water over the bow

[h2osk8er00]

Getting back quick is also what trashes the water. There's no real need to get back to your rider unless you suspect injury or another boat not seeing them. Taking your time preserves the water and lets your rider catch their breath before the next set.

I saw you thread and it looks true for a busy place but not for where I'm at.. I can see why you would go by those rules but it seems more like a personal preference than safety to me.. especially if you know what your doing.. the way I turn doesn't create much more of an issue than the waker we put out already.. (So maybe my power turns are really not so bad).. anyway.. here are my thoughts on that matter..



A. The water is "usually" (80%) all mine out there; so no need to worry about that..and it's my gas I'm wasting..

B. My passengars are always properly seated and know how I turn.. No kids on my boat, ever.. only properly trained ride-alongers..

C. Any other boater out there is a potential threat.. Maryland has no good rules like flags or raising of hands when a skier/boarder is down. Thus it is very important to get back... Most people drink on the water and drive out here so I could care less for a little wake.

Just my since you threw yours out.. not lashing just trying to clarify... I'm all about safety and responsible boating..

[Timmy!]

You can drive how you want...

[majestic]

we went out this afternoon and had a great time. The boat is still new to me and I'm learning. One of my friends was driving and as he came around to pick me up, crossing our surf wake, he drenched the bow. Our friend's wife and 7 month old son were up there and got soaked.
I did the same thing an hour later. Were we crossing the wake too slow? What is the best way to avoid this?

Let's make a plan to get together anytime after this weekend my boat or yours and I'll get you squared away.

[Dave S]

As said above and I will reiterate, when spinning around fast to pick up a rider, you are POWERTURNING and you are ruining the water for yourself, your rider and everyone else in the water. When you POWERTURN you are sending the wave from your wake down or upriver and the wave never quickly dissipates. So anyone riding parallel to you then has to go over the wake you created 5-10-15 minutes ago depending on how long the river is. POWERTURNING is a huge pet peeve of mine. Don’t be disrespectful to other riders and do POWERTUNERS. We have this very problem on our river with newbies and after 27 years of boating it is clear to see who the newbies are on the water every spring. When we see powerturners we politely stop fellow riders explain to them what powerturning is and how it ruins the water, they usually stop and thank us for telling them. If you have to powerturn to get back to your rider safely, then most likely the waterway is way too busy to be wakeboarding anyway. When you slow down, let the wake go by you, spin around on a dime and motor back to your rider, you are getting there almost as fast as powerturning anyway. If you stop powerturning, you will most likely stop taking water over the bow from your own wake. Ok, rant over!

\/see below\/

[Bakes5]

I seriously doubt that someone is going to be affected by a powerturn 15 minutes later on a narrow river that has any current.

[jwanck11]

"hold the surfboard upright"

That is the advice we all follow regardless of whether a stick or board.

That vid is OK, but a bit on the extreme side. If need be, you can take a roller at an angle. Practice!

[jwanck11]

I seriously doubt that someone is going to be affected by a powerturn 15 minutes later on a narrow river that has any current.

They arent. We boat in that exact situation and I'm always amazed how fast the river returns to perfect sometimes glass calm even with multiple crazy tubers like us.

[shawn74]

When surfing on a river with no sea walls and kid drivers or wt pulling tubes behind they're bass boat its safety first ( power turn if any doubt) but in most cases shut her down with the wheel turned and she'll come around in atight enough circle for most know Rider down and everyone happy.

[mls6722]

thanks for all the feedback folks. We were off the throttle and down to a crawl before turning back around, but I was outside of the wake making a fairly wide turn and crossing the wake at 90 degrees. I think I needed to wait for the wake to pass the boat and turn inside of it. I also think if I had added some throttle, that would have picked the nose up and allowed to boat to better ride over rather than plow through the wave. No power turns for me except when tubing

[Dave S]

Yeah, if you wait till the wave passes you should be good. I also need to goose the throttle on occasion to "pop" the bow over a wave on my way back to the rider as well.

[rushin]

I'm all about safety and responsible boating..

it looks sweet

And lookin sweet!

[bigdaddy_houseboater]

If there's that many boats when we ride, I'm putting the ropes under the seat, the boards in their racks ,crackin' a beer and resting beneath the bimini...

Thats because you are a spoiled little brat... who will soon own a 32' houseboat on the delta.

[Moki]

I agree with Dave S. In most cases, I can get back to my rider just as fast or faster by not power turning.

[Fiveflat]

who will soon own a 32' houseboat on the delta.

That's where the beer's will be chilled and waiting eagerly to be drank by me

[bigdaddy_houseboater]

lol... I knew we got along for a reason.