Tips for Improving your Wake

Over the years, wakesurfing has been steadily climbing the popularity ladder in the world of watersports. It’s no surprise that more and more people are buying boards and giving the sport a try. Once you’ve experienced the thrill of getting some major air while wakesurfing, you’ll be hooked. There are some key pointers to keep in mind that’ll help you improve your wake.

At Riva Marine and Motorsports of the Keys, we want to help you achieve the ultimate wakesurfing experience. We’ve got more to offer than just advice. Our location meets all your needs with wakesurf and wakeboard boats, towboats, and jet boats for sale. Call us or stop by our boat dealership in Key Largo, Florida today!

Proper Piloting

Before you think of adding bells and whistles to the boat as a way to improve your wake, you first need to learn how to pilot. Speed is an important factor to consider, between 20-25 mph is ideal for creating a good wake. When you get to your desired speed, the next step is to maintain that speed. This way, the wake will remain consistent and it’ll become easier for the surfer to ride behind the boat as it travels at an even speed. Remember that when the rider enters the wake, the boat may slow down. You can open up the throttle to get back to your target speed. Accelerate slowly once the rider is behind the boat.

In addition to speed, your other focus will be keeping the boat in a straight line. The slightest turn can cause the wake to fade or disappear. If you can’t avoid a turn, then continue driving straight ahead and make a hard cut to the change direction. You’ll want to avoid making this kind of turn when the rider is cutting into the wake, though.

Cleaning up the Wake

Once you’ve gotten the hang of piloting, you can start cleaning up the wake. You’ll need to adjust the trim if you notice the wake doesn’t look good. When you trim the engine, the bow rises so that the stern can push deeper into the water to improve the wake size. Be sure to use caution when you trim, because the wake can become steeper and form too close to the boat. After some practice and test rides, you should be getting in the groove of handling your boat so that you can create the perfect wake.

The last step in cleaning up the wake is adjusting the weight in the boat so the shape is consistent on both sides. This is easy if you’ve got a lot of passengers on board. You’d simply have people stand in certain places around the boat to balance the weight. Another option is to use fat sacks, which are large bladders filled with water, placed strategically around the boat to redistribute weight. Before using fat sacks, make sure that your boat’s floor can handle the weight.

Adding Ballast

Now you can focus on building up the wake, which can be as simple as adding some extra weight to your tow boat. These days, there are many wakesurf boats that come equipped with factory ballast. If you don’t have this kind of boat, there are other ways to add ballast. Some options include bringing more people on board or using the fat sacks. Regardless of how you choose to add more weight, be sure to keep it evenly distributed. You can easily lose the wake you strived to achieve if you have an imbalance.

You’re well on your way to become a wakesurfing pro! By following these few simple steps, you will be impressing all your friends out on the water with your perfect wakes. At Riva Marine and Motorsports of the Keys, we have all of your wakesurf boat needs. With a fantastic selection of boats for sale, wakeboard boats, towboats, and more, we truly have it all. Visit our boat dealership in Key Largo, Florida today and see for yourself!