Taking waves over the bow

[skps190]

What are you guy's techiques for avoiding taking waves over the bow? We've been doing a ton of wakesurfing and it seems like whenever some one falls and we go to pick them up it is a constant battle. I usually put it in neutral right away and let the rollers from behind pass us up and then turn around, it works but takes more time. When other people are driving and I'm the one who fell 5 times out of 10 it is inevitable that the nose of the boat goes up and then straight into the next roller filling the bow. What do you do and how do you "politely" inform the other drivers of a better way? It's beginning to become a pain because no one wants to sit in the bow anymore.

[BriEOD]

Just as you say, when the rider falls you pull the throttle back to neutral. Once the wakes dissipate, turn the boat the opposite way that your making your surf wave. More specifically, if you have a rider on a wave on the port side of the boat, turn the boat to starboard. Then circle back around and pick up your rider.

Take a page out of the slalom and barefoot driver's book, unless the rider is in distress, there is no need to haul-tail back and pick them up. Go slow, you'll kick up less wake to tear up the water and you'll keep water from going over the bow.

[Philscbx]

I was making similar mistake the first time out in the 209 -
Just cruising - attempting to cross a large wake by cruiser,
I backed off throttle at the wrong moment and wake almost breaks over the bow as bow dove downward -
Quick throttle up saved it.

It is un-nerving to say the least, for anyone on board.

[Stefan]

I only took waves over the bow twice, mainly because only me and a friend are driving most of the time... but driving slow and waiting for the rollers to pass before turning is the main key, also turning around on the side you're not surfing on helps a bit.

[bstanislaw]

Simple. When your coming into the rollers give it a little throttle to kick up the bow. works everytime for me.

[Iskidaily]

Now for the training family and friends part.... maybe have a practice session for the other drivers with you in the boat, maybe ask them to give you tips to show you how to avoid taking on water? Then take their advice, with them in the bow!

[Barefooter92]

Originally Posted by skps190

What are you guy's techiques for avoiding taking waves over the bow? We've been doing a ton of wakesurfing and it seems like whenever some one falls and we go to pick them up it is a constant battle. I usually put it in neutral right away and let the rollers from behind pass us up and then turn around, it works but takes more time. When other people are driving and I'm the one who fell 5 times out of 10 it is inevitable that the nose of the boat goes up and then straight into the next roller filling the bow. What do you do and how do you "politely" inform the other drivers of a better way? It's beginning to become a pain because no one wants to sit in the bow anymore.

Your boat...your rules...You tell them excatly how you want your boat driven or they can find another ride! Pretty Simple.

[mzimme]

When we surf, as soon as a rider falls I back off the throttle gradually until im in neutral, then kick the throttle into reverse to spin the boat a little bit and let the rollers pass by. Gotta be careful doing this, if you reverse too early you can take a bunch of water on from the stern. Since the boat naturally turns starboard while reversing, I get it about 90* from my original direction of travel using reverse, then slowly idle forward to my rider. I do this on a boat that barely sits out of the water (83 S&S) and have yet to take any water in from the stern or over the bow. Also using this method eliminates any sort of power turning and keeps the water nice and calm for the next get-up.

[CantRepeat]

If you know how not to get waves over the bow then just tell the driver what you want them to do so it doesn't happen to them or get a different driver if they can't understand what to do.

[thatsmrmastercraft]

Originally Posted by BriEOD

Just as you say, when the rider falls you pull the throttle back to neutral. Once the wakes dissipate, turn the boat the opposite way that your making your surf wave. More specifically, if you have a rider on a wave on the port side of the boat, turn the boat to starboard. Then circle back around and pick up your rider.

Take a page out of the slalom and barefoot driver's book, unless the rider is in distress, there is no need to haul-tail back and pick them up. Go slow, you'll kick up less wake to tear up the water and you'll keep water from going over the bow.

Originally Posted by bstanislaw

Simple. When your coming into the rollers give it a little throttle to kick up the bow. works everytime for me.

These guys have the answers.