G23 Wakeboard Speed / Line Length Preferences

[Evening Shade]

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'm 42 and you are my inspiration! Have you been taking lessons the past few years to learn those inverts? What line length/speed do you use when first learning a new invert? Any other good tips? I've always been in fear of getting injured and being out of work and that holds me back big time.

[Kmayotte]

I'm 42 and you are my inspiration! Have you been taking lessons the past few years to learn those inverts? What line length/speed do you use when first learning a new invert? Any other good tips? I've always been in fear of getting injured and being out of work and that holds me back big time.

Agreed! I hope this is how my 40's go!

[Johnny_Rock]

Beg4wake And because a thread is always better with pictures.

Be great for me if someone could post some pics of the lead.

And just curious--do you leave the lead in the boat all the time? On the boat lift? On the trailer?

Thanks.

[Beg4wake]

Be great for me if someone could post some pics of the lead.

And just curious--do you leave the lead in the boat all the time? On the boat lift? On the trailer?

Thanks.

I only have #200 lbs of lead...a total of four 50# lead wake bags. I have all 4 thrown down in the bottom of the port side midship storage (right in front of the sub). Honestly I would like to have one more 50# bag. 250# would be perfect. With only that much lead you would have no problem leaving it in there all the time.

[Johnny_Rock]

I only have #200 lbs of lead...a total of four 50# lead wake bags. I have all 4 thrown down in the bottom of the port side midship storage (right in front of the sub). Honestly I would like to have one more 50# bag. 250# would be perfect. With only that much lead you would have no problem leaving it in there all the time.

Thanks for the reply. My only problem leaving it in there would be a 5,900 lb dry-weight boat on a 7,000 boat lift.

[nohlan_4]

Thanks for the reply. My only problem leaving it in there would be a 5,900 lb dry-weight boat on a 7,000 boat lift.

Who sold you a 7000# lift for a G23 should be shot. Shoremaster wouldn't even let me buy a 7000# they said 8000# minimum.....

I'd be nervous about being that close as your boat will be at 7000#'s fully geared up and ready for the lake.

[OKWAKEBDR]

Be great for me if someone could post some pics of the lead.

And just curious--do you leave the lead in the boat all the time? On the boat lift? On the trailer?

Thanks.

Sorry, I don't have any pics, but yes, I leave it in there all the time on the lift or towing (which is almost never).

7k lb lift isn't really sufficient (although they can usually hold much more than they are rated for). With a full tank of gas, you're already close to 6,500 lbs. Tower speakers and other gear can easily get you over 7k.

[Johnny_Rock]

Who sold you a 7000# lift for a G23 should be shot. Shoremaster wouldn't even let me buy a 7000# they said 8000# minimum.....

I'd be nervous about being that close as your boat will be at 7000#'s fully geared up and ready for the lake.

Long story. In a nutshell: bought the lift last year (had a pontoon at the time) knowing we'd probably eventually be in a surf boat. Got the surf boat sooner than we anticipated. No nobody really sold me the lift for a G23.

However, I emailed the manufacturer directly with the specs of the boat--he replied that it will work. Salesman also said it would work. (I realize I can't rely on this.)

[nohlan_4]

Long story. In a nutshell: bought the lift last year (had a pontoon at the time) knowing we'd probably eventually be in a surf boat. Got the surf boat sooner than we anticipated. No nobody really sold me the lift for a G23.

However, I emailed the manufacturer directly with the specs of the boat--he replied that it will work. Salesman also said it would work. (I realize I can't rely on this.)

I would just use caution is all. I personally wouldn't use anything less than 8k. Not sure what brand of lift you have but I know in the shore masters when you step up to the 8k the whole thing is beefed up alot where as the 7k is upgraded winch and cabling but the structure looks very similar to there 5k version. Also the jump from 7k to 8k is a lot more in the $$$ department.

[Johnny_Rock]

I would just use caution is all. I personally wouldn't use anything less than 8k. Not sure what brand of lift you have but I know in the shore masters when you step up to the 8k the whole thing is beefed up alot where as the 7k is upgraded winch and cabling but the structure looks very similar to there 5k version. Also the jump from 7k to 8k is a lot more in the $$$ department.

Believe me--I'm nervous about it. The dealer is coming tomorrow to work on it. (My brother is buying identical lift for lighter Malibu.) Dealer told me he just found out a few days ago that he thinks they make an 8K lift. To be on the safe side--I'll probably trade for the bigger one if all the add-ons (canopy, guides, etc.) are compatible.

[peternajim]

I'm 42 and you are my inspiration! Have you been taking lessons the past few years to learn those inverts? What line length/speed do you use when first learning a new invert? Any other good tips? I've always been in fear of getting injured and being out of work and that holds me back big time.

Evening Shade
Sorry for the late reply. Hopefully you had a great summer and are still riding through the Fall. This is how I learned one of my first inverts which was a back roll...Using info from and instructor friend and Learnwake.com, I skipped the long line attempt from wake to middle and just started with dialing a perfect straight body progressive pull w2w at 55 feet at 19MPH. Then I added the bankroll landing and letting go of the rope. I let go on landing 3-5 times. Then I tried to hold on and stick the landing. It was way less scary at 19(no ballast)mph and I landed the first on after 5-10 tries total. Keys for me were a good strict tall progressive pull, flattening the board on takeoff (balanced take off=balanced landing) and most importantly Wait to reach the apex of the jump before initiating the rotation. If you do all this correctly, you will jump high and have low line tension on the landing rather than a low fast jump which is way more impactful.

Learnwake.com was a big help.

Good luck and realize that once you can land this (or any other) move at slow speed, you can then take it to any speed and line length.

[ironj32]

stock ballast plus as much as she can handle, 24mph @ 77.5' = loads of fun and smiles for days!

[BigEasy]

I started out at 100% ballast, NCRS 5, 75ft and 23.4mph.

After 2 months of riding it my sweet spot is 100%

Ballast , NCRS 5, 70ft and 22.8mph

I also have 550# of lead in boat. Most of it towards the front.


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