What is the right angle?

[tony dunn jr.]

So what is the best angle to approach a fallen boarder to avoid drenching the people sitting in the bow of the boat? Getting to many dirty looks!

[CP3]

Water over the bow? do you mean from the rollers? The best way is to let them pass you if you dont have much boat traffic. I say that because I usually take my time, but last weekend the lake was getting some good traffic, rider fell, During this time I was keeping my eye on a speed boat getting rather close, long story - Short .
I power turn around to my rider to have the boat go past me at 30 about 25 feet away. Need less to say he got the high sign.

[tony dunn jr.]

Yes from the rollers!

[Matt Garcia]

This thread has some good info on it.

[wrangler]

Matt...that is a good thread. I had the misfortune to soak my wife and her friend in the bow today as I was heading back to pick up my son at Elsinore. It was actually a fluky wave that really crested over the bow of the boat... Very nice was all I could think. Trouble for wrangler tonight...

I found through some trial and error that if in fact I had to head through a big roller, it was better to power through it and let the boat do what it is designed to do...climb and cut the wave. Trying to go easy did nothing but allow the wave to find its' way into my wife's lap.

[Bog]

stop the boat when your rider falls, wait a couple seconds for the waves to pass then turn around and slowly drive back to pick them up. It amazes me how many people think power turns are the best way to pick up a rider. If you have to do a power turn to get back to your rider fast enough then I would think you are riding in an unsafe area to begin with!

[dogbert]

Originally posted by Bog
stop the boat when your rider falls, wait a couple seconds for the waves to pass then turn around and slowly drive back to pick them up. It amazes me how many people think power turns are the best way to pick up a rider. If you have to do a power turn to get back to your rider fast enough then I would think you are riding in an unsafe area to begin with!

I'll second that. Usually, I turn the steering to one direction a bit, so when my wake passes me by, I'm already turned 90 degrees. It's actually quicker than a power turn and, in narrow spots, is better because you actually protect your rider.

[NICKYPOO]

Originally posted by dogbert
I'll second that. Usually, I turn the steering to one direction a bit, so when my wake passes me by, I'm already turned 90 degrees. It's actually quicker than a power turn and, in narrow spots, is better because you actually protect your rider.

That's exactly right plus, you're not sending rollers in both directions up and down your line of riding. Just cut the power turn the wheel to the right and let your own wakes pass you by. You want them to "hit" you from the side. That way you don't get any waves over the front or back. This works really well for surfing also. I use it for every dicipline though, just for the sake of keeping the water smooth. Power turns do nothing but waste time, gas and good water.

[dogbert]

It's especially important for wakesurfing...my wake comes close to washing into the back of the boat if I don't do this.

[Tequilasun]

I usually just drive as fast as I can in about 10 circles. It makes the other drivers in the cove think I'm crazy, and they get scared and leave.

Plus its fun for those of us in the boat.

Then, I get the cove all to myself!


J/K

[TeamAllen]

That would work. With all those monster rollers you might attract those pesky mosquitos (aka jet skis).

[David]

For wakeboarding or surfing, we will cut the wheel to the left as we cut the speed to idle, then we reverse (pulls the back right side around), and idle back to our rider. We dont even come in contact with the waves, its nice and slow, and we keep in our line so other boats can pass in the cove.

Now on the other hand, if the rider is ever in any sort of danger or is hurt, we just whip the boat around and haul back to the rider.

[NICKYPOO]

Originally posted by David
For wakeboarding or surfing, we will cut the wheel to the left as we cut the speed to idle, then we reverse (pulls the back right side around), and idle back to our rider. We dont even come in contact with the waves, its nice and slow, and we keep in our line so other boats can pass in the cove.

Now on the other hand, if the rider is ever in any sort of danger or is hurt, we just whip the boat around and haul back to the rider.

That sounds like a nice little technique there. I think I'll try that next time out. I'm in the habit of turning right just so that the rider is always to starboard.

I've been know to take evasive manuevers to protect my rider on more than one occasion. You just have to sometimes.

[Tequilasun]

Nicky, that's a good point.

Do you guys keep your riders on any certain side, port or starboard.

I usually go to port, my wife starboard.

[NICKYPOO]

It's purely a safety thing for me. If I keep the rider to starboard I never lose sight of him (or her). There is always that anxious moment if your driver has you on his port side and you can't see him for that few seconds when the boat is turning around you which means he can't see you. At that point you're basically hoping he (the driver) has a pretty good idea of where you are. That is sketchy at best. The only time I turn to port is if the rider wants the double up to that side.