Use TAPS when wakeboarding?

[Kight & Christine]

Looking for some advice on if we should use TAPS when wakeboarding.

I'm a beginner - just started when we got the boat in July and am trying to figure out how to stay up once I stand. Do you use TAPS with a beginner? If so, what setting and speed is best?

On the other hand, my fiance wakeboarded a ton when he was younger (and TAPS didn't exist), and he's trying to get back into jumping the wake/tricks/etc. He's looking for less wake to travel across and a deeper wake so he can pop up off the wake more. I'm hoping we could achieve this using TAPS but not sure what setting...?

We'd appreciate any advice. Thanks!

[davidl81]

With my wife I set the TAPS at 0 and the speed at 17.5. She is just wanting to go across the wake, but not really jump. For your fiance I would set the taps to 8 and the speed at 20-21 to get a pretty good wake that he can jump off of. Do you have any ballast tanks on the R20? If so adding that weight will help the wake get a little bigger. If no Ballast just get a few friends on the boat.

[rushin]

I have noticed that with our RZ2 with the more weight in the boat that the less taps you have to use.

I go 22.2 at 75 ft. rope legth.

Speed also makes a big difference.

[Kight & Christine]

When driving my fiance around I go 21mph. We have 4 standard ballast tanks that total 900lbs, but we've never used them before. Usually our passengers weight about 600+lbs total.

I think his issue is the wake is so wide - when he tries to jump across he can't quite clear it so his board catches the edge of the wake and he goes down.

I think I just need more practice!! :-)

[Fiveflat]

I use ballast, not TAPS for the wake size. The only thing I use TAPS for is to clean up both sides of the wake. I notice that when I play with taps and drive it to extremes, I can see the prop wash physically go from one side of the wake to the other.
I'll adjust until prop wash is straight down the middle so the wake is clean on both side and then adjust speed to clean up the wake right behind the rider.

[Kimber]

He should shorten the rope up until he gets it down again. Most ropes have 5 ft sections that can be taken off.

[robert theisen]

Shorten the rope and increasing speed are the only ways to make the wake less width.TRY 22 MPH AND A 60 FOOT ROPE.

[Timmy!]

I ride 22mph and taps at 5 with a 70' rope on my RZ2 (working up to a 75' length soon). I used to ride 21 with a 60' and 65' rope and clear just fine with Taps at 0. I feel like a little bit of taps gives the wake a little more pop and cleans it up.
(also, I'm not as good as Robert)

[rushin]

edging through the wake makes a big difference and not flattening out.

It could be technique.

[Timmy!]

Technique makes all the difference in the world!

[Ewok]

Don't be afraid to experiment either, you can adjust speed and taps while he's riding behind the boat. He can use hand signals to you in the boat to speed up or down and for you to adjust the taps up and down. Tell people in the boat to move around to help clean up the wake as well. Play around with the settings in small increments and you'll have your wake dialed in in no time.

[Matt Garcia]

Time behind the boat is the only thing thats gonna really help. Like everyone has said on here try a shorter rope, maybe 55-60ft. speed at 21mph and taps between 4-6. Once you get comfortable clearing the wake with no ballast then you can start experimenting with faster speeds, longer rope lines and more ballast.

Also get the bascis down first. Learn to ride switch before trying a flip or spin.

[JreisRZR]

Since our boats share a hull...

I run beginneers with the taps at 2 at 20 mph, 60 feet. No ballast

If im gunna goof around i run 20 with taps at 8 and full front weight, 63 ft

Regular sets 63-68 ft 22 mph taps at 4/5, 1600k ballast plus 2-3 people innthe boat, the third i have sit in the bow, will kick up a nice wall at this speed

[jmhatchett]

To begin no weight is best, the taps is simply to clean the wake up at the point the rider will hit the wake so an 8 will be clean in front of the rider and wash out at the rider but a 1 or 0 the sweet spot will be behind the rider. Put him out there and tell him to ride right next to the wake while you adjust the taps plate so that he touches the wake 1' in front of where the wake washes out. this will be the SWEET spot of the wake.

Tige really does throw a wide wake so a solid edge into the wake is very necessary, gotta hold your edge through the wake and stand tall at the peak allowing the water to do the work but not having you work against it. One of the other huge factors in clearing the wake cleanly is loading the rope, if you drag real hard then release (just like when doing a wake to wake jump) the rope has tons of tension then it releases it all and the rope helps tremendously in getting you across.

When it comes time for weight, rear weight adds height to the wake and front weight adds firmness, IMO You need a good compromise of front to rear weight distribution. Then the taps comes in again to help clean up the sweet spot. There is no Specific setting that is universal. It depends on people, ballast, weight distribution and so forth. Just try all of this and you should see some rapid improvement!! good luck let us know what you figure out!

[bigdaddy_houseboater]

When driving my fiance around I go 21mph. We have 4 standard ballast tanks that total 900lbs, but we've never used them before. Usually our passengers weight about 600+lbs total.

I think his issue is the wake is so wide - when he tries to jump across he can't quite clear it so his board catches the edge of the wake and he goes down.

I think I just need more practice!! :-)

Im with everyone else on this.. .shorten your rope to 60' or 55'