Choosing Watersports Vessel from Boat Dealers: Space, Engine, Ballast

Power boating is not something you easily forget once you begin to like it. Choosing a boat for watersports, however, is not a cakewalk. There are decisions to be made that require more than enough knowledge of boating to be able to choose the right boat; the process, for some, makes it far more difficult to choose a boat than choosing a car. This is why before visiting local boat dealers in Oklahoma, such as White’s Marine Center, it’s critical to do your homework.

Choosing a watersports boat has different dynamics than choosing “ordinary” vessels. For one, the term “extreme watersports” encompasses several different fields. All types of extreme watersports require high-quality and top-performing vessels. Waterskiing and wakeboarding are two of the most recognizable watersports that rely heavily on a good towboat, so they’ll be the main focus of this article.

In extreme watersports, such as waterskiing, there’s no such thing as a “one size fits all” boat. In gauging for the space you need, you have to take a look at the beam, which denotes the width of the boat at its widest point. Wider beams typically mean there’s more interior space, allowing you to bring several friends along. But bigger isn’t always better—a boat with a large surface area requires more weight to displace water, which in turn, compromises performance and hampers wakeboarding sorties.

For waterskiing, you have two major options based on engine type: inboard or outboard. The inboard engine is the more powerful of the two, and is located within the boat’s hull. The outboard engine is the complete opposite, and is touted for its easy maneuverability. Inboard engine boats are generally recommended for waterskiing, with sub-variations including direct drives, V-drives, and stern drives being the most preferred by casual and professional water-skiers alike.

For wakeboarding, you only have one rule: you need a boat that creates a very large wake in order to launch yourself high in the air. Boats intended for wakeboarding do their magic using ballasts (weights), which come in two major types: high density and water. High density ballast is made of material like sand of steel, and is touted for greater maximum ballast levels (and a bigger overall wake). This ballast, however, makes towing more difficult, which then makes the water ballast system a good alternative. The latter is easier to work with and doesn’t affect towing at all, while also producing a decent amount of wake.

These are the basics on choosing the best watersports vessel among different boats for sale in Oklahoma. Keep these tips in mind and you’ll be well on your way to having tons of fun.

Sources:

Tips On Buying A Boar Suitable For Boat-Towed Watersports, About.com

Watersports Boat Buying Guide, eBay.com, March 25, 2014

How To Buy A Boat: What You Need To Know, WaterSkiMag.com, January 13, 2012

What Are The Best Boats For Waterskiing? eBay.com, March 25, 2014

Choosing The Right Towboat, BoatingMag.com, December 1, 2011

What Are The Best Boats For Wakeboarding? eBay.com, March 24, 2015