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Improving Your Wake

Jan. 16 2024 Ownership Tips By Texas Malibu

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Surf boats are specifically designed for watersports activities, meaning that they have numerous features meant to maximize the size of the wake. Some even have features that give you a degree of control over the shape of the wake itself! However, there are still a lot of things you can do to improve your surf boat’s wake even more. If you’re interested, check out this list of tips from the experts at Texas Malibu. 

Speed

The ideal wake is usually created by traveling between 20 and 25 MPH. Any faster, and your wakeboard or wakesurfer won’t be able to keep up with you. If you go too slow, your wake won’t be large enough to be effective. Reaching that speed range isn’t normally a challenge, but you’ll need to keep your speed more or less consistent if you want a stable wake. That’s why most surf boats have a cruise control function. Bear in mind that any turning you do will also disrupt the wake, so try to drive as straight as you can. 

Trimming Your Wake

Many surf boat owners trim their engines so that the bow rises and the stern goes deeper into the water. While this will help create a bigger wake, there is a danger that you’ll accidentally make the wake too steep or too close to the boat. That’s why you may need to adjust the engine trim. Adjusting the weight distribution within the boat itself can also help. Ask your passengers to sit evenly from left to right, and use weights to account for any discrepancies (make sure your vessel's floor can handle the extra weight). By evenly distributing your weight, you can create a more consistent wake shape. 

Increasing Ballast

Once you are sure that your wake is as even as it can get, you can start to add ballast to help make the wake bigger. While some surf boats have their own dedicated ballast systems, others do not. If you’re in need of ballast, try inviting more people or using extra weights. Make sure the wake that you create isn’t too large for the person who is wakesurfing or wakeboarding!

Shop surf boats at Texas Malibu in Austin, Texas. We’re proud to serve communities like New Braunfels, Texas. We also offer boat servicing, repairs, and financing.