stretch in the rope. Wakeboard lines are zero stretch. Waterski ropes have stretch built in to them. A good wakeboard line will make more difference than a tower and a bad line.
It is probably a good idea to use the same tow point for everything, at least until you decide you are at a point where you need to progress. On a wakeboard, that means you can jump wake to wake at least one way.

 

[skibrain]

Re: Wake boarding and water skiing setup

I am aware that wakeboard lines (also barefoooting lines) have no stretch.
At what point in wakeboarding skill level is using a wakeboard-specific tow line a factor?

And with what aspect of riding do you notice it most?

 

[rallyart]

Re: Wake boarding and water skiing setup

Yes, a zero stretch line will make a difference wakeboarding for a beginner. If you try to ollie it will be much more successful with one.

 

[haulnazz15]

Re: Wake boarding and water skiing setup

Sorry, while I've never wakeboarded, I can't imagine that it makes any difference to a beginner who doesn't know one line from another. That's like saying beginners need to be on a competition slalom ski as opposed to the ski from a combo set because they'll know the difference.

 

[rallyart]

Re: Wake boarding and water skiing setup

A beginner water skier can ride a wakeboard rope without an issue because they put no load on the rope that will make it stretch. Also true with an intermediate riding a single ski and not cutting hard. A beginner wakeboarder gets no benefit from a zero stretch wakeboard rope when the are sliding the board or doing simple cut turns. However one of the early things to learn while wakeboarding is how to ollie or hop the board. In essence you learn to push the back foot down and the board rides up the ramp it just made in the water to get a little airborne. In that situation a line with stretch evens out the pull and the board just rides out of the hole instead of getting launched With a zero stretch rope my eight year old daughter can bunny hop several times in a row and she can't do it as easily with a poly waterski line.
Wakeboarding relies on the line loading . As you progress you use it more but it makes a difference as soon as you try anything past simple carving and slides. Certainly you can use either. If you are going to try both and are getting your first line it would be better to get a wakeboard line, in my opinion.

 

[salty87]

Re: Wake boarding and water skiing setup

the no-stretch rope is important for people in the boat too. with a perfectly (or ugly) executed faceplant, the rope gets yanked out of the riders' hands. it's not unheard of for ski ropes to sling-shot the handle into the boat. sort of like a cable snapping. since newbies tend to faceplant more, i'd suggest getting that rope soon.

the low tow point is fine but your lower back will get sore much more quickly since you're being pulled down the entire time.

 

[masonburdette]

Re: Wake boarding and water skiing setup

Thanks, guys for all your answers. It's a little late in the season right now, but we will be ready for next summer. Having a boat is awesome and fun

 

[*mtrbtr*]

Re: Wake boarding and water skiing setup

"Having a boat is awesome and fun" Thats the main thing right there!