30 | BOATINGMAG.COM | FEBRUARY 2018
SEAMANSHIP By Pete McDonaldIf you buy a specialized
tow-sports boat, going skiing,
wakeboarding or surfing is a
no-brainer. But behind the
typical family runabout or
center console, you likely
won’t have the benefit of a
center-mounted tow pylon.
And you probably won’t have
a built-in ballast system for
building big wakes for wake
sports. So, here are some boat-
ing and driving tips to make
water-skiing, wakeboarding
or tubing behind your boat a
successful endeavor.NADA SURF Unless you have
a boat with an inboard engine,
jet drive or forward-facing
sterndrive (currently Volvo
Penta’s Forward Drive is the
only one on the market), do not
attempt to surf behind your
boat. Surfi ng requires getting
too close to the transom to beTOW
THE LINE
Tips for using your boat for tow sportssafe for boats with outboard or
sterndrive power.ROPE IT IN If you’re going
to try diff erent tow sports,
you will need a selection of
towropes. Water-ski ropes
are typically 75 feet in length,
beginner wakeboard ropes
typically run between 65 to 75
feet, and tube ropes should fall
between 50 to 60 feet. Most
wakeboarders prefer ropes
with no stretch, while many
water-skiers like ropes with a
little bit of stretch. Check that
a tube rope’s rating matches
the weight capacity of the spe-
cifi c tube it’s towing.
Rope positioning should be
different too. Skiers prefer the
rope attached to a pylon close
to the center of the boat, which
helps with carving on slalom
courses. Wakeboarders prefer
a high tow point (from a tower)
to help do airborne tricks.
Keep the tow line for the tube
tied close to the transom andoff a tow eye or low pylon.
Tethering a tube from a tower
greatly increases the risk of
flipping it or sending it aloft.A LIGHT TOUCH When
driving for tow sports, the fi rst
thing you have to consider
is how you handle the throt-
tle. Running and gunning it
doesn’t work. When pulling up
a skier or boarder, gradually
bring the throttle forward so
as not to jerk or yank the rope
out of their hands. Once on
plane, wakeboarders prefer
boat speeds between 18 to 22
mph, while slalom water-skierswork with speeds between 25
to 36 mph. That said, fi rst-time
boarders or skiers on two skis
need slow speeds when the
boat is just on plane, typically
between 16 to 20 mph.
Once the rider is up, work
the throttle with your thumb
and index finger and your
elbow on an armrest to execute
a light touch to find the sweet
spot for your rider. You’ll need
to make slight adjustments
with both the throttle and the
wheel to account for the pull
on the transom that skiers and
boarders make as they cut far
out of the wake.RIDER DOWN After a rider
falls, throttle back to idle be-
fore turning to return to him so
you don’t swamp the rider with
a wake. Approach the rider at
idle speed from the downwind
side so as not to accidentally
drift or be blown on top of him.
If the rider is reboarding the
boat, always kill the engine
before he gets close.Everyone who has ever bought a boat for family use
has envisioned teaching the kids how to water-ski
or taking them tubing behind it.
PHOTOS: (FROM TOP) COURTESY BAYLINER, BILL DOSTER