Getting a Jump on Spring Wakesurfing
Garrett Durham March 12th, 2020 Posted In: Articles
Getting a Jump on Spring Wakesurfing
At the end of last season, you had your boat winterized and stored your gear to keep it all safe and out of the way throughout winter. Since then, while your gear collects dust, I’m sure you’ve been dreaming of the day you’re able to get out on the lake again, to feel the warmth of the sun and the spray of the wake. Great news! Spring is quickly approaching and, for water sport enthusiasts, it’s almost time to pull the boat out of storage and start preparing for the spring wakesurfing season. Chances are, though, you have a little work to do before you can effortlessly get on the water.
Owning a boat allows you the freedom to hit the open sea whenever you want, bringing along friends and family and taking turns wakesurfing. Owning a boat also comes with the extra responsibility of keeping everything in working order and having the equipment ready, and in good shape, to maximize your day on the water. We’re going to go over how to prepare for the wakesurfing season so there aren’t any surprises when spring comes.
Preparing the Boat
After sitting for a few months, your boat is going to need a little love to get it ready for the water. The first step, when the time comes, is to have your boat de-winterized. Check all of the following:
- Oil and fluid levels and fill anything that’s low. If the engine oil wasn’t changed before winter, change the oil and filter.
- All lines and hoses to the engine for wear and replace any that need to be replaced.
- The belts to make sure they are all tight.
- The distributor, carburetor, and spark plugs to make sure they are tight and in good working order.
- Make sure the battery is charged.
After making sure everything is in good shape, either put the boat in the water or attach water to the drive and start the engine. Going over the boat in this way before taking your first trip will help you identify any potential issues before you’re on the water.
Assembling the Gear
Before taking the first trip for the season, it’s a good idea to inspect all your gear to make sure everything is still in good shape. Start with the board check for cracks or unusual wear. Also, make sure to check the fins to make sure they aren’t cracked or bent. Inspect the rope for dry rot – the last thing you want is to snap a rope when pulling someone up. Then check the handle for unusual wear. If the rope is rotted, or there is an issue with the handle, it’s time to replace it. Last, inspect, clean, and dry all your life jackets. If there are tears in the fabric, it’s a good idea to get a new one.
Getting a jump on wakesurfing by starting in the spring, there’s a good chance the water will still be cold. If that’s the case where you are, wearing a wakesurfing wetsuit will help keep you warm and comfortable. Depending on how cold the water is, you might want a thicker wetsuit. Check out this guide with recommended wetsuit thickness and recommended wetsuit type for various water temps.
Setting Up The Boat
To have the best time, and the greatest chance of success, when wakesurfing, you want your boat to produce a big wake while going about 10 mph. When wakesurfing became popular, towboat manufacturers started incorporating big wake technology into their boats. A lot of the boats on the market have integrated ballast systems that allow you to put a lot of weight in the back of the boat to increase the size of the wake and surf gates that help you shape the wake to be optimal for wakesurfing.
If your boat doesn’t have these features, you can use ballast bags or physical weights to add the heft you need for a great wake. Weight will help increase the overall size of the wake because more water is being displaced by the hull. The next step in getting the perfect wake is using a wake shaper to improve the shape of the wake. There are portable wake shapers that attach to the stern using either Velcro or suction cups.
Final Thoughts
With spring wakesurfing season just around the corner, it’s time to start thinking through and taking the steps to prepare. Inspecting gear, setting up your boat for a big wake, and getting your boat in tip-top operating condition will help your spring wakesurfing go as smoothly as possible. The only thing left is to get on the water.
Hello,
I have a salt water pool in-ground pool. Salt water pools use electricity to create the chlorine radical for pool sanitation. If the electric chlorine generator is not keeping up, not maintaining free chlorine levels, then we add sodium hypochlorite (chlorine bleach) to raise the free chlorine level. In effect, all salt water pools are chlorine pools. They just use electricity to make chlorine from the salt. Salt is NaCl. It dissolves into sodium ions (Na+) and chlorine ions (Cl-) in water.
