I posted this in the boat newsgroup but it doesn't seem to get enough
traffic, thought someone here might be able to help.


My Dad is looking at a twin engine (twin 260 hp) 25' boat. But he has one
major question? will he be able to take someone skiing behind a twin engine
boat? A bunch of people we have talked to say that you don't ski behind a
twin engine boat,

WHY? Is it a problem with the wake or just cost of fuel?

Since he has also looked at a few single engine bowriders what would be the
main advantage of the same size boat except twin engines? Disadvantages?

The twin engine boat is a Wellcraft 250 xl

I don't see this question posted in rec.boats, which would be the best place
to post it. What boating newsgroup did you post it in?

Not real sure what you mean; Inboard twin screws or two
outboards?

I won't go into one engine vs. two because it's a long
list of pros and cons with a lot of fans on either
side. But, for skiing behind them:

Twin outboards are much harder to ski behind, IFF the
driver and equipment aren't set up right. For one
thing, that much power (two 160's) on a 25' boat is
going to give it spectacularly dangerous high speed
capabilities for skiing. It's real easy to go too fast
with a boat when there's a skier behind. Acceleration
also takes getting used to or you just pull the ropes
right out of their hands (or arms out of t heir
sockets). But, given an experienced operator, smooth
working controls, and proper skiing setup, it's a real
thrill to ski behind a boat like that. Been there,
done it, love it, only cut myself once, never got
conked on the head.

With dual outboards especially, you need a good rope
setup, an done with some spring in the poles, like a
diving board. T hey're standard equipment but cost a
little more than just hooking onto two eyelets on the
back of the boat.
Normally you need a longer rope to get back where
the wake won't make it impossible to ski. SAme's with
a small boat and too short a rope, though, just a
little stronger tail shooting up.
Depending on the hull design, a good skiing speed
might be just prior to the boat planing off; making it
difficult to see where the driver is going, creating a
stong, high tail in the wake, and lots of water turmoil
for the skier unless the rope is long enough. If the
trottles are smooth though and the planing speed is
reasonable low, then it works out great. Else you're
going to be skiing at faster speeds.
A rope that gets into that tail prior to planing,
can get pretty rowdy; thus the rope extenders for the
ski rope.

Any good ski shop can tell you how to outfit
everything. Don't take my word or anyone else's here;
get the info first hand and if you have to, get the
boat for a day and get a good demo. Larger boats are
harder to handle and takes more experience to drive
them for a skier. It depends on so many things it's
impossible to give accurate opinions, really.

But, you CAN indeed ski behind a twin engine boat - if
you do it wrong, you'll learn how it was wrong rather
quickly though, so best to do the research you're
doing. Perhpaps more descrioptions are in order to get
some real world experience from others who've "been
there". Hull type, plane speeds, top dspeed, idle
speed, (mph, NOT in knots) has it been used for skiing
before & have a history, is it already equipped,
horsepower, screw directions, etc. etc. etc..

Liek you said, a boating group is likely to be lots
better; I'd keep looking.

HTH,

Pop


"HotRod" wrote in message
...
I posted this in the boat newsgroup but it doesn't
seem to get enough traffic, thought someone here might
be able to help.


My Dad is looking at a twin engine (twin 260 hp) 25'
boat. But he has one
major question? will he be able to take someone
skiing behind a twin engine
boat? A bunch of people we have talked to say that
you don't ski behind a
twin engine boat,

WHY? Is it a problem with the wake or just cost of
fuel?

Since he has also looked at a few single engine
bowriders what would be the main advantage of the
same size boat except twin engines? Disadvantages?

The twin engine boat is a Wellcraft 250 xl

On Mon, 04 Jul 2005 10:41:47 -0400, HotRod wrote:

I posted this in the boat newsgroup but it doesn't seem to get enough
traffic, thought someone here might be able to help.

Why would you think that? Don't be a doofus all your life.

--
If you're not on the edge, you're taking up too much space.
Linux Registered User #327951

This question is posted in can.rec.boating and alt.home.repair and rec.boats

My Dad is looking at a twin engine (twin 260 hp) 25' boat. But he has one
major question? will he be able to take someone skiing behind a twin engine
boat? A bunch of people we have talked to say that you don't ski behind a
twin engine boat,

WHY? Is it a problem with the wake or just cost of fuel?

Since he has also looked at a few single engine bowriders what would be the
main advantage of the same size boat except twin engines? Disadvantages?

The twin engine boat is a Wellcraft 250 xl

At Lake Shasta in northern California many years ago I was asked to be
the observer by the ski designer for O'Brien skis while he checked out
the latest sanding of a ski he was creating for the then well known
female skier whose name escapes me now. Commented to his with what
RPMs he wanted for each engine and away we went!

On Mon, 4 Jul 2005 12:20:53 -0400, "HotRod"
wrote:

This question is posted in can.rec.boating and alt.home.repair and rec.boats

My Dad is looking at a twin engine (twin 260 hp) 25' boat. But he has one
major question? will he be able to take someone skiing behind a twin engine
boat? A bunch of people we have talked to say that you don't ski behind a
twin engine boat,

WHY? Is it a problem with the wake or just cost of fuel?

Since he has also looked at a few single engine bowriders what would be the
main advantage of the same size boat except twin engines? Disadvantages?

The twin engine boat is a Wellcraft 250 xl

not sure I understand, SORRY

HotRod wrote:
A bunch of people we have talked to say that you don't ski behind a
twin engine boat,



Better with a single. Here's Kanter powering his out of the 5 mph zone.
http://www.mkmarina.org/Photographs/table-boat.jpg

HotRod wrote:
not sure I understand, SORRY



That's obvious. Who are you talking to?

