G23 Wakeboard Speed / Line Length Preferences

[Kmayotte]

I haven't seen a thread on this in a while. Figured I would start one backup with the season upon us.

With stock ballast + your crew, What's your preferred wakeboard speed / line length / NCRS setting and your ability level?
Curious to hear above stock ballast setups and your ability level.

I've been experimenting between 75ft / 23.3 mph and 80ft / 23.8mph. Stock ballast + 4-6 people, NCRS @ 5.
My crew throws basic inverts and likes to go big. Backrolls, raley's, scarecrows, toe fronts, tantrums. 180's and grabs. No one is a great spinner.

We had a session this weekend with only a driver and spotter and put an 800# sac on the floor (center fore to aft, against the port seats). The wake was mint.

*Plenty of threads on surfing, let's keep this thread for wakeboarding only

[OKWAKEBDR]

First...you guys need to learn to spin. Haha.

23 mph. 75 ft line. NCRS ALWAYS at 5 no matter what. My ability level is similar (except i can spin). Haha.

[GMLIII]

Kmayotte & Okwakebdr, what are both of you putting in stock ballast to wakeboard? Belly, Port and Starboard LBS

[OKWAKEBDR]

I fill the stock all the way, and run about 400 lbs of lead throughout the boat...about 250 on the port to offset prop rotation and about 150 in the nose. That's it.

[Kmayotte]

OKWAKEBDR yeah we do. Honestly I used to spin in my early 20's and had a few 360 variations down. But as I've gotten older (almost 32) I prefer to stay in my lane so to speak and avoid injury. Go big, impress the ladies, go home with two knees in tact.

gmlupton stock ballast plus 200lbs lead on the port side. The extra 50#'s and bow weight OK is running would be helpful. On a cold day a few weeks ago no one wanted to sit in the bow and the boat was running a heavy in the transom for sure. Had to watch the water washing over the back very carefully.

[OKWAKEBDR]

Kmayotte I'm just messing with you. It's all about having fun no matter what. BUT...I'm older than you by 6 years, and I learned a TS5 about 2 years ago...just sayin'...rubbing it in a little bit. Although...I have blown out both of my knees - one of them on a HS3 and one of them on a HS backroll (I was in my 20s when I did that though.) If I wasn't wearing a knee brace, I'm pretty sure I would have blown one of them again last weekend trying to learn a cab roll.

[Beg4wake]

Kmayotte I'm just messing with you. It's all about having fun no matter what. BUT...I'm older than you by 6 years, and I learned a TS5 about 2 years ago...just sayin'...rubbing it in a little bit. Although...I have blown out both of my knees - one of them on a HS3 and one of them on a HS backroll (I was in my 20s when I did that though.) If I wasn't wearing a knee brace, I'm pretty sure I would have blown one of them again last weekend trying to learn a cab roll.

I love to hear of people around my age still trying new stuff!! Gives me hope and inspiration. I personally think that spins are easier on the knees than most inverts! It's the head that takes a pounding on bad edge catches from spins for me! I'm 34 and just started spinning (well spinning past 180's) last summer. Then on labor day last year dislocated my knee on a simple backroll that I just threw lazily. Now recovering from ACL, MCL, and Meniscus reconstruction. I'll prob HAVE to learn more about this thing they call surfing for the next month or so longer before returning to a board.

But to the original question, I'm right on par with you guys for set up...full ballast, 200# lead on port to offset prop (need another 50# for sure), approx 5-8 people, 23mph and 75' line. 80' @23.3mph only when its glass and I wanted just to do some big airs! But I find 75' @ 23mph to be the sweet spot between a long ramp and a steep vert! NOTHING can touch this G wake!

[Kmayotte]

Beg4wake hope your recovery is going well! I remember seeing your post about the injury last year. I also spend a lot of time mountain biking and snow skiing so giving up a few seasons for recovery would be hard. Hope you kept your sanity and will get back out there soon.

And because a thread is always better with pictures.

[GMLIII]

I love to hear of people around my age still trying new stuff!! Gives me hope and inspiration. I personally think that spins are easier on the knees than most inverts! It's the head that takes a pounding on bad edge catches from spins for me! I'm 34 and just started spinning (well spinning past 180's) last summer. Then on labor day last year dislocated my knee on a simple backroll that I just threw lazily. Now recovering from ACL, MCL, and Meniscus reconstruction. I'll prob HAVE to learn more about this thing they call surfing for the next month or so longer before returning to a board.

