the open bow disadvantage

[ST]

How many people who buy recreational boats actually bother to take a boating safety course or read some safety literature? I've seen a lot of emphasis on proper weight distribution and how to deal with waves. A small direct-drive boat, 4 adults ahead of the engine with none behind, and bad driving/limited visibility...I'm not surprised at all about what happened (I don't mean to be harsh).

It's really sad that so many boaters have to learn their lessons the hard way. People think, "Steering wheel, throttle...what's there to learn?" Surprise! I don't blame them though. When people buy a new boat, do the dealers say, "Have you owned a boat before? Have you taken any classes?" Nope.

[OldFart]

Sounds like the majority says that there is NO open bow disadvantage; just need to compensate in one's driving. Seems like the INDUSTRY says so, that's about all that is selling.

[coinless]

The best advice I ever got was in how to pick up a skier. When a skier falls, throttle back turn to the left first until your boat settles, then turn back to the right and drive slowly to pick up your skier on the driver's side . You will never submarine if you drive this pattern.

[Grant_West]

I have a AIR Nautique, The Air and the 206 are basically the same boat, The boat rides much lower than a SAN, especially in the front. Having a 185 lb guy and his wife and his dog is a sure way to swamp your open bow boat. Even for a experianced driver doing nothing wrong just Ideling along I could see water splashing up and into the open bow, Is this a design falw or just using the boat in a way it was not ment to be used.

IMO the open bow on my Air must be used with caution. I only have small or light weight Lady's up there. For 2 reasons,

1. With any extra weight up there you have to be extra carefull how you drive and come off of plane and even Idle.

2. Looking at some 185lb dude in the front of my boat as I bounce down the lake is not my cup of tea, Get his a$$ in the back and swap him out for a spinner and your all good

[tourpro]

With some of the crazy pictures I've seen of weighted boats for surfing and wakeboarding I'm very surprised we don't hear more sunken inboard stories.

[ryanandrews]

some people just shouldnt own boats......no reason for that at all, as he said no one else was out there!..... :mrgreen:

[inboard60]

open bow disaster

Normally I am very aware of keeping my bow up with a load during a slow turn around to pick up the skiers. I have instructed my kids to say FALL when someone falls . . back completely out of the throttle un less we have the ballast full then make a slow turn and back around the skier . . . BUT the past weekend we had a full 01SAN with three teens up front and five and me in the back, no ballast . . . it was hot and I decided to dip the front just a little . . . well while we did not swamp the boat it did make me very nervous not to mention soaking the carpet under the seats, which I try hard to keep dry and also got all over my amps . . . what seemed cute almost ended up costing some big bucks . . . won't do it again . . . just watched the guy on you tube swamp the open bow . . . days of power turning are over . . . we then went to the surf mode with everyone on the left side of the boat . . . great surf wake but had to be very cautious in the turn around . . . has anyone swamped one sideways with the new "surfing" sport?

[NautiqueJeff]

. . . BUT the past weekend we had a full 01SAN with three teens up front and five and me in the back, no ballast . . . it was hot and I decided to dip the front just a little . . . well while we did not swamp the boat it did make me very nervous not to mention soaking the carpet under the seats, which I try hard to keep dry and also got all over my amps . . . what seemed cute almost ended up costing some big bucks . . . won't do it again . . .

Here's the result of a similar situation on the Alligator Chain in an X-Star. This took about 20 minutes to pump out.

[WakeSlayer]

" has anyone swamped one sideways with the new "surfing" sport? "

Certainly not "swamped" but I have taken a bit over the side in the back corner lately. getting to where I simply need to put less weight in for surfing. We all ride perfectly well and a slightly smaller wake is hardly going to be noticeable. My boat has actually gone into limp mode once. Oops.

Lastly, Jeff, what in the heck color is the water in the XStar ?

[NautiqueJeff]

That is the beautiful Coke-brown water of Lake Lizzie in St. Cloud, FL.

[NCH2oSki]

I have taken water over the windshield of my 196 before, sometimes no matter what you do its not enough when you encounter the wake from a 75' yacht going wide open. If I had an open bow I could never imagine haveing people in the bow when I was skiing. They are lucky no one was injured.

[WakeSlayer]

I have skiied in some interesting water before, but have not seen that......

[MHayes]

I have skiied in some interesting water before, but have not seen that......

You must have never skiied in FL before then.....it also makes it difficult to see the gators :shock:

[darrel409]

03 206 sunken boat update. Boat has been up and running since being dunked. No lingering problems or issues. If your going to sink your boat just hope you own a Nautique...takes a dunkin and keeps on truckin. :grin:

[WakeSlayer]

I have skiied a few times in the Brisbane River in Qld, AUS, and the water there is so murky that you cannot see the thousands of bull sharks Yellow_Flash_Colorz: swimming under you. Comforting, I think............ NOT !