Forward Drive I/O: New Technology, More Wake Surf Boats???

[SANonTellico]

Interesting - Volvo Penta put the props on the front side of an I/O to make it safe for wake surfing. Plenty of pros and cons, at the very least, I assume a number of other manufacturers will start to introduce their version of a wake surfing boat.
This should be good for Nautique, as more people get interested in the sport, more people will be visiting the Nautique dealers.
Like any other sport, the more people doing it, the more everyone benefits.
A rising tide floats all boats......
http://www.boattest.com/engine-revie...ard-Drive_2015

[swankster]

And big wakes can shut down lakes. Hopefully responsibility comes with it.

[ericchile]

Interesting.. now raising the prop drive will have the opposite effect of previous I/O. That is it will not (at first) raise the prop out of the water, but would angle it at a more downward slope. I wonder what this would do for the wakesurf wave?

[BoardSkier]

Raising the drive past a certain point will probably only work in reverse. I agree with the statement above about being a responsible surfer. Unfortunately we've seen fully ballasted boats surf within 20 feet of anchored boats with swimmers. Called out one guy we saw at a dock later. He responded "it's a public lake. i can go where I want."


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[pokesgrad02]

I get to replace all of my hardware on my lift this summer. Dock mechanic told me he is seeing it more and more since surfing has become popular. Don't get me wrong I enjoy doing it but the industry better start educating people or it will be a thing of the past. Plenty of places (on my lake) to do it without affecting personal property.

[surroundsound64]

Didn't Volvo come out with a drive a few years ago that attached to the front of the boat? Seems like they are on a continuous hunt for new stuff. Maybe something will stick eventually.