Boat speed and rope length

What is a good boat speed and rope length for wakeboarding? To catch the best part of the wake?

depends on the boat and weight distribution.

Being a fairly new driver myself, how does weight distribution affect the sweet spot of the wake? Does adding weight to the bow bring it forward or move it back?

Weight forward moves it back, but don't go over a 50% of the weight in the bow.

different lengths, different speeds, different riders , different boats, different weights. go out and experiment... and oh yeah, have fun!

Speed 19-23 or there about. Use a wakeboard rope not a ski rope. Start at 65' then adjust up or down 5' to riders skill and comfort. When the rider gets up watch the wake as it curls over or braking. It should brake just after the rider. Adjust speed or rope length to achieve this.

(Message edited by sydwayz on May 16, 2007)

There are a lot of variables at work here but this is kind of how we work it out for different riders.

For less advanced riders that do not ride with a lot of ballast: First find what speed you are comfortable riding at (usually between 18-22MPH). Second, at that speed, ride the longest rope length where you can clear the wake toeside AND the wake is still firm (usually between 55-75 feet, 65 a good place to start as already suggested).

If you have a lot of ballast, say over 1000lbs, then you have to ride at faster speeds to get a firm wake so riding slower speeds is not an option in most boats. The more ballast the faster you got to go. With a lot of ballast, find the minimum speed where the wake is firm between 70 and 80 feet (ususally 21-15MPH depending on boat and balast). Start of riding at that minimum speed and find the rope length where you are landing in the trough on normal jumps and increase speed to suite preferences and re-adjust rope length if necessary.