Surfing behind inboard/outboard

B

barefoot1999

New Member
Jul 1, 2009
52
Oklahoma
Boat Info
210 Sundeck 2008
Engines
5.0L MPI Bravo III
Before I get flamed for the subject let me say that I stand strong on safety first. Having said that, my previous boat was a 1994 180 BR with a very short (maybe 12") back swim deck that sat high off the water. You could easily stand on the top of the outdrive just off the platform. It was extremely dangerous for my kids to jump of the platform in that area for fear of striking the outdrive or propeller. A large number of I/O's today have giant water level swim platforms including my current '08 210 Sundeck. It is nearly impossible to even kick the outdrive or propeller while swimming at the edge of the platform.

Now my question to all...I have surfed behind Inboards and few times and love it. I wonder if it would be safe enough to surf behind my current boat since the swimdeck covers the outdrive so much more then older I/O's. Anyone care to comment? Please don't post any mangled arm and hand pictures. We've all seen those before.

Thanks for your comments...
 
Ye, go for it. Just make you Life Insurance is made out to me and paid up in full. (Grin) Have you tried platform surfing yet?
 
You know, I did the platform surfing behind an inboard hanging from the teak wood. This was BEFORE all the carbon monoxide warnings and deaths that occurred. I absolutely hated it and yelled at the driver to stop. Why would ANYONE want to drag their body across the water like that? I found that it stung and I ended up bruised on my legs. You can get the same effect hanging off a tube at 75 feet. Never again. Even barefooting doesn't hurt like that!:smt013
 
When you "surf", do you mean hanging onto the platform? If that's the case, I think the answer is obvious.
 
I don't get it....

Not really sure I know what you are talking about?

Do you mean water skiing????
 
Are you talking about standing on the swim platform when the boat is moving?
like car surfing
 
It's a small surfboard, not long like a real surfboard in the ocean. Still has the large fin in the bottom back of the board. The rope is about 10 - 15 feet long and you are positioned approximately 5-7 feet behind the boat. The boat travels only 7-8 miles an hour thus producing a huge wake. With I/O's you could trim it up alot and make an even bigger wake. Once you get into the wake and are able to "surf" down the 2-3 foot wake and are able to gain slack in the rope, you toss the rope back into the boat. Now you are surfing.

Problem is that some I/O's stick out very far and it is possible to fall into the propeller. I'm thinking the new large platforms would prevent that from happening.
 
barefoot1999 said:
You know, I did the platform surfing behind an inboard hanging from the teak wood. This was BEFORE all the carbon monoxide warnings and deaths that occurred. I absolutely hated it and yelled at the driver to stop. Why would ANYONE want to drag their body across the water like that? I found that it stung and I ended up bruised on my legs. You can get the same effect hanging off a tube at 75 feet. Never again. Even barefooting doesn't hurt like that!:smt013
Click to expand...

Are you kidding??? This can't be for real....
 
To close for comfort, fall forward with your hands out in front might be a problem.
 
I think he is talking about actually surfing on the wake just behind the platform.. I wouldn't do it.... if you fell in and the boat stopped quick you would be right up into the outdrive. A lot of people surf on our lake behind inboard ski boats and that even makes me nervous.... Looks like fun though
 
OK, that sounds a little better than dangling your tootsies above a spinning prop... A little...

In theory, if you fall, you should not land anywhere near the prop since you will slow down as you fall. Unless, of course, you jump forward as you fall.

Just to be safe, couldn't you start a little further back, then once you're on plane and outside the wake, use the rope to pull yourself forward a bit?

Put a set of Lenco electric trim tabs on and you can lean the boat way over onto one side. :thumbsup:
 
Larry,

Platform surfing is for real and VERY DANGEROUS due to the carbon monoxide poisoning. It's really not surfing, just body dragging. Hated it.
 
barefoot1999 said:
You know, I did the platform surfing behind an inboard hanging from the teak wood. This was BEFORE all the carbon monoxide warnings and deaths that occurred. I absolutely hated it and yelled at the driver to stop. Why would ANYONE want to drag their body across the water like that? I found that it stung and I ended up bruised on my legs. You can get the same effect hanging off a tube at 75 feet. Never again. Even barefooting doesn't hurt like that!:smt013
Click to expand...


Good points. Now as to that tubing, it sure is good/fun to put the future son-in-law out at the end of that rope and see how they handle it. (Grin)

I know on my 240SD I can throw a big enough wake about 10-15 feet behind that somebody could surf on. Some times if the jet skier are good I'll powerdown and trim up and throw a monster wake for them to play on. As long as they stay far enough back and play safe it's neat watching them some time.
 
Uraldyx,

And see your boat is exactly what I'm talking about. Your outdrive is clearly visible and you could easily fall into the propeller. Maybe Lazy is right...just start a little farther back and that might help. Thanks for the trim tab suggestion:grin:.

Oh well, I've had the new boat all summer and still haven't tried it yet. I agree with everyone here, it might be too dangerous. Then again, as you are falling the boat is still moving away from you.

I say the jury is still out...
 
OK, I get it now...

You were scaring me when you were talking about being draged behind the boat holding onto the platform...

Looks kind of cool, don't think I would do it though, although my boat throws a huge wake at about 10 kts.(it's inboard)!!!!
 
I've actually REALLY been wanting to try this behind my 260. In fact, my brother-in-law even has a 5' surfboard sitting in his living room. But he says he doesn't want to risk damaging it as he likes it just for decoration. Whisky Tango Foxtrot, 'ya know! Heck, it would make a better decoration if it did get damaged!
 
Dennis,

The times I've tried it behind an inboard it was quite fun. Good luck with borrowing the board :smt043
 
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