boat

I have a sea ray 26 cuddy and the wake is big. its an 8ft. beam and has a 454. I just started wakeboarding last summer and only made it out about 5 times. when i tried jumping the wake i crashed everytime. the wake just foams over and seems really wide. Is this because the boat is maybe going a bit too slow? I think it was about 18mph or so.

Chris, try shortening your rope about 5 feet so the wake isn't as wide. That'll get you starting to go wake to wake. As you progress, let it back out.

18 mph might be a bit slow with an I/O as well. Try trimming it a little, and speed it up to about 22 mph. It should clean up the wake.

You may want to throw some weight in the bow of your boat as well. You certainly will have the power to handle it. That'll keep the boat from porpoising (bow bouncing) - most I/O's do this.

Hope it helps.

ok thanks i will try that as soon as lake erie thaws out a little haha. i also probably should learn to progressive edge since that seems to be the key to even getting off the water at all.

Ya, don't even bother trying to jump until you get the wake clean and crisp. Increasing the speed and balancing the boat (left/right/front/back) will clean the wake. Next, get yourself a good wakeboarding instructional DVD like Higher Education fro bumpfilms. Learn the learning progression. Start with inside-out wake jumps leading to outside-in single wake jumps leading to outside-in double wake jumps (wake to wake). Next, learn it toeside and heelside. Next, learn it switch and regular. Next, add grabs. Next, add 180s. Next, ... its a long fun learning curve.

yeah that sounds good. My boat doesnt have a tower either is that really that big a deal or will i still be able to basically do everything once good enough. I have higher education and think it really helps a lot.