Not sure I understand the REPLY Below


"nospambob" wrote in message
...
At Lake Shasta in northern California many years ago I was asked to be
the observer by the ski designer for O'Brien skis while he checked out
the latest sanding of a ski he was creating for the then well known
female skier whose name escapes me now. Commented to his with what
RPMs he wanted for each engine and away we went!

HotRod wrote:

"nospambob" wrote in message
...

At Lake Shasta in northern California many years ago I was asked to be
the observer by the ski designer for O'Brien skis while he checked out
the latest sanding of a ski he was creating for the then well known
female skier whose name escapes me now. Commented to his with what
RPMs he wanted for each engine and away we went!




Not sure I understand.




In a back-asswards way he's saying people ski behind twin engine boats.
Or he could be saying one must be a female skier to do so, or a well
known female skier, or one must use different rpms for each engine, or I
dunno. I think...

You can ski behind anything that has enough power and speed.
On two skis you need about 22 to 25 mph to be able to stay up. On a slalom
you need 28 to 32 depending on the ski design and the weight of the person.
You also need enough power and quickness of reaching that speed or you will
drown the skier trying to get up.

Having said that. If your boat planes easily and can run 30 mph then yes -
you can ski. The wake may be huge but you can do it.


--
Tony
my boats and cars at http://t.thomas.home.mchsi.com

-
"HotRod" wrote in message
...
This question is posted in can.rec.boating and alt.home.repair and
rec.boats

My Dad is looking at a twin engine (twin 260 hp) 25' boat. But he has one
major question? will he be able to take someone skiing behind a twin
engine
boat? A bunch of people we have talked to say that you don't ski behind a
twin engine boat,

WHY? Is it a problem with the wake or just cost of fuel?

Since he has also looked at a few single engine bowriders what would be
the
main advantage of the same size boat except twin engines? Disadvantages?

The twin engine boat is a Wellcraft 250 xl

Now, THAT is neat!

"G Henslee" wrote in message
...
HotRod wrote:
A bunch of people we have talked to say that you
don't ski behind a
twin engine boat,



Better with a single. Here's Kanter powering his out
of the 5 mph zone.
http://www.mkmarina.org/Photographs/table-boat.jpg

you can ski behind a twin engine boat. i see people doing it all
the time. those v8 twins can suck 30 gallons of gas an hour .

O'Brien ski designer asked his WIFE to set the RPMs on BOTH motors to
the figure he preferred while checking out the last modification he
made to the ski. Skiing with two motors was done was the point I was
attempting to make. Don't have any idea how "wife" ended up as
"with"! Sorry.

On Mon, 04 Jul 2005 12:53:00 -0700, G Henslee
wrote:

HotRod wrote:

"nospambob" wrote in message
...

At Lake Shasta in northern California many years ago I was asked to be
the observer by the ski designer for O'Brien skis while he checked out
the latest sanding of a ski he was creating for the then well known
female skier whose name escapes me now. Commented to his with what
RPMs he wanted for each engine and away we went!




Not sure I understand.




In a back-asswards way he's saying people ski behind twin engine boats.
Or he could be saying one must be a female skier to do so, or a well
known female skier, or one must use different rpms for each engine, or I
dunno. I think...

"HotRod" wrote in message
...
I posted this in the boat newsgroup but it doesn't seem to get enough
traffic, thought someone here might be able to help.


My Dad is looking at a twin engine (twin 260 hp) 25' boat. But he has one
major question? will he be able to take someone skiing behind a twin
engine
boat? A bunch of people we have talked to say that you don't ski behind a
twin engine boat,

WHY? Is it a problem with the wake or just cost of fuel?

I used to ski behind a 31 foot twin engine cruiser. We added about 60 feet
to the tow rope to get the skier out of the rough water from the prop. You
could really get AIR from that wake.

Bob

"HotRod" wrote in message
...
This question is posted in can.rec.boating and alt.home.repair and
rec.boats

My Dad is looking at a twin engine (twin 260 hp) 25' boat. But he has one
major question? will he be able to take someone skiing behind a twin
engine
boat? A bunch of people we have talked to say that you don't ski behind a
twin engine boat,

WHY? Is it a problem with the wake or just cost of fuel?

Since he has also looked at a few single engine bowriders what would be
the
main advantage of the same size boat except twin engines? Disadvantages?

The twin engine boat is a Wellcraft 250 xl



I've done it a few times.. No problems that I can report.


Don B.

"HotRod" wrote in message

boat? A bunch of people we have talked to say that you don't ski behind a
twin engine boat,

WHY? Is it a problem with the wake or just cost of fuel?

I've never been able to ski behind a twin engine boat. It has nothing to do
with the cost of fuel.

Edwin Pawlowski

Do you want to explain why you haven't been able to ski behind a twin engine
boat?



"Edwin Pawlowski" wrote in message
news:S7Cye.33950$Cm6.9755@trndny02...

"HotRod" wrote in message

boat? A bunch of people we have talked to say that you don't ski behind
a
twin engine boat,

WHY? Is it a problem with the wake or just cost of fuel?

I've never been able to ski behind a twin engine boat. It has nothing to
do with the cost of fuel.

"HotRod" wrote in message
...
Edwin Pawlowski

Do you want to explain why you haven't been able to ski behind a twin
engine boat?


Same reason I can't ski behind a single engine boat. I'm clumsy and can't
balance on the skis.
Thought you'd never ask

I've been down at the docks doing some research and the boat I'm looking at
gets up on plane very quickly and stays there at low RPMs, so right now I'm
leaning towards the twin engine boat. I figure it would be nice to have the
power when we want it and then putter around the lake in low RPM when we
don't want to pay for high fuel costs. The big tossup right now is whether
or not my Dad wants to buy a bowrider or not? I'd prefer the cabin so that
my kids can play and sleep when the boat is anchored, but then again it's
his boat not mine.