06 24Ve

[dogbert]

Dog...you keep forgetting this is California! I'm sure there is a law that restricts the use of animals or animals likenesses for ballasting purposes We're lucky to be able to use WATER as ballast - I'm sure there is legislation that protects the interests of water and other common elements

Actually, I haven't forgotten. You all have my sympathies out there. Your state is a perfect example of what can go wrong when people try to interfere with your life. But, at least it's not as bad as some parts of Europe! Imagine having to get an FAE because your boat makes too much noise. On top of that, they tax the crap out of gasoline.

[Surfdad]

I had to laugh...we are heading to MN for a contest next week and they don't even require a skier down flag. When I explained all of the regulations we are faced those folks sort of shrugged and felt sorry for us, too.

[da.bell]

Well, at least they haven't banned ski sports yet.

[dogbert]

I had to laugh...we are heading to MN for a contest next week and they don't even require a skier down flag. When I explained all of the regulations we are faced those folks sort of shrugged and felt sorry for us, too.

Now, I will probably insist on lifejackets for anyone sitting on the sundeck just to be safe. I haven't yet, but in thinking about it, it seems like a good idea.

[CP3]

CP3,


Honestly the boat needs more weight in the front but there is no where to put it. Still trying to figure out what to do. I wish Tige's didn't love so much weight up front because you run out of room fast. I hate having a sac in the walkway but it will probably come down to that again.

you can get the tube sac like I have in the walk way fits perfect and you can still fit the bow filler cushion

[sagmanaur]

Back to a few pages ago... it seems pretty crazy to me of weighting your boat down with over 1000 lbs of ballast plus 5 or more people in the boat, not only is it illegal, but the boat drives like crap, it hogs gas, and makes it more likely to have water over your bow... I think Surfdad is correct, if we aren't careful about "super-weighting" the boats there may be legislation that will do it for us.
My personal setup only utilizes 350 lbs of water ballast, and about 3-5 people, and we still get a decent wake to surf on. I'm not sure what my wake would look like with 1000 lbs of ballast, but I'm also not competing in a tourney.

Just my

[da.bell]

sagmanaur, I agree. Weighting down a boat beyond the sticker (for the one's that have one) is not up my alley. I might have the ability to put that much weight into the boat but I don't have any intentions on doing it since I know that there will be problems like you have stated. My ideal ballast setup would be two 400# sac's in the lockers, 1 integrated bow sac (800# but the space is limited and won't allow that much), and a 800# fat sac that could be moved when emptied so I can place it either on the port or starboard seats to accommodate the wakesurfing side that I am thinking about doing now. But, IMO, you have a very valid point.

[dogbert]

My boat doesn't have a sticker so you'd have to look it up. It's amazing how much weight it will handle. But, I only add as much weight as needed to give a decent surf wake.

[da.bell]

And you are probably a person that will not go to the max to get something out of nothing also. It is amazing what some will do to get a decent wake and put their boats in jeopardy.

[dogbert]

Oh, it depends on what you call the max. We had a sweet surfwake going the other day where water was flowing above the rub-rail. Nice long 4.5' wake. As long as I don't run into a cruiser, I'm ok. Fortunately, we don't have many of those on the lake. Plus I have 3 ballast pumps and a bilge pump.

[Surfdad]

Speaking of MN and public opinion, did you folks happen to catch this report on local MN TV?

http://www.myfoxtwincities.com/myfox...Y&pageId=3.1.1

We are going to be back in MN for the Lake Washington contest and hopefully will be able to talk to the news station about some of the misinformation. I doubt we'll be able to get a revised televised report, but hopefully we can make the impression that as a group we won't roll over.

[dogbert]

Ok, I wrote them an e-mail. The carbon monoxide thing is a big deal and I'm still amazed how few people worry about it. Wakesurfing is being billed as an after-wakeboarding activity that is safe, but they do have a point with the carbon monoxide issue.

Here's what I wrote:

I saw your piece on wakesurfing recently. There are ways to eliminate the danger of carbon monoxide poisoning so that the sport is safe. Most boats can be retrofitted with a device that drives the exhaust down into the water. It’s called a Fresh Air Exhaust and it was developed by Dr. Larry Mann here in Texas. He’s one of the early innovators in the sport of wakesurfing and started his company (http://www.boatpipes.com) because he was worried about the health effects of wakesurfing. He also has a great site available to teach you how to do it right and safely: http://www.howtowakesurf.com. The sport of wakesurfing is growing quickly. In 2006, the sales of wakesurf boards was within 10% of wakeskate sales. While not as popular as wakeboarding, you actually have less chance of injuring yourself if you follow a few simple rules:

• Never wakesurf behind anything but an inboard boat with a propeller that’s below the boat – your report implies that it’s too easy to run over a rider, but then that would be true of any watersport where the rider starts in the water.
• Use a wakesurf specific rope – wide handled ropes can be dangerous because they can easily wrap around limbs if dropped (intentionally or accidentally), your rope should also have a braided section before the handle to help prevent this
• Get a Fresh Air Exhaust or some other device that moves carbon monoxide away from the back of the boat – another benefit for these devices is that it reduces the engine noise from your typical inboard boat with a thru-transom exhaust.
• Don’t overload your boat to the point where it’s unsafe – most wakeboard boats are designed to handle lots of weight, just don’t exceed the specified weight limit
• Wear a helmet – it may not be cool, but it’s a good idea whether you’re wakeboarding, wakeskating or wakesurfing, good helmets will have ear protection for those nasty wakeboarding spills
• Wear a life jacket – if something happens and you’re knocked unconscious you won’t drown, this is pretty much true for any watersport

Wakesurfing is good exercise and is safe when the right precautions are taken, just like any other watersport. The risk to bodily injury is actually less than sports performed at higher speeds, such as waterskiing and wakeboarding.

[chpthril]

Good luck getting the Media to accept that the danger is low and no worse then any other sport. They will interview a dozen professionals willing to give it a "thumbs down" before they will show 1 professional with a favorable opinion of ANYTHING I've been there, done that, got the tee shirt.

I think the best approach would be to screw the media and go right to the Authorities. Give them all the pro's and con's of the sport. Show them it can be done safely and that it also can be done dangerously just like any other sport, on or off the water.

I believe if you approach the situation as a chance for both sides to learn something, I bet the Authorities will be more receptive of this new sport.

[Surfdad]

They did interview a deputy online and he basically just said "if I had my way it wouldn't happen" the accident waiting to happen - very negative impression.

Dog, THANKS! I think taking some action just feels better. Do you have a separate email add'y or just there "contact us" web form? I know I would love to encourage others to make your voices heard.

[zad0030]

Ok, I wrote them an e-mail. The carbon monoxide thing is a big deal and I'm still amazed how few people worry about it. Wakesurfing is being billed as an after-wakeboarding activity that is safe, but they do have a point with the carbon monoxide issue.

Centurion has boats that shoot the exhaust out the side away from the rider. Its called the "sideswipe"