subject: The Uses of Inflatable Boats: Waterskiing [print this page] Waterskiing is a very enjoyable sport. It is a water sport where a person is pulled behind a boat while he skims the surface of a lake or coastal waters. A water skier uses two water skis and starts in deep water as the skier needs to crouch down when starting. A powerful motorboat is needed for such pull and acceleration.
Waterskiing has taken on a new meaning. The water sport has evolved. There is the slalom skiing where a water skier uses only one ski. Then there is the parasailing, where a skier decided to junk his skis and don on a special parachute so he can fly' as a motorboat pulls him up from the water. A very powerful motorboat can easily pull three people up to parasail.
If you are into any of these water sports, the best inflatable for these is a large RIB boat. RIBs or rigid inflatable boats have rigid or molded fiberglass or aluminum bottom much like a conventional rigid boat. The inflatable part is the upper portion. RIBs offer rapid acceleration as it can support a powerful outboard that can pull more than one skier. The design of a RIB offers great visibility and maneuverability. It offers low freeboard and stability that makes it easier for skiers to get in and out of the water. The deep V-hull of the fiberglass or aluminum bottom presents full control and is perfect for planing more so than a conventional water craft.
A boat that is towing a skier must have the towline secured to a harness or yoke and not on a single cleat only more so if the boat is an inflatable. The harness or yoke will keep the pull of the skier centered on the boat and not side to side no matter the weight of the skier. Try to tie a rope to one side and observe how the boat will angle to that side as it run in circles around a skier it's supposed to tow.
A large sport boat or a small RIB with a 25-horsepower motor will do for a leisurely waterskiing. Do not expect a super acceleration speed as that will not happen. If you are using a sport boat with fabric-bottom make sure you adjust your distance from anchored boats as the control and maneuverability of these boats are lacking. Remember to always have a spotter with you when waterskiing.
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