That said, for larger skiers (traditional or slalom) over 200 lbs, an inboard ski boat is generally the best option. These boats are typically built with more powerful engines and low pitch propellers. [links]
See full version: Minimum Horsepower For Wakeboarding, Skiing, Tubing? What Riders Say
That said, for larger skiers (traditional or slalom) over 200 lbs, an inboard ski boat is generally the best option. These boats are typically built with more powerful engines and low pitch propellers. [links]
Slalom skiing also requires fast deep water starts, hard to pull on a small boat loaded with people. A heavy, small boat with inadequate horsepower won’t have enough power to pull the skier out of the water and reach a plane quick enough. more
70 HP is more than adequate to tow a traditional skier, tuber, or wakeboarder. With an appropriately sized boat for the horsepower, you can typically tow two skiers on double skis. here
However, anything above this (eg 1000 lbs) will be difficult to power with a 25-40 HP engine. more
Getting up on two skis and dropping one is possible, though the low power of the boat will make it difficult to stay up on a slalom ski. here
In recent years, more horsepower hasn’t always meant more weight. However, it is still true in some cases, and that additional weight is another component of high horsepower that can be dangerous. For example, the additional weight can make a self-draining cockpit useless, leading to flooding problems.
There are two different ways the federal government uses to determine the maximum horsepower for any given boat — one is a computation, and the other is a performance test. The way that is used depends on the boat. For the majority, the computation method is best to use. You multiply your boat length by the transom width. Then you take that number, which is known as the “factor,” and match it to a horsepower capacity according to the Code of Federal Regulations Table 183.53 — Outboard Boat Horsepower Capacity, shown below. here
Through using a dynamometer, you’ll be able to see the horsepower versus rpm values for the engine, which is especially important for calculating peak horsepower. Engines will have a point in rpm at which the power available from the engine has reached its maximum. This is known as peak horsepower — it’s often documented as “___ HP at ____ rpm.”
If you’ve been searching for a boat to purchase, or have reached the point at which you’d like to get a new engine, chances are you’ve asked the question, “How much horsepower do I need for my boat?” While the individual concerns may be different — wanting to make sure there’s enough horsepower or not too much horsepower — it’s a question many people who are interested in purchasing a new boat ask.
Is it illegal to overpower a boat? According to the federal government, yes. There are a few different ways you can define overpowering a boat. The horsepower capacity section of the Code of Federal Regulations contains its definition of overpowering a boat. here
There is also a chance your insurance company will not cover a vessel that exceeds the boat manufacturer’s max horsepower. This is an extremely important factor, as it could affect your ability to get insurance coverage for your boat. If your boat is currently insured and you’re considering a motor upgrade, make sure you know your insurance company’s rules for horsepower limits. If you upgrade without abiding by these rules and notifying your insurance company, there’s a good chance they won’t cover any claim you file. [links]
12 foot Jon Boats average a maximum of 5-7hp.
10 foot Jon Boats average a maximum of 3-5hp with most being on the lower end of that.
That was a lot of numbers we just went through. What do they all mean? Why does it matter? Here are some more considerations when thinking about your boat’s horsepower. more
I find it funny that in this day and age we still compare units of energy in relation to a horse. Why do we still do that? Do all horses have the same amount of strength? I learned recently that the unit of horsepower is actually pretty simple: 1 horsepower can move 550 pounds 1 foot in 1 second. That’s the measurement. more
Having said that, the hull design can create a dramatic impact on how much wake the water skier has to deal with. Remember, the less wake there is, the better the water skiing is. here
Kern is a life long boater who finds great happiness sitting at the helm of a boat running on the open water. When he's not running the boat, he's likely anchored up along the beach with his wife, kids and good friends enjoying a great day at the coast.
Physics lessons aside, all you really need to know is the appropriate water skiing speed to obtain with a boat. That depends on the experience level of the water skier. here
Second, soft and flat wake being left behind the boat is preferable for water skiing, although it does prevent wakeboarding and wake surfing.
If you're traveling to a lake, hiring a wakeboarding boat can be a good idea. There's nothing like a warm summer day on a lake. If you want to have some lake fun-time, but don't have your boat.