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So anyone wakeboard without a wakeboard tower?
- Thread starter factory81
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sporsterjoel
New Member
i dont have a tower on mine, its ok just makes it harder toget big air
I wakeboard at least once a week with my sportster 1800 and it works fine. Usually have three or four of us and puts out a decent wake. Not big enough for huge air, but still a lot of fun. Pulls you up quickly... only complaint is trying to keep the speed steady, it takes a little practice.
So while I haven't done any skiing behind a Seadoo boat (I have on a GTX), I have wakeboarded behind a 16ft Bayliner without a tower.
It is a great way to learn and practice basics. In fact, it was less distracting without a huge wake to intimidate a learner.
But, yeah, for big air, you'll miss the tower.
It is a great way to learn and practice basics. In fact, it was less distracting without a huge wake to intimidate a learner.
But, yeah, for big air, you'll miss the tower.
I suppose big air could equal big pain haha.
I want to wakeboard and have never tried it so I suppose this is cheaper than buying a waketower.
What do you mean adjusting the speed though? The boat doesn't like to stay at one speed, or to make the wakeboarding experience fun the boat is touchy?
Basically wouldn't you just keep the boat at WOT since you go from like 8mph at 4500rpm to 30mph at 5500rpm right?
You couldn't be dinking around at 8mph or the person would not be above water?
I want to wakeboard and have never tried it so I suppose this is cheaper than buying a waketower.
What do you mean adjusting the speed though? The boat doesn't like to stay at one speed, or to make the wakeboarding experience fun the boat is touchy?
Basically wouldn't you just keep the boat at WOT since you go from like 8mph at 4500rpm to 30mph at 5500rpm right?
You couldn't be dinking around at 8mph or the person would not be above water?
Yes, you are right... to get up you want to give it full throttle till the rider can stand up but then you need to figure out the right speed and wake you like the best. 30mph is way too fast for wakeboarding in my opinion especially for a learner. If I kept my boat full throttle we'd be doing around 45-50 and with a wakeboarder behind and that is just nuts. I like somewhere around 25. Maybe it's just my boat, but while you're dirving you can definatly "see" when the wake is just right for boarding... no wash, nice and smooth, but still decent size to get a little air or jump the wake. You will just have to figure it out for yourself.
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Dans97challenger
New Member
Factory81, You won't be able to wake board with your boat. Doesn't have enough power to do it, unless you are like 100lbs. My mechanic told me over the weekend when I dropped my boat off that the Challenger 800 won't pull a wakeboard unless you re-prop it with a different pitch impeller. I am 200lbs and it wouldn't pull me up at all when I tried. He said they have 110hp but once you get past the drive shaft, jet pump/impeller it looses about 30hp.
Some others on here have done it with the 14 foot single engine boats, same as ours (Dan and Factory81)... but you have to have a really well sealed pump. The skat trak swirl impeller will help with the "hookup" of getting the boat and the rider on plane.
But remember this boat only weighs about 1200 lbs. Thats not a lot of wake to board over...
But remember this boat only weighs about 1200 lbs. Thats not a lot of wake to board over...
Horsepower......
You really can't combine the two engines and come up with 170 hp. Although, the combined horespower of the engines equal that, you have two pumps and two intakes, so you have twice the drag and output. I would like to know what the actual horsepower is with twin motors verses one motor.
I know, the engines rated horsepower is a lot more than the actual horsepower output at the pump. For instance, the 787 is rated at 110 horsepower, but what it really boils down to is, how much of that horespower are you getting at the pump. In the 787, it's only 38. That's not a lot when you think about it.
Outboard manufacturers used to sell their motors by the horsepower, rated at the engine, now the horsepower is rated at the foot, if I remember correctly. So, just because you have a twin engine boat, doesnt' mean it's going to be twice as fast or twice as good..........just food for thought.:cheers:
You really can't combine the two engines and come up with 170 hp. Although, the combined horespower of the engines equal that, you have two pumps and two intakes, so you have twice the drag and output. I would like to know what the actual horsepower is with twin motors verses one motor.
I know, the engines rated horsepower is a lot more than the actual horsepower output at the pump. For instance, the 787 is rated at 110 horsepower, but what it really boils down to is, how much of that horespower are you getting at the pump. In the 787, it's only 38. That's not a lot when you think about it.
Outboard manufacturers used to sell their motors by the horsepower, rated at the engine, now the horsepower is rated at the foot, if I remember correctly. So, just because you have a twin engine boat, doesnt' mean it's going to be twice as fast or twice as good..........just food for thought.:cheers:
170hp or not, the boat hauled ass with 5 people, 800-850lbs in it. I was suprised how well it ran even with that extra weight. Prior to that day, we only took it out with 2 people. Sure, there is definitely a difference in turning and stuff.. with 2 people it is much more fun and responsive.. but still, I'm not complaining. And like I said I was wakeboarding with 4 prople left in the boat and they had no prob pulling me, getting on plane, etc.. so I'm totally happy with the boat as far as all that stuff goes for sure... 100% fun.
Dans97challenger
New Member
Good choice too. There is no better light beer out there than Coors Light!! Great job on not spilling it.
Sorry Dan, I will have to dis-agree with you on that one. I run a stock impeller and no mods on my 110 and I have no problems wakeboarding on it. Though, I don't really like it that much. I prefer to slalom behind it. Your mechanic is right though. The horsepower rating is at the engine, not the pump. The 787cc Challenger, single and twin, is rated at 38hp at the pump.
P.S., I only weigh somewhere in the neighborhood of 155lb.
would you believe wake behind a 1990 3 seater?
Our 1990 SeaDoo (first year for the 3 seater) can pull up a 150 lb person. Its a little slow at first, and sometimes you need to aim the board at 30 degrees, but it can be done. There is no tower, nor pole, just the hook at the back. And that baby is only 580 cc with 55 hp! But suffice to say, we just bought a 2005 sportster and are hoping to avoid the occasional knuckle banging on the rope bar. lol.
Our 1990 SeaDoo (first year for the 3 seater) can pull up a 150 lb person. Its a little slow at first, and sometimes you need to aim the board at 30 degrees, but it can be done. There is no tower, nor pole, just the hook at the back. And that baby is only 580 cc with 55 hp! But suffice to say, we just bought a 2005 sportster and are hoping to avoid the occasional knuckle banging on the rope bar. lol.
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