Wakeboarding took the watersports industry by storm in the late 90s, spurred on by the progression of skateboarding and snowboarding, and how easily it could be translated to behind a boat. Since the 90s, though, boats have come a long way, and it isn't just ski boards that dominate the waterways anymore, as watersports boats have developed, so have many other types of watercraft, from Pontoon boats to the expansive range of Jetskis and PWCs. So the next natural question is, what can you wakeboard behind? And in short, nearly anything provided you hit a few milestones with the particular vehicle. Below, we're going to go through what's possible, safe, and most importantly, the best fun for you on a day out!
Can you wakeboard behind any boat?
Absolutely. Provided it has the power output (150HP+ is preferable) to get you out of the water, a suitable tow point, and the attitude to stick with it, you can wakeboard behind any boat!
Wakeboarding behind a Jetski (PWC):
Can you wakeboard behind a JetSki? Simply put, yes. The foundations for wakeboarding and deepwater starts will be the same regardless of what you're behind, and a JetSki is no different. The main thing that needs to be taken into consideration here is the power output of the JetSki; anything below 110HP most likely won't cut it to have the power to get you from stationary to on plane out of the water.
The second part of wakeboarding behind a jetski is the laws surrounding PWCs. These change from country to country and even state to state, meaning you must keep an eye on things. Here in Victoria, we have to have a space for every person on the JetSki, this means a seat for driver, observer (to spot when you fall off) and your wakeboarder. This means here, a three-person JetSki is a must to go wakeboarding, and a safety jacket is always recommended, even if not required by law, as is the case in some US states for lakes.
Now to what you won't get. Due to the compact nature of a JetSki, you won't get the large wake, which means no huge air, but that doesn't mean you can't get up and have fun, as you can still do surface butter slides, ollie's and get basic pops off the wake produced.
Wakeboarding behind a Pontoon Boat:
Once again, you can definitely do it, though you will find some drawbacks. Much like a JetSki, with a Pontoon you will want an engine with a higher HP, preferably over 150HP, as Pontoon Boats generally have a slower acceleration curve, meaning more time clinging to the rope before you comfortably break the surface. This must be considered, as we must remember that Pontoon boats are built for comfort and not always performance.
Essential to wakeboarding is a tow point, and some Pontoon boats these days come set up with a wakeboard tower setup inbuilt, while others have a rear fishing/tow point setup. You want to ensure that these towpoints are sound and designed for watersports to accommodate the weight and drag that wakeboarding produces. In terms of stability, a Tritoon will make the boat driver's life easier than a standard Pontoon boat. The third pontoon grounds the boat more than a traditional twin pontoon setup, meaning if you cut around, the boat won't feel like it's getting pulled around as much.
Now, again to the pitfalls of wakeboarding behind a Pontoon boat. As previously mentioned, the acceleration curve on a Pontoon boat can be slower, meaning more drag and pressure on your body before getting up. Secondly, due to how Pontoon boats sit in the water, they have little to no wake, again meaning no real jumping when it comes to wakeboarding behind one, pidgeon holing you strictly to cutting around and surface tricks.
So, in conclusion, can you wakeboard behind a Pontoon boat? Yes. Is it ideal? Not really.
Wakeboarding Behind an Outboard Boat:
Wakeboarding behind an Outboard is very much similar to wakeboarding behind a Ski boat, as many race boats and the like are already equipped with Outboards. Control and feel can vary depending on a few factors, such as power output and hull design. Say, for instance, a tinny with an outboard, would an engine that has over 150HP preferably, and something of the longer variety of 16 feet or over, to give you the control and stability to handle pulling a wakeboard both out of the water and onwards. A ski boat with an outboard has already been specifically designed to pull up skiers and handle the drag, making it suitable.
The differences will be much like any boat that isn't wakeboard-specific. If it doesn't come equipped with a tower, you will find yourself getting towed at a more parallel line to the water, which isn't the be-all and end-all, though it does put more pressure on the body and the arms due to the increased drag, so throttle control and management are key to using an outboard boat.
The other two factors to consider are wake size, which, with an outboard, is going to be smaller, as they aren't built to displace a lot of water, and rope security. As we are dealing with an exposed propeller, you will want to make sure that you don't get the rope tangled up or too close to the outboard that it can easily get chopped.
So, can you wakeboard behind an outboard? Yes in most cases, and is probably preferable to a Pontoon boat or Jetski.
Wakeboarding Behind a Ski Boat:
The closest you will find to a wakeboard boat setup, with the least amount of downfalls, engine output, hull design, and boat setup, is designed with watersports in mind. Many ski boats also either have the option to add towers from new, or you can also fit towers aftermarket to older boats without a considerable cost, if you want the full wakeboard experience.
If you don't want to go down the road of a tower, you can still wakeboard comfortably behind a ski boat; the only significant difference is the angle at which you get up. With a ski pole, there is more resistance and load through your arms and body as the rope pulls more in line with the water, as opposed to a tower tow point, which at a larger angle, provides more lift.
The second main difference is wake size, as ski boats are designed to limit water displacement and have less wake at higher speeds. Even at wakeboard speed, they have smaller wakes, which in many cases can be great for beginners, though for more advanced wakeboarders, or those who want more kick out of their jumps, more weight in the boat in the form of ballast bags can help.
So, can you wakeboard behind a ski boat? Absolutely, outside of a wakeboard boat, a midmount ski boat is the next best thing.
Wakeboarding Behind a Car?
You would be surprised by how commonly this question pops up. If you've ever watched the Parks Bonifay behind a Formula One car, it got a lot of people thinking. If you haven't you should have a google.
Technically speaking, yes. With a long enough line and a path that sits next to a body of water you can absolutely do it, except you will have no wake and constantly be cutting away from the tow point wanting to drag you up the bank and in behind the car.
Would it be my first option? Probably not, and most likely wouldn't be my 10th option as a tow vehicle, but you can do it.
Ultimately, you can wakeboard behind any vehicle provided you have the power and are within the laws within you're given state/country. Though some options are definitely going to be easy and make for a more enjoyable time than others.
Getting up and started:
We're going to address setups and starting first, as this will carry across every vehicle option. The wakeboard being the obvious requirement, next a standard tow rope setup (It doesn't need to be a fancy non-stretch rope, a ski rope will do the job if you're just starting) is essential, and preferably calmer conditions (rough water is not going to be your friend) are going to make you're day much more enjoyable! With the rope over the edge of the board, the driver should give the JetSki a reasonable amount of throttle, enough that you feel it, not so much that it's going to rip your arms out of their sockets, while you let the JetSki do the work to build up surface tension and don't stand up too early. Once you feel enough resistance under your feet, you can come up and bring the board sideways, and you're off, wakeboarding behind a JetSki.