Wakesurfing behind a I/O??

[slasmith1]

Re: Wakesurfing behind a I/O??

Those boats need a tuneup. Carburetted 4 stroke engine-out CO concentrations should be in the 1-2% (10,000 to 20,000 ppm) range, and even less for a modern fuel injected engine. More than that means you're running too rich. Boats use enough gas already, don't waste more on pollution.

That doest'n take into account the "station wagon effect" where fumes (and C02)build up over time at the stern of the slow moving fuel eating beast operating inefficiently because it is being prevented from fully coming up on plane.

 

[Moku'ula]

Re: Wakesurfing behind a I/O??

My boat is a Horizon 180 LS with a Volvo SX drive... So we are surfing behind an I/O...

As far as teak surfing - that sounds crazy and not that fun - we did something kind of similar once and just held the rope and rode the wake just behind the boat, but out to the side - just kind of bodysurfing the wake - it was too much work as you couldn't let go and actually bellywhomp... One gal on the boat was sure we were gonna die... We didn't.

As far as why you'd want to wakesurf - it's fun and can be done when the wind comes up. Our lake doesn't get too crowded, but it does get windy. We needed something else to do when it's not glassy - which is much of the time. For the guy who said wakeboarding looks like it'd be more fun - yeah - not so much when it's blowin' 10 - 20 with serious chop... Wakesurfing is fun - the guys who do it well really kill it - check out youtube...

Jef
Moku'Ula

 

[Showtime22]

Re: Wakesurfing behind a I/O??

I think mythbusters would only have to answer what happens to the speed of the surfer compared to the speed the boat when the engine quits running or has to be stopped unexpectedly.

To be safe from the exhaust I would always do a deep water start where you place your feet on the floating board and stand up as the boat pulls.

I have also seen prop guards that form a cage over the prop however I think they are not meant to protect people.

Somehow I can see the dummie on mythbusters getting a Michigan Wheel toothbrush when the boat hits a sand bar.

 

[salty87]

Re: Wakesurfing behind a I/O??

My boat is a Horizon 180 LS with a Volvo SX drive... So we are surfing behind an I/O...

wow, that's super crazy. i agree that the chances of falling forward into the prop aren't very high but the chance still exists. you're guaranteed of some nasty injuries if it happens. sort of like russian roullette.

if you have an inboard and want to reduce carbon monoxide...check into fresh air exhaust... http://www.freshairexhaust.com/

it's a modified exhaust pipe that routes your exhaust a couple of feet lower into the water. reduces emissions at the surface immediately behind the boat and also reduces noise too.

 

[cube21]

Re: Wakesurfing behind a I/O??

I havent tried this yet, but I want to. Our 21' bowrider has a 3ft swim deck on the back, so I wouldnt be too worried about falling into the prop. When you look at the wake behind our boat, the best spot to wakesurf seems like its a good 5-10 feet behind the swimdeck. I would only be worried about the exhaust inhale factor, but I really doubt that will be a problem.

At the lake we use, I wouldnt do this on a crowded day. The fact that in a BR you need to stay at non-plane speeds makes control and visibility difficult, so I would hold off until theres not too many other people around before doing it. If I get a wakesurf board I will definately tempt the gods and give it a shot.

-CUBE-

 

[Waker]

Re: Wakesurfing behind a I/O??

Has anyone seen the Chaparral Xtreme boats that are advertised as good for wakesurfing? It's just an I/O with a big swim deck that covers the outdrive. They claim it's better because the Volvo Penta Duo Prop makes less vibrations for a smoother wake, and the exhaust is underwater so there isn't a risk of poisoning. Here's a picture of it:

http://www.chaparralboats.com/2009/images/sux224/large/sux224-OP.jpg

I have never tried wakesurfing behind my boat, (Ebbtide Mystique 2100) because I have seen a lot of warnings and stuff like this:

http://www.howtowakesurf.com/

But I've always needed to install a huge swim deck on my boat, so I think if I had the swim deck, it really wouldn't be too dangerous. I know we have to use common sense, but the Chapparal stuff leads me to think that this might be okay to do, if everything is good, like the huge swim deck, the right rope, and staying at a relatively safe distance from the swim deck.

 

[Maclin]

Re: Wakesurfing behind a I/O??

If I understand the original question of "Is it possible to fall forward into the prop?" my answer is yes all things considered, especially when considering that when/if the boat has to slow unexpectedly the surfer in essence will be going "forward" while the boat is going "backwards" and it is a very real possibility to fall "forward" right into the prop.

 

[Eddie P]

Re: Wakesurfing behind a I/O??

If I understand the original question of "Is it possible to fall forward into the prop?" my answer is yes all things considered, especially when considering that when/if the boat has to slow unexpectedly the surfer in essence will be going "forward" while the boat is going "backwards" and it is a very real possibility to fall "forward" right into the prop.

