Boat Speed

I need some help with boat speed. I ride behind a SAN 210 with the rope at 60 feet. I am 6'9 and 240 pounds. I was told to ride at about 18 mph, but I think that is too slow. What do you guys recommend as a boat speed for me?

60 feet is really short. The SAN is a narrow boat, and consequently makes a narrow wake. 18 is pretty slow. I have an '05 SANTE, and my wake doesn't really clean up until 20ish.

I normally ride 22-23 mph @ 70-75 feet, and I'm 5'6" 165

80-85 feet is not uncommon if you wanna go a little faster (23-25 mph).

Especially at your size, I'd say lengthen the rope and speed up. How much really depends on your ability.

6'9 , 240 lbs and ride at 18 MPH?????

I pull the feather weight girls at that speed.

For you I would recommend 23 to 24 MPH.

As for the rope length, it all depends. Closer to the boat has a narrower wake and thus less distance to jump going wake to wake. The down side is that the wake tends to be steeper.

I started off trying on a short rope (one of these days I am going to measure it) but I found that my "out of shape" leg muscles just couldn't handle the steep ramp. My legs would just buckle under me and absorb all the pop.

When I backed up a bit the wake had a longer ramp to it which I could handle. Much more pop, a lot higher, longer hang time and I could go wake to wake.

Well, I definitely don't want to be considered a feather weight girl! I will definitely up the speed and lengthen the rope. The description of the steeper wake with the shorter rope is very interesting. Great advice fellas -- I can't wait to get back out there!

I am 6'7 and 220 lbs and I ride at 70 ft and 23mph. It all comes down to personal preference but I would agree that 18mph is definately too slow.

At 6'9 240 when you go 18 mph how do you even stay up, I would think at that speed you would sink down pretty low, I'm about 6'0 150 lbs and i ride at 24 mph

Agree 6'9 240 23 to 24

I agree 18 is too slow (unless you're my 12 year old sister kneeboarding).

You've got a thumb, use it. Up for faster, down for slower. The driver should adjust the speed according to your personal preference (not to maximize fuel economy).

Also remember that 18 on one boat speedo doesn't = 18 on another.

I think that every boat is so different that it is impossible to compare my '05 Tige with Perfect Pass to someones '97 (whatever) with dial speedo.

I am 6ft, 220, and I like to ride at between 18 and 22. I feel that the extra speed only makes me catch an edge quicker, and fall harder.

Back when I skied, I would always want to go faster, no matter what, so that I could leverage through the course at short line lengths to make up for my poor technique. I would want 36 or faster every time.

Which is why I like to ride now, easier falls, more fun.

I like the thumb system, up/down. How can you go wrong??

Sean