How to Drive a Ski Boat

Combine knowledge and common sense to drive a ski boat safely.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Safety Flags
• Life Vests
• Ski Boats
• Water Ski Ropes
• Water Skis

1. Familiarize yourself with your boat and every piece of equipment on it.

2. Learn about the body of water where you'll be steering the ski boat. Be aware of any currents, underwater obstacles and shallow areas.

3. Develop a checklist that you review before each outing that includes what to do in an emergency.

4. Communicate with your skiers. Agree upon speeds, lengths of rides and skiing areas. Agree on hand signals and verbal signals for important communications.

5. Know your skier's skill levels and adjust accordingly.

6. Designate an "observer" at all times. It's easy to rotate throughout the day, but make sure the designated person knows he is "it." It's the observer's job to watch the skier at all times so that the driver can look forward and concentrate on driving the boat.

7. Start skiers by accelerating gradually until the desired speed is reached, then back off gradually to settle at that speed.

8. Know how to land a skier and how to return a rope to a fallen skier (see related eHows).

9. Use common sense and practice safety at all times.

Tips & Warnings

• Compute the length of the ski rope and the width a skier can ski to either side of the boat to calculate the size of the vehicle you are driving.
• Check out related eHows ("How to Turn a Ski Boat" and "How to Land a Skier").
• When towing a skier, never drive closer than 150 feet to any object, vessel, marker or shoreline.
• Always use safety gear and make sure the gear is in proper working order before each trip. Life vests are a must.

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on 8/8/2006 So you won't over shoot your target speed, learn what RPM is indicated on your tachometer for a desired speed. When you pick your skier up, head for that RPM. The boat will eventually plane out and you're speed will be just about right.

If your engine is small, or your skier heavy, and you must use full throttle to get the skier out, head for the target RPM smoothly as soon as they're up. If you pull the throttle back too quickly, you risk undershooting your target and giving the skier slack rope.

on 8/8/2006 Generally speaking:
Lighter skiers go slower, wider skis go slower, 2 skis go slower than 1 ski

Likely Ranges:
2 skis 18-25 mph. Max 30 mph.
1 ski 23-30 mph. Max 36 mph.
Wake Board 15-19 mph. Max 23 mph.