subject: Using Inflatable Boats for Waterskiing [print this page] There is nothing quite like skimming along on the surface of the water with nothing but a handle to pull you and the skis on your feet to keep you from sinking.
If you are interested in giving the sport of waterskiing a try, then you will find that RIBs make ideal waterskiing boats. They feature the required power and acceleration to provide a proper pull for waterskiing and the low sides also allow for great visibility both forwards and backwards. The freeboard is relatively low, and the boat itself is extremely stable, so having skiers clamber on and off the boat is not the problem that it might be with a less stable conventional boat. Finally, the hard V hull provides the maneuverability and planing abilities that make RIBs the equal of or superior to conventional boats.
When towing a waterskier the line should be attached to a harness or yoke, and this is especially so with inflatable boats. With smaller inflatable boats, in particular, the importance of not simply attaching the line to a single cleat cannot be overemphasized. Attaching the line to a yoke helps to ensure that the boat tracks straight, regardless of how heavy the skier might be. If the line were simply attached to a cleat, then the boat will tend to yaw to whichever side of the boat the cleat is on. This effect is particularly pronounced in smaller inflatable boats.
If you are the owner of one of the larger sport boats or a small RIB, equipped with a motor that is 25 horsepower or over, then you can definitely enjoy the occasional pull out on the lake. Of course, you will not experience the same performance and speeds that the large RIBs will provide, but the experience should be adequate for a fun time. If you are using a sport boat for waterskiing, then you should keep in mind that sport boats become next to impossible to maneuver when burdened with the weight of towing a skier, so you should be extra careful when steering around obstacles in the water, particularly when avoiding other boats that are stationary in the water. The last thing you would want to do is collide full tilt with another boat while towing an unsuspecting waterskier behind your boat.
Using Inflatable Boats for Waterskiing
By: Alberto
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