Power Turns...UGH!!!

[Texan1554]

I turn to port and then cross my wake to pass the rider on my starboard. This puts me into the middle of the river coming around faster and then back over my wake slow and blip the throttle to keep from nosing in (if necessary). Are we suppose to turn starboard and the come around? Seems like that would be a wide turn.

The best thing you can do is as the rider falls, put the boat in neutral and turn the wheel the direction you want to go... your wake will push past you and start your turn for you. You can then put the boat in gear and ease back to your rider over calm water as your wake dissipates along the shore.

No crossing wakes, no gassing up to avoid a swamp, and no rollers down the middle of the river. This is even more important when surfing but you will always want to turn away from your weighted side.

[scott resick]

If im pulling a footer in open water and he/she falls I steadily pull the throttle into neutral and allow the boat to slow while holding my line. Then I bump it back in gear and turn back not to send a roller down river. by the time the boat has turned 180 to retrieve the skier my wake is disipating and I can speed up back to him and have clear water for the next pull. A skier in the course however, I will hold my speed through the course and Idle back through the gate and retreive the skier in the same fashion...considering I get the "thumbs up".

[River Monsters]

I've always thought if we were out alone it didn't really matter and if there was traffic I wanted to get back to my down rider faster. I don't really trust the other boats to be aware, but maybe it doesn't get me back any faster anyway. Never gave it much thought to tell you truth, not sure how much i do it. I had no idea it was causing teeth gritting dental problems for people sitting on their decks watching me.

[swc5150]

Agreed, a thumbs up and I coast to a stop and idle back. No thumbs up, and I'm at her side in the blink of an eye - almost literally. I think I need to clarify "power turn" in my world though. In the 190 or 200, it's a simple throttle to neutral, and flip the wheel starboard - not powering through the turn. There may be a disconnect in my thinking from the boarders, as wake boats don't come around in that fashion.

[BKinSoCal]

The best thing you can do is as the rider falls, put the boat in neutral and turn the wheel the direction you want to go... your wake will push past you and start your turn for you. You can then put the boat in gear and ease back to your rider over calm water as your wake dissipates along the shore.

No crossing wakes, no gassing up to avoid a swamp, and no rollers down the middle of the river. This is even more important when surfing but you will always want to turn away from your weighted side.

That is the perfect description of how it should be done when your rider/skier isn't hurt or at risk. I know flags aren't required on all bodies of water, but they are where we ride so any attentive boat driver (I know there is room for error with that) will see you have a rider in the water and steer clear because someone in the boat is holding the flag up.

[gride]

next time, why not go over to them, and nicely explain what they are doing and why it's wrong. even add in the fact that you used do it(true of not) until you were taught how to pick up a rider properly. who knows, maybe you'll make a new friend.

[BKinSoCal]

I think that's a great suggestion. Next time I see them out, I'll make a point of it. Like we've all stated, they most likely don't even realize the affect it has on the water or their fellow riders/skiers/boaters. Everyone has to learn it at some point. Hopefully we don't have to call Trevor Hansen out with a shovel.

[shag]

I have neighbors that recreational slalom, and they always make a big lap around the entire lake (smaller 300 acre lake) instead of doing straight lines. I love these neighbors like family, and have tried to bring it up and explain it, but they keep doing the same thing and saying that they like to always have the calm water.... And they were raised on a lake, and have been doing it for years..... Even heard them mention about the rough water.. lol

[BKinSoCal]

I have neighbors that recreational slalom, and they always make a big lap around the entire lake (smaller 300 acre lake) instead of doing straight lines. I love these neighbors like family, and have tried to bring it up and explain it, but they keep doing the same thing and saying that they like to always have the calm water.... And they were raised on a lake, and have been doing it for years..... Even heard them mention about the rough water.. lol

Shag, some people will just never get it will they?!

[81nautique]

Have to laugh, we shared a small stretch of river with a mastercraft the other day for about 3 hours and not once did we get in each others way. Then along came a big crownline and his boarder fell 3 times proceeded by big keel exposing powerturns. Screwed us up so bad we stopped for lunch to let things settle down. The kid boarding wasn't bad so you'd just think they had a clue that they we're screwing up their own water as well as everyone else's but they were oblivious.

[aarond0083]

http://www.nopowerturns.com

[swc5150]

Now that I've got a grasp on everyone's definition of a power turn, I agree they are really annoying. I do have a hard time with how some of our members present their anger/frustration with people power turning - referring to them as ignorant for example. We have local Supra owner, who loads a dozen people and a Bobcat load of lead in his boat, which sends a tidal wave over my dock every time he passes by. This dude has no problem stopping others, and telling them how to drive properly, but obviously isn't aware that his 3' rollers and 110db gangsta rap may be equally as annoying. I'm not trying to stir up a hornets nest here, just trying to present another prospective. I hate it when a fisherman stops in the middle of our course to cast a line, but I patiently wait for them to move elsewhere before skiing. There are a lot of "wrongs" out there on public water, but we need to proceed with caution before pointing out the "flaws" of others, just because we want them to do things our way. We need to look in the mirror and realize that we may be chapping people's hides with our actions. I'm sure some will let me have, so bring it on:-)

[briany]

As a reformed power turner, I think ignorance is the kindest term we can offer. My dad was a power turner, my wife's dad was a power turner, and with our first boat - we were power turners, as that is how we had learned to operate a boat. Then I discovered just how ignorant we were! After getting our Nautique I learned to properly pull a rider and am thankful I'm no longer part of the power turn problem.

I truly wish our lake (and other public lakes) would have some sort of public service postings to deter such driving techniques, because it makes everyone's boating experience worse. The greatest frustration for many of us is the tuber who hits our calm water and thinks nothing of it. I honestly think it is generally ignorance, because if it is not, then it is intentional harrassment and I don't think most people with whom we share the water are malicious. They simply don't understand the far-flung effects of how their driving effects others.

In fact, I would bet there are a great many boat operators who think big wakes on the lake are good for wakeboarding. After all, it is called WAKEboarding!

[scott resick]

[QUOTE][We need to look in the mirror and realize that we may be chapping people's hides with our actions. I'm sure some will let me have, so bring it on:-)/QUOTE]

I would like to to think that as Nautique owners, we obviously now a little about boating. If there is something your doing "in the mirror" stop it. I dont ski near the fishing hot spots, so dont fish in my course!!! Its very ind of you to wait for him, but what kind of guy drives into an obvious course of some sort to fish. I believe 99% of veteran Nautique owners now how to operate their boat in everyones best interest. Meaning riders, passengers and other boaters and their riders. Anytime I see an I/O pulling a boarder I noe to find a new spot to ski. Weekend warriors have a right to the water to, but we need to not be afraid to give a little guidance on our waters. Chances are these folks wish they were on a Nautique and the conversation will go our way.So if you need to look in the mirror, go ahead. Just fix what you dont like and dont be afraid to point these rookies in the right direction.

[EchoLodge]

Hey BK.... Chill out... What I hate is huge Nautiques throwing big wakes that are not utilized! Throws some **** inverts this season... Or better yet, start hydrofoiling!


Sent from my van down by the river!