Wakeboarding behind my boat... Possible?

[MCNPathfinder]

Hey all, I've got a '90 Cobia Spirit 2250 Cabin Cruiser. It has a built 305 V8 in it. I'd like to learn how to wakeboard, but I'm wondering if it'll be possible. I know it's best to have some sort of way to get the rope high up with like a tower or something. I don't really have that luxury, nor do I want to install a tower. I do have a center mounted little claw that I typically use for attaching the tube to. I guess what I'm asking is, what sort of issues might I run into trying to wakeboard with a setup like this? Typically you go a little slower closer to the back of the boat right? Meaning the rope is shorter? So essentially my rope looks like this: _\ |_boat_/ rather than: _/ |_boat_/ like most of you have. Being the rope isn't pulling me up since it's not connected to a tower, does it pull me down then since it's connected lower? Forgive my lack of knowledge, I just have no idea about wakeboarding.

 

[oldjeep]

Re: Wakeboarding behind my boat... Possible?

Just attach a standard 60ft rope to the ski eye on the back of your boat. It'll work fine. The height of the rope doesn't make any difference in your ability to get up behind the boat, the tower just makes it easier to jump higher.

 

[MCNPathfinder]

Re: Wakeboarding behind my boat... Possible?

Oh, easy enough! Thanks for the help! Most of the time when I see these wakeboarding guys, they're like right behind the boat. Their ropes can't be longer than 10 feet. Is that more or less for doing tricks and such?

 

[oldjeep]

Re: Wakeboarding behind my boat... Possible?

Oh, easy enough! Thanks for the help! Most of the time when I see these wakeboarding guys, they're like right behind the boat. Their ropes can't be longer than 10 feet. Is that more or less for doing tricks and such?

I think you are looking at wake surfers behind inboards.

Wakeboarding 10ft behind the boat would be suicidal. And wakesurfing behind an I/O would end badly.

 

[Matt in Seattle]

Re: Wakeboarding behind my boat... Possible?

I've wake board behind my Regal 2150 Cuddy. As others have said, the tower is nice, but not required. The two big problems you will have is a sloppy wake and speed control. Keeping a boat like that at 20-23mph requires constant throttle adjustments. This year I finally broke down and installed a perfect pass cruise control. At $1,200 I wouldn't recomend it unless you are really serious about wakeboarding, but for some reason don't want to own a wakeboarding boat.

 

[MCNPathfinder]

Re: Wakeboarding behind my boat... Possible?

Fair enough, I had no idea what people were doing. Must be straight up inboards. Yeah quite honestly I wasn't too crazy about being that close to the outdrive. LOL! I'm not too serious about it as I've never done it before, but it's good to know there's other people with the cuddys doing it as well.

 

[bajaunderground]

Re: Wakeboarding behind my boat... Possible?

I learned to wakeboard about 16 years ago behind a 1995 Champion Bass boat with a 200 Mariner outboard, we used the "V" rope with float attached at the transom tie downs...over the years I watched the sky poles/towers become the norm!

Anyway, I'd recommend getting a wakeboarding specific rope (static, not dynamic) start it about 60' behind your boat to learn...once you have the getting up part try the rope at various lengths to find where your boat's sweet spot is (shape of wake along with the height)...once you get it set, pull out lengths to that point or tie a figure "8" on the run and connect there.

IMO, most any boat and connection point will get you about 80% there...the height is doable w/o a tower but it takes good timing and nice water...the towers get you the remaining 20%...I never had the balls to go much higher that what I could behind my current boat!

Good luck and WBing is a blast, especially the jumps!