I am getting a 3/2 mm neoprene wet-suit for extending the time I can use the pool as it gets colder. Need advice about that.
Thanks,
John
Thanks for the information, John! Here are some great options as far as 3/2mm fullsuits go that have enough flexibility for swimming https://www.wetsuitwearhouse.com/wetsuits/category/mens-fullsuits-32.html?Per_Page=24&Sort_By=bestsellers&price=167-275&zillabrand=Vissla&zillabrand=Quiksilver&zillabrand=XCEL&zillabrand=Volcom&zillabrand=Rip%20Curl&zillabrand=O%27Neill
I would like to buy wet suit shorts for swiming in a pool for training. Please advise
Hi Mariza! You can browse all of our available wetsuit shorts here. They are a great option for a little extra coverage and warmth. Cheers!
I am interested in the 3/2mm Women’s Sisstrevolution 7 Seas back zip full suit in purple. Unfortunately I can’t decide on a size and need help please! I’m 5’7″, weigh 141lbs, chest is 39″ and waist is 32″.
Thank you so much for your assistance!
Deb Hill
Hi Deb! Thank you for reaching out. In that particular suit, I would recommend going with a size 14. Your chest and waist measurements are the most important to fit well, and from our feedback, the length of these wetsuits runs a little short so shouldn’t be too much of an issue! Hope this helps!
Want to work out in unheated, chlorinated AZ pool with winter water temps around 60.
Obviously selecting wetsuit is more complicated than I thought. What would you suggest?
Hey Jack! Choosing a wetsuit doesn’t have to be too complicated. I recommend browsing our selection of men’s fullsuits here, and search by temperature in the lefthand filter bar. There are lots of options, so don’t forget to get updated height, chest, and weight measurements to reference against the product-specific size charts on each wetsuit. If you need additional assistance in finding your perfect wetsuit, you can also reach out to our awesome customer service team either via email (service@wetsuitwearhouse.com) or call 866-906-7848. Cheers!
Hi Jack,
I too live in AZ and want to swim all winter in an unheated, chlorinated pool. Did you decide on your suit and are their any pitfalls or good directives you wouldn’t mind sharing with me?
My concerns are restricted movement when swimming AND will I rinse off suit to manufacture’s satisfaction.
I’m also thinking that maybe I wouldn’t need a full suit, but a shorty.
Let me know anything you have found out, and if you already bought and tried it out, how did it go?
Sincerely,
Nadine
Am trying to buy a wetsuit. But I need some advice. So…. I go to “call us” and there’s no phone number. Just something that wants me to choose an “app” to call from. I don’t own a smart phone. Just an old flip phone. But… I still want to buy a wetsuit.
Do you have a telephone number?
Hey Walter! You can reach our awesome customer service team at (866)-906-7848 10 AM-4 PM EST. Cheers!
What do you recommend then for added warmth for winter outdoor freshwater, chlorinated pool swimming in Southern California if not a wetsuit? I get chilled after being in the water a while. Swim about 40 minutes and want to do water aerobics and exercises and get cold. Thank you.
Hi Sandy,
What are the water temps like in the pool? This will help me figure out what type of wetsuit to recommend to you. Thanks!
In my pool, so far, the temp has been 56-62. I, too, am interested in this question as I have an underwater treadmill on which I love running.
Thank you!
Hi Debbie,
I’d recommend a 3/2mm flatlock fullsuit especially if you’ll be wearing the wetsuit to run underwater. I need to know your chest, height and weight measurements to help you figure out a size, but in the meantime, I’d recommend checking out our selection of women’s 3/2mm fullsuits (and hit the flatlock seam type filter): https://www.wetsuitwearhouse.com/wetsuits/category/womens-wetsuits-32mm.html
Does this have any special coating to deal with chlorinated water and last longer?
Hi Srini! Wetsuits don’t have a coating to protect them from chlorinated water, and swimming in pools will ultimately reduce the lifespan of a wetsuit. If you are planning on wearing a wetsuit in chlorinated pools to stay warm, be sure to rinse the suit thoroughly with freshwater inside and out at the end of each session so that it can last you as long as possible!