But to the original question, I'm right on par with you guys for set up...full ballast, 200# lead on port to offset prop (need another 50# for sure), approx 5-8 people, 23mph and 75' line. 80' @23.3mph only when its glass and I wanted just to do some big airs! But I find 75' @ 23mph to be the sweet spot between a long ramp and a steep vert! NOTHING can touch this G wake!

I'm 20 years passed your age still trying new stuff. After skiing for the past 45 years, I finally had to raise the white flag on slalom skiing on the the course when I broke my femur going from ball 2 to 3 at Bull Run Labor Day Weekend 2016. Long story short I sold my ski boat and purchased a G23 . Just started wake surfing vs sitting on porch watching everyone else having fun behind the boat . My kids , who were never interested in the course anyway are trilled with the new boat purchase. Anyway the break was a life changing experience


Sent from my iPad using PLT Nautique

[peternajim]

I am almost 49 and am definitely still learning new inverts and spins. I learned a tantrum, front roll, backroll, Scarecrow,all the 180s and a back 3 over the last few years. I think the key for me is to keep the boat speed and line length down, I ride at 60-65 feet and 20.8 - 22 mph. I figure that is Harley rides at 65 - 68 feet...its all good. Increasing the speed seems to really increase the injury potential. Its also critical to keep your legs and glutes super strong to manage the impacts and avoid knee injury. I meet a lot of guys who ride at 75-80 feet but haven't learned a new move in 15 years. I think all of them are at least 10 years younger than me. I ride my G23 with full ballast and 150 lbs on the port side to counter the prop. BTW, the wake is way bigger at 65 feet and 21.5 mph than 80 feet and 23.5. Anyway, this set up works for me and keeps me trying. To each his own.

[scttp]

2015 G23. Always 75 feet. Stock ballast with small crew = 23.2mph. Large crew or extra ballast up to 1,300lbs and I go up to 23.4 or 23.5.


Sent from my iPhone using PLT Nautique

[Beg4wake]

I am almost 49 and am definitely still learning new inverts and spins. I learned a tantrum, front roll, backroll, Scarecrow,all the 180s and a back 3 over the last few years. I think the key for me is to keep the boat speed and line length down, I ride at 60-65 feet and 20.8 - 22 mph. I figure that is Harley rides at 65 - 68 feet...its all good. Increasing the speed seems to really increase the injury potential. Its also critical to keep your legs and glutes super strong to manage the impacts and avoid knee injury. I meet a lot of guys who ride at 75-80 feet but haven't learned a new move in 15 years. I think all of them are at least 10 years younger than me. I ride my G23 with full ballast and 150 lbs on the port side to counter the prop. BTW, the wake is way bigger at 65 feet and 21.5 mph than 80 feet and 23.5. Anyway, this set up works for me and keeps me trying. To each his own.

I may actually give this a try! My only prob at 65' was that I was still going too hard and ending up way out in the flats. I also felt like the rope was trying to pull me back down. But maybe I just need to quit going so "hard in the paint" and just focus on the technique! Good input!

[peternajim]

It has probably been a while since you took a lesson, but almost all instructors will make you slow the boat down with a longer line to try the new truck you are working on into the middle. Then they will shorten the line with a slow boat speed so you can take it W2W. Once you can do it W2W you can go long line and fast to take it bigger. If you skip these steps, most people just stop learning new moves because the impacts are too hard. Maybe if you are flexible and 20 you can skip the progression...if you are sending it into the flats, you need to ease up on the pull. Maybe try delaying the pull. Start pulling like 2-3 feet from the wake. This will maintain critical line tension and make you go higher, but not farther into the flats.

[lion90]

2015 G23. Always 75 feet. Stock ballast with small crew = 23.2mph. Large crew or extra ballast up to 1,300lbs and I go up to 23.4 or 23.5.

But who would take the advice of a guy that rides behind a purple boat? I mean... seriously?!?!

75ft and 23.2 for me as well behind a 2013 G23 and some obnoxious purple 2015 G23

[thedude]

75' and 22.4 mph, full ballast + 200 lbs port side, ncrs at 5. The G hull keeps the wake nice and clean at slower speeds. I used to ride faster, but feel way more confident and in control at slower speeds. Give it a shot!