RZ2 Wakeboard Expert Needed

[ragboy]

I am looking for someone that can help me answer a few questions for some guys teaching kids how to wakeboard on an RZ2. He is saying that at lower speeds, like 15-19 MPH, the wake is all washed out, where his friends malibu is super clean at those speeds, and the kids are just learning, and they rather the bu. And you all know how frustrating that is when a family member says, "can I ride in their boat dad?"

He is on a 2009 RZ2 with the 900 lb stock ballast system. Any help would be appreciated.

[jmhatchett]

For just learning we would dump all ballast and as you know the taps just cleans the wake so at speed play with it till you get it where you like it, another thing for learning is rope length... IMO 60'-65' is plenty long to learn to wakeboard and the closer to the boat at that speed the cleaner the wake also. We usually use 17-19 mph to teach, 15 sounds a bit slow but they may be younger kids than i am thinking.

[Ewok]

I'll play around with my boat on Friday and try to give you some numbers and settings to try.

[Fiveflat]

Empty the ballast entirely. 15MPH - you will get a washed out wake period. I don't believe at 15, your other friend has a super clean wake on his Bu. We just rode behind one at INT this past weekend and it's wake was garbage unless we were up around 22 (not Bu bashing - just the facts in that scenario). If you are just learning, bring the rope in to around 55-60' and get the speed up around 20MPH at least.

[Fiveflat]

Where are you friends Robert? Have you played around with your boat wake? If they are local, bring them down to our riding home along with their boat and we'll get them dial and throwing off-axis 3's in one weekend HAHAH just kidding....



kinda

[Timmy!]

My daughter is riding @ 18mph, no ballast, 50'-55' of rope and taps at 0 and the wake is clean with proper people placement. We started her out at about 15 or so and I am working her up through the speed.

[NiceOnes]

18-19 MPH is a minmum for wakeboarding unless you're practicing surface spins etc.

If the kids are wanting a clean wake I'm assuming they're hitting it. At 15 mph the wake is going to be far wider than at 18-19mph even if you did manage to clean it up. You want the wake to be more narrow as a beginner to facilitate clearing to the other side. The shorter rope length will also help with this.

[Fiveflat]

The key at that slow of speed is just a short short rope. But 50' wow, she must be getting pelted by prop wash.

[Timmy!]

The key at that slow of speed is just a short short rope. But 50' wow, she must be getting pelted by prop wash.

No, not at all. She's just learning to stay up on the board, we aren't ready for any sort of jumping or anything. Even at 15mph, the wake was clean and she was good. I rode doubles with her last weekend at 18mph and it was no big deal but I wasn't jumping or anything. I'm trying to find pics but not having any luck.

[ragboy]

Thanks guys. I forgot about shortening the rope. That is how LONG it has been since we have been wake boarding. Although I got RJ a new wake skate for some cross training.

[Timmy!]

The rope I have starts at 60' and then I loop, swoop and pull it to shorten it. The water is nice and aerated at that length and makes for softer crashes when they fall. Maybe I'm doing it wrong but she is enjoying it and progressing so that's all that matters to me.

[robert theisen]

The advice i will give is the faster you go the smaller the wake and it has less width.The faster you go the harder the wake and the harder the crash.At the WAKEBOARD CAMP in Clermont Fla.they use Malibu boats and the wake was not clean at 15-18 mph.They used the slow speeds to teach you technique and body position.Also line length being the same more weight[ballast]will require more speed to clean the wake up.55-60 foot rope with a couple people in the boat the wake should clean up at 19-20mph. My wife rides at 75' and no taps.The wake cleans up at 21.4 to 21.6 mph.I ride at 75' taps on 6 and 22.5 mph.My facebook page has video's of me this year on a 75' rope stock wake.I am getting 6' to 8' of air off that,so the kids don't need to add ballast.They just need to develop their technique.

[Vicseek]

I agree, you’re not going to get a clean wake at around 15mph. I was pulling the wife at this speed when she first learned and had her stay inside the wake till she was more comfortable edging left/right.
At that slow speed you'll see their board riding very deep in the water, "barely" on plane. Now she’s ready for more speed and confortable around 18mph. Her board is now riding on top of the water and she notices "less" drag. However the wake is still a bit washy and intimidating when she crosses it.
Next time i'll get her to 21 and give her a nice crisp wake...I love speed set..little adjustments are hardly noticeable..lol

[talltigeguy]

I don't own an RZ2, but if someone is going 15 MPH, then they are just beginners and shouldn't even be going outside the wake. If they have gotten good enough to get outside the wake, then they are good enough to get up to 18 MPH.

No ballast is important, with any boat the more weight, the faster you need to go.

My 24Ve would not clean up unless I was going 21 MPH, and my X45 was even worse at slow speeds. One thing I love about my Malibu is that without ballast and wedge, the wake is very clean at 18-19 MPH.

But again, if you are ready to jump, you should be ready to go 19 MPH, which I am sure solves the problem with the RZ2.

[Coop]

I've found putting people up front can help clean up the wake at slower speeds, but it's still tough to get a clean wake below 19 mph.

I've also noticed I can clean up one side at slower speeds, so I'll have people move from side to side in the rear of the boat, depending on what side the rider wants to go out. I've been able to get one side clean at speeds as low as about 17.5 mph.

TAPS can also help, and as a general rule of thumb, put the TAPS down at slower speeds to clean up the wake.