Reducing chine spray

[dirtk38]

I bought a boom with the intention of getting into barefooting and teaching others, but I'm having a problem getting everything setup properly. Right now, a large amount of spray is hitting the skiier straight in the face while in the butt-glide position, and its almost impossible to look straight ahead with your eyes open. When I stand up, I still get an annoying amount in my face.

What can be done to reduce spray? So far, I've been in water that wasn't exactly glassy, so I'm sure that could be a factor. I'm running about 23-25 mph with 4ish people in the boat (plus gear), and I've got a BFI boom hanging off the port side of the boat. I have a boom extension that helps a little, but its still not great. I see BFI's website talks about using two extensions, but I'm afraid of putting a lot of stress on the boom and pylon mount when I've got someone in the easy-footer. Any other suggestions? What is the ideal weight distribution in the boat? Should I try a small ballast bag behind the driver?

[ahhudgins]

You will get spray if you are riding at only 25 MPH. Once you pick up speed the spray shouldn't be an issue. I had a boom on my PS190 and only got a little spray when first starting off. When I purchased my Maristar 200 V-drive I also got a boom for barefoot training and teaching first time skiers. I have a lot of spray with the V-drive and I ended up getting two extensions and I had to angle the boom forward a little bit.

I've been footing for a long time and rarely use the boom. If I do use it, I come up on my stomach and then roll over to my back while the boat is still accelerating. The spray only hits me for a second or two. I have the driver accelerate smoothly up to speed and then do a tumble turn and stand up. If you are pausing your speed at 25, you will be sitting in the spray unless you get an extension.

[JJMorris3]

Sounds like you are going too slow. Guideline is: (Weight / 10) + 20. I also position the boom slightly forward... Not straight out from side of the boat. This reduces spray quite a bit. And the people in the boat should sit so that the boom is positioned about shoulder height for the footer. I don't know if the easy footer takes less speed. But the boat spray will be more at your speed than mid to high 30s.

[jkski]

Had the same problem on one of my 02 PS197 and ended up talking to Mike at BF Int wo advised me to put ballast weight on the side opposite the boom. Pretty much you end up lifting the side where the boom goes out, allowing more of the chine to be out of the water resulting in the spray being further back. As was pointed out before, speed will have a big effect as you can only do so much at lower speeds, once they are increased, the boat outruns the spray.
Good luck and hope this helps.

[dirtk38]

Thanks guys. The instructional videos that I've seen for the easy-footer method say to keep the speed in the low 20's, so thats what I was going so slow. I'll try the ballast idea and see if that helps for low speeds.

Can anyone comment on whether its OK to to put the easy footer on a boom with two extensions?

[web]

If possible, shorten the cables. This gets the boom angled forward and the skier in front of the spray. As others mentioned, the spray will go away on its own at higher speeds, but the current method used at the ski schools seem to be going as slow as possible and low 20's sounds right in the easy footer.
For your question about an easy footer with two extensions, just call BFI and ask. Mike will give you the right answer.

[Jorski]

That formula mentioned above (weight/10 + 20) is an old school reference for long line...you can go quite a bit slower with proper technique even at long line; but this is especially true on the boom.

If I were you I would do two things.....

1) experiment with weight distribution in the boat...this may improve things slighty

and

2) Get a boom extention. This will put the footer further away from the spray.

http://www.waterskis.com/v/vspfiles/photos/Boom_Extension-2T.jpg

http://www.waterskis.com/Barefoot-International-Boom-Extension-p/boom_extension.htm

[ahhudgins]

Yes, as I mentioned, I have TWO extensions on my BI boom. This does not affect the boom or clamps because all of the pull is thru the cables on the bow eye.

I learned to barefoot 30 years ago by stepping off of a slalom ski so I had to Google “Easy Footer”. I read the instructions and I don’t see how this will work for different weight and height people because the boat will need to go different speeds in order for the persons feet to be just touching the water. If you add another extension, then the boom height will change under speed. A longer boom will cause the boat to list more to that side, offsetting your ballast on the other side. The Easy Footer just sounds like an extra variable in the equation. I prefer to use a kneeboard for beginners.

What are the ski levels of everyone attempting to barefoot? I don’t teach anyone to barefoot unless they can come up on a slalom ski and pull consistently thru both wakes.
I strongly recommend finding someone who already knows how to barefoot correctly before attempting this on your own. Barefooting is more than just “keeping your toes up”. The key is proper body position and a lot of dry land practice. I taught both of sons to barefoot using the boom and a kneeboard and at some point they got spray in their face but it was for no more than a few seconds. I never stayed at 20-25 MPH.
A good driver and proper on-site instruction are worth their weight in gold.