watson 138 first impression

Thanks everyone for helping me choose a board. I was debating between a Shane and a Watson and I found a good deal on an 07' Watson so I grabbed it. My previous board was a LF Search 137 and my skill level is pretty low for this crowd (I can oli 180, 180 off the wake, clear the wakes hs + ts, 360 on the water, slide around, etc.. nothing inverted yet). My boat is a whaler 17' which has a wake like a jetski, and I rode with the center fins installed. So that's where I'm coming from.

The more I ride the watson the more I like it. It has a lot of drag, just going in a strait line I have to pull 2x harder on the rope than with my search. However it's got fantastic grip on the water, you've got to really screw up to have it slide out on you. It takes a lot more effort to get going fast but it holds the water so well that you can put almost all your strength into it and really get moving. So I really cannot call it slower because you can get the same speed, you just have to give more effort to get there. I think you can actually get going faster because it holds the water so well that you're able to put more strength into it. It's 100% easier to oli and 180, much more stable, and it does have more pop than the Search. So in short; it takes more effort to ride than my Search, but it's 100% more stable and predictable, bites the water fantastically and has better pop. When you butter slide or something similar, it takes a bit more effort to get it sideways because of the 3 fins, but once the fins break free it's nice and loose and slides nicely. I can see how this board would be really nice behind a boat that actually has a wake. ;) Can't wait to get back out there!

I have found that my new Byerly also requires me to pull harder, I.E. lots of drag so now I picked up my riding speed.

Glad to hear you like the new board.

I have an '07 Watson too, you might want to try removing the center fins. I like it better this way, powerslides are nice and it makes me use better technique for edging.