This needs to stop

[Original Wing Nut]

Dealers of I/O's have to stop marketing there boats as surfable. I was at the Utah boat show yesterday and look at this. Duoprop boat with Surf rack and board right there for everyone to see and think there is no problem. This kind of mentality could kill the sport for all of us. Back to my signature
http://i261.photobucket.com/albums/ii73/4funx/Photos088.jpg

I posted this in General discussion, but thought the surfers would want to make direct comment.

[chpthril]

You are sooooo right. I would have strolled in thier booth like just another uninformed boater and baited someone into a conversation about what is that board for, how do you do it, is it safe, etc, etc,...............then drop the hammer on them about how stupid they are :mad:

[Timmy!]

I would have said something to the dealer as well. If anyone on here goes back (or to the show), please say something to them!

[buffman]

sad....

[Original Wing Nut]

I would have said something to the dealer as well. If anyone on here goes back (or to the show), please say something to them!

When I was there I couldn't find anyone from the dealership. Not good for them for selling boats and not for us so I could point out ther errors in there ways. I wasn't there very long, I was supposed to be at work. SHHHH, don't tell anyone.

[Jason B]

Fingers just get in the way anyhow. Opposable digits are SOO over-rated.
Chicks dig stumps!! :D

[Lunchbox]

I love these boats that they're marketing now with the towers... Dual I/O gives you twice the odds... :o

http://www.tigeowners.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=8975&stc=1&d=1202531705

http://www.tigeowners.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=8976&stc=1&d=1202531883

[dogbert]

Yeah, really. As anyone would wakeboard behind a gofast boat. :rolleyes:

[Timmy!]

Yeah, really. As anyone would wakeboard behind a gofast boat. :rolleyes:
I tried it behind my buddy's 25' Baja Outlaw (496 with a whipple charger) and it had a decent wake. Since it was propped for top speed, it took forever for me to pop out of the water and then his speedometer doesn't start until 30 so it was hard for him to find the right speed. After about 5 minutes I couldn't hear anymore so I stopped. :D :D

[mtnsmith]

We watched some idiots surf behind a center console with an outboard not too long ago...I tried to get a pic of it but could not find the camera before the dude fell...the also had the handle tied to the t-top, I wonder how that has held up???

[Carter13]

I took this photo last August of these dillholes. Notice the two girls sitting on the swim pad watching the surfer and also the guy standing on the swim platform helping hold the (ski) rope. The kid couldn't let go of the rope for obvious reasons.
9211

[illiniboarder88]

That doesn't look too bright. But, a question, given that I've never surfed (been in the boat watching, but never back there). If you have a swim platform that is big enough to cover the outdrive, is it really that dangerous? It probably isn't the brightest, but the platform should prevent you from getting to the prop. Some of these IO's have giant fiberglass platforms now.

[Surfdad]

Has everyone read the "fresh air" article at wakesurf mag online?

http://www.wakesurfmag.com/onlinemag/winter_spring_08.swf

Four Winns is offering "Captains Call" - directs CO and they are talking about wakesurfing, I do believe.

[Timmy!]

Ugh!

[LovinPowell]

Dealers of I/O's have to stop marketing there boats as surfable. I was at the Utah boat show yesterday and look at this. Duoprop boat with Surf rack and board right there for everyone to see and think there is no problem. This kind of mentality could kill the sport for all of us. Back to my signature
http://i261.photobucket.com/albums/ii73/4funx/Photos088.jpg

I posted this in General discussion, but thought the surfers would want to make direct comment.

It's still not too late to contact them. Who is the ebbtide dealer in SLC? Let's find out and call them, citing this picture and make sure that they don't continue misleading the public that it is okay to wakesurf from their boat.

[typerider]

companies like that are ridiculous! not only are they endangering unknowing people's lives but they are going to get the entire wakesurf scene shut down. its bad enough that the sport already takes part of the rap for those idiots who hang off the back of their decks. ignorance is definitely not bliss in this case. somebody get me a petition to sign. the end.

[LovinPowell]

I looked up Ebbtide boat dealers near Salt Lake and this is what came up:

HERINGER MARINE
944 N 1200 W
Orem, UT 84057
Phone: 801-225-9133
FAX: 801-225-9240

Should we let them know what our opinion is on this?

[Surfdad]

Yes, I think that we need to get their input first though. It's easy to get worked up, especially in a situation like this that is so dangerous, but there may actually be an explanation and the company may have a policy against it and this was a rogue salesman or something.

IMO, you send an email with the picture attached and ask - I saw this picture of the I/O with the wakesurfboad on the tower. Were you aware that wakesurfing behind an I/O is considered unsafe by most experts?

If they tell you to pound sand they knew and don't care. Then I think it's time that we talk about their indifference towards the safety of consumers and we can send them a link to this thread - if they are merely ignorant then it's time for some information and public opinion.

Do you have an email add'y?

[LovinPowell]

Email sent, we'll see what their reply is.

[evil0ne]

I think it's worse that a wakesurf magazine would even publish that.