I would agree with the opinion that it could easily happen (prop vs. human). The relative motion of the surfer moving forward and a boat under an unexpected deceleration would make a good closing speed between the two and easy prey for a prop. We can typically expect the unexpected to occur over time. It's usually a few things that line up to create the "accident", not just one single threat. When they add up we get the unexpected. I wouldn't do it, even though I'm an avid ocean surfer and would love to get into boat surfing. Just not with my boat.

 

[Carolina Wake]

Re: Wakesurfing behind a I/O??

I have read all about the dangers of wakesurfing behind I/O, but give me some feed back about prop guards. If you have a large swim deck and get a prop guard, do you think it be safe to wakesurf behind the boat? I know that prop guards will slow your top speed down by about 40-50%, but some of them are easily removed when not needed.

 

[skargo]

Re: Wakesurfing behind a I/O??

40-50%

 

[vodka_mann]

Re: Wakesurfing behind a I/O??

Interesting post - really surprised that the main risk in doing this is from co2....


Seems to me that it would be pretty crazy to get that close on an inboard/outboard. Thats the kind of boat I have and I stay pretty far away from anything that's sharp and spins really fast. Wouldn't even consider doing it unless it was an inboard.


The wakeboarding/surfing with a rope "closer" to the boat at slow speeds sounds pretty fun, that I would consider doing...

 

[wallyb723]

Re: Wakesurfing behind a I/O??

http://www.youtube.com/slayshTank

Looks like alot of fun!

 

[Maclin]

Re: Wakesurfing behind a I/O??

I meant to put this in my previous post, but a prop guard is to keep rocks and stuff from getting to the prop from frontal and from the bottom assaults. It is not designed to keep people parts out from the rear.

 

[beadrunner]

Re: Wakesurfing behind a I/O??

We used to "wakesurf" in florida back in 84 85. The boat wake peaks at about 15' to 20' behind the boat That is the sweet spot and a short board wont stay on that without a rope in hand. The most dangerous thing we did was run two people at one time. Wow I stand corrected I just watched the video two posts up and we never had a wake like that

 

[dbok1]

Re: Wakesurfing behind a I/O??

The best way to to this behind a "ski boat" is to have an F.A.E. (fresh air exhuast) which diverts the exhaust into the water like an I/O or OB, which eliminates breathing any exhaust fumes, therefore, good to go!

BTW - I would never try it behind my I/O. You are moving at the same rate as the boat at 9-10 mph therefore you can still fall forward off of the board.

 

[MagRed]

Re: Wakesurfing behind a I/O??

I registered here just to get some advice on an older outboard on a houseboat. Man was I surprised to see this thread when I thought " lets see what they have in the wakeboarding section" ARE YOU FREAKIN NUTS!!! Surf behind an I/O???? I surf behind a Direct Drive inboard all the time......the prop is well under the boat. I can tell you it's real easy to come up on the back of the boat really quick on a surf board.........in fact we ride up on the swim platform all the time, grab a beverage of choice, switch riders without even slowing down. It would be quite easy to come up on a prop with your board or maybe even part of your body. Why risk that?? If you want to surf.......find a friend with a v drive or direct drive and have at it. But behind an I/O???? IMHO that is just one way to thin out the gene pool.

 

[Campylobacter]

Re: Wakesurfing behind a I/O??

I've surfed once, behind a centurion with ballast tanks that could throw 4' wake . I guarantee you could easily surf down that wave and hit the back of the boat.

You don't need the mythbusters, don't do it.

 

[BAMORY]

Re: Wakesurfing behind a I/O??

I can tell you from experience that If done right, you can wakeboard behind an I/O with no problem, or chance of even getting close to the props I do it every other weekend with a 45 foot rope and my hydro slide, If someone is silly enough to do it with a short rope (15ft), you should be fish food. I do this with an 87 bayliner trophy with swim platform, 30 mph on a wake board is plenty fast, 2 busted ribs to prove it. Doesn't throw huge wake but I can get 2-4 foot when jumping wake. It takes a good driver of the boat to always keep an eye on the skier and what is in front of him, no alcohol, and some friggin common sense and to create ballast, I fill up all my live wells and potable water tank, does great for us.

 

[dbismyname]

Re: Wakesurfing behind a I/O??

HAHAHAHA not to be a d*ck but you're talking about a completely different sport buddy. Wake SURFING is different than wake BOARDING. 30 mph is about 10 mph too fast for wake BOARDING. wake BOARDING is usually done from 19-25 mph 23-25 being professional speeds. wake SURFING is done at 9-15 mph. Did you even read the whole thread before you posted?

 

[BAMORY]

Re: Wakesurfing behind a I/O??

LOL Missed that surfing word, I actually think I clicked on wrong topic, I was reading and thought WTF is that guy doing, sorry. 28-30 mph is not bad on wakeboard @ all i have seen up to 40 mph but that is insane, try it sometime, you can do so pretty cool things at that speed but don't fall down.....