Wakeboard boat
Encyclopedia
Wakeboard Boats are designed to create a large, specially shaped wake, for a wakeboarder
to jump the wake
s from side to side doing aerial tricks.
boat
s. This means they are an inboard boat with the engine placed backwards in the rear of the boat. This is done to keep more weight in the back of the boat and make the wake larger. Some wakeboard specific boat models are direct drive boats where the engine is in the middle of the boat. Most wakeboard boats will have several features that help to create large wakes. These include ballast
, hydrofoil
, and hull
technology.
These devices often help to lower the stern of the boat, which creates a larger wake and are very useful when wakesurfing
as well.
However, the quality and size of the wake is largely a function of the hull design and ballast weight of the boat.
Malibu Boats
' "Wedge" is a hydrofoil device that can be extended or retracted. When the "Wedge" is extended in creates downward force that pulls the stern of the boat lower in the water. The "wedge" has often caused cracking in boat hulls, despite its relative effectiveness. Mastercraft
boats use an "attitude adjustment plate" which is a large trim tab that allows the boat to be trimmed- enhancing the wake. Correct Craft
(aka Nautique) developed the "Hydrogate" which uses Bernoulli's Principle
to trim their wakeboarding boats. It works by creating a small channel along the stern of the boat at the transom- when it is closed, the nose of the boat is lower when on a plane creating a wake better for skiing. When the trough opens, approximately 1/2 inches deep, the higher velocity of the water through the trough creates a region of lower pressure, and causes the transom to settle lower, for wakeboarding. Skiers Choice, manufacturer of Supra and Moomba, has created a wake plate that aids the boat in planing by allowing the driver to adjust the device (basically a trim tab). All manufactures have some type of ballast system in addition to the other devices.
s can be attached to the tower, getting equipment up and out of the boat and harm's way.
Wakeboarding
Wakeboarding is a surface water sport which involves riding a wakeboard over the surface of a body of water. It was developed from a combination of water skiing, snow boarding and surfing techniques....
to jump the wake
Wake
A wake is the region of recirculating flow immediately behind a moving or stationary solid body, caused by the flow of surrounding fluid around the body.-Fluid dynamics:...
s from side to side doing aerial tricks.
Boat types
Generally speaking, wakeboard specific boats are V-driveV-drive
V-drive is a propulsion system for boats that consists of two drive shafts, a gearbox, and a propeller. In a "V-drive" boat the engine is mounted in the rear of the boat and the front of the engine faces aft. Connected to the rear of the engine is the transmission. The first drive shaft connects...
boat
Boat
A boat is a watercraft of any size designed to float or plane, to provide passage across water. Usually this water will be inland or in protected coastal areas. However, boats such as the whaleboat were designed to be operated from a ship in an offshore environment. In naval terms, a boat is a...
s. This means they are an inboard boat with the engine placed backwards in the rear of the boat. This is done to keep more weight in the back of the boat and make the wake larger. Some wakeboard specific boat models are direct drive boats where the engine is in the middle of the boat. Most wakeboard boats will have several features that help to create large wakes. These include ballast
Sailing ballast
Ballast is used in sailboats to provide moment to resist the lateral forces on the sail. Insufficiently ballasted boats will tend to tip, or heel, excessively in high winds. Too much heel may result in the boat capsizing. If a sailing vessel should need to voyage without cargo then ballast of...
, hydrofoil
Hydrofoil
A hydrofoil is a foil which operates in water. They are similar in appearance and purpose to airfoils.Hydrofoils can be artificial, such as the rudder or keel on a boat, the diving planes on a submarine, a surfboard fin, or occur naturally, as with fish fins, the flippers of aquatic mammals, the...
, and hull
Hull (watercraft)
A hull is the watertight body of a ship or boat. Above the hull is the superstructure and/or deckhouse, where present. The line where the hull meets the water surface is called the waterline.The structure of the hull varies depending on the vessel type...
technology.
Wedges and plates
Many watersports boat manufacturers have developed systems to further enhance the shape of the wakes their boats create.These devices often help to lower the stern of the boat, which creates a larger wake and are very useful when wakesurfing
Wakesurfing
Wakesurfing is a water sport in which a surfer trails behind a wakeboard boat, surfing the boat's wake without being directly attached to the boat. The wake from the boat mimics the look and feel of an actual ocean wave...
as well.
However, the quality and size of the wake is largely a function of the hull design and ballast weight of the boat.
Malibu Boats
Malibu Boats
Malibu, which is headquartered in Merced, California, is a United States manufacturer of recreational boats, founded in 1982. Malibu is notable as a major manufacturer of water sports boats, used in water skiing and wakeboarding tournaments.-History:...
' "Wedge" is a hydrofoil device that can be extended or retracted. When the "Wedge" is extended in creates downward force that pulls the stern of the boat lower in the water. The "wedge" has often caused cracking in boat hulls, despite its relative effectiveness. Mastercraft
Mastercraft
The name Mastercraft may refer to any of the following:* MasterCraft: a brand and manufacturer of recreational boats* Mastercraft : a line of tools sold by Canadian Tire...
boats use an "attitude adjustment plate" which is a large trim tab that allows the boat to be trimmed- enhancing the wake. Correct Craft
Correct Craft
Correct Craft is a U.S.-based builder of powerboats primarily for ski and wakeboard use. It was founded in 1925 by Walt C. Meloon as the Florida Variety Boat Company.-History:...
(aka Nautique) developed the "Hydrogate" which uses Bernoulli's Principle
Bernoulli's principle
In fluid dynamics, Bernoulli's principle states that for an inviscid flow, an increase in the speed of the fluid occurs simultaneously with a decrease in pressure or a decrease in the fluid's potential energy...
to trim their wakeboarding boats. It works by creating a small channel along the stern of the boat at the transom- when it is closed, the nose of the boat is lower when on a plane creating a wake better for skiing. When the trough opens, approximately 1/2 inches deep, the higher velocity of the water through the trough creates a region of lower pressure, and causes the transom to settle lower, for wakeboarding. Skiers Choice, manufacturer of Supra and Moomba, has created a wake plate that aids the boat in planing by allowing the driver to adjust the device (basically a trim tab). All manufactures have some type of ballast system in addition to the other devices.
Hull technology
Hull technology is the innovation and R&D that the manufacturers put into their boats to ensure the best stock wake possible. Many boarders use aftermarket ballast and lead to further weigh down their boats for very large wakes or for sports such as wake surfing. Most wakeboat manufacturers have installed factory ballast but sometimes more weight is needed. Ballast can take the form of hard tanks or soft bags which are filled with water from the body of water the boat is being operated on.Wakeboard tower
A wakeboard tower is usually one of the specific characteristics of a wakeboard boat. It elevates the pulling position of the rope allowing the rider to launch and stay into the air longer reducing the pull downwards. Wakeboard Racks and BiminiBimini
Bimini is the westernmost district of the Bahamas composed of a chain of islands located about 53 miles due east of Miami, Florida. Bimini is the closest point in the Bahamas to the mainland United States and approximately 137 miles west-northwest of Nassau...
s can be attached to the tower, getting equipment up and out of the boat and harm's way.
External links
- WakeBoatOwners An online community for Wakeboard Boat Owners to share their boats and discuss their hobby with other enthusiasts.
- The Wakeboard Report A site that covers the boats used in the sport of wakeboarding and reviews new models and provides impressions of new and existing wakeboard boats.
- Wakeboard San Diego A online community for San Diego and Southern California wakeboarders.