[Surfdad]

KUDOS to LovinPowell! It's not often that folks will take time from theior busy schedule to support an activity that benefits so many folks. I applaud your willingness to support us, and also your courage as an advocate of the sport!

[chpthril]

KUDOS to LovinPowell! It's not often that folks will take time from theior busy schedule to support an activity that benefits so many folks. I applaud your willingness to support us, and also your courage as an advocate of the sport!

That and he is close enough that if they wanna talk $h!t back, he'll just go over there and set them straight :p :D :ro: ;)

[LovinPowell]

That and he is close enough that if they wanna talk $h!t back, he'll just go over there and set them straight :p :D :ro: ;)

True, I will be in Orem either this weekend or next and if they don't reply, I may just take a copy of the picture into their store and see what they have to say. Like surfdad said, give them the benefit of the doubt before we go on an all out assault.

[dogbert]

Where's the fun in that? ;)

[LovinPowell]

I sent an email to Heringer Marine about this picture and never got a response. So a couple of days later I decided to call them. I spoke to an employee who said that the owner would call me back. The employee suggested that maybe they were just trying to show what the tower could hold rather than promote wakesurfing behind their I/O.

The owner never called me back.

Feeling a little onry yesterday (it's tax season), I decided to call again. Since the employee gave me the owner's name, I asked for him directly.

We had an interesting conversation. He didn't seem too concerned that he was promoting an unsafe activity. In fact he mentioned that he wakesurf's behind his I/O and has never had any problems.

His other comment worth noting was that he "couldn't control what people do behind their boats after it leaves his lot". To me this just shows apathy towards the sport and the industry in general.

I sent him an email with a reference to this thread so that he could see for himself what is being circulated about that picture, and gave him the opportunity to respond by telling him that if he had a resonse, that I would be glad to post it for him. After thinking about it, I don't think that he could see the picture because he isn't a registered user of the site.

I think that I will send him the picture to make sure that he knows what it is showing.

All in all I think that this guy couldn't care less about this issue. He is in the business of selling boats and "can't control what they do behind their boat".

I don't know if it appropriate to post his email address on this thread or not, I guess I need some direction in that regard. If it's not, and you want to contact him, send me a PM and I'll give it to you.

If it is ok, then I'll post it.

[Matt Garcia]

I don't know if it appropriate to post his email address on this thread or not, I guess I need some direction in that regard. If it's not, and you want to contact him, send me a PM and I'll give it to you.

If it is ok, then I'll post it.

I would not post it here. If people want it they can PM you.

Thanks
Matt

[G-MONEY]

It's guys like this that are effing it up for the rest of us. Just because he has surfed behind a I/O does not mean it is super dangerous..... He will he hurt sooner or later.

[CP3]

yea just wait till he falls the wrong way and that hand or face :eek: goes straight in the prop. Id like to see him explain that when selling his I/O's

[LovinPowell]

I wonder if there would be any legal liability if that happens to a customer.

[da.bell]

Wonder if you should post that picture on WW for them to see and comment. Then send a link to the owner's email with reference to that site. The more information that you get out there the fast he will run and sooner he will realize that he is doing something negative towards the sport. :02:

[da.bell]

Not to mention his sales might go down. :(

[LovinPowell]

If somebody will post it on WW, then I will send him the link to let him know that it is spreading.

[sagmanaur]

By his responses, I would think that he really doesn't care about we or anyone else thinks, he will do it regardless. By not informing his customers that you shouldn't do it behind his boats means he is strictly about making money. Hopefully he hasn't worked for the US Defense Dept, otherwise he would sell our secrets for a price.

:02:

[Surfdad]

Lovin. I don't think that a WW post is going to be effective. Folks there are not his target market, out to buy an I/O. Manufacturers are more sensitive to public opinion than a local dealer. I'd be interested to hear if the manufacturer shares the same opinion, where they didn't care how their boats were used.

Have folks read that one site - I think it is skiboatdeaths.com? Tragic story about the young kid that drowned due to CO poisioning teaksurfing. We all NOW say of course don't teaksurf, but back when this incident occured NO one and I mean NO ONE talked about the dangers. As has been pointed out repeatedly in this thread it's the newb's that are an issue.

I think it's possible to make an I/O safe for wakesurfing, IF and ONL IF, IMO, it has one of those huge swimdecks and a propguard...but, like the teaksurfing back in the day, newb's won't understand that risk.

[LovinPowell]

Lovin. I don't think that a WW post is going to be effective. Folks there are not his target market, out to buy an I/O. Manufacturers are more sensitive to public opinion than a local dealer. I'd be interested to hear if the manufacturer shares the same opinion, where they didn't care how their boats were used.

Have folks read that one site - I think it is skiboatdeaths.com? Tragic story about the young kid that drowned due to CO poisioning teaksurfing. We all NOW say of course don't teaksurf, but back when this incident occured NO one and I mean NO ONE talked about the dangers. As has been pointed out repeatedly in this thread it's the newb's that are an issue.

I think it's possible to make an I/O safe for wakesurfing, IF and ONL IF, IMO, it has one of those huge swimdecks and a propguard...but, like the teaksurfing back in the day, newb's won't understand that risk.

Well said.