Wakeboarding can be a lot of fun if done safely and with the proper gear. Host John Greviskis has some great advice in this segment of DIY's Shipshape Boating. - In order to catch more air when wakeboarding, you will need to install a flight control tower (figure A) on your boat. This is an expensive piece of equipment, but it will also store your wakeboards or skis to get them up out of the boat when cruising around. Another good reason to install a flight control tower is that this particular piece of equipment will give the skier or wakeboarder more air time, more "lift" in other words, which means he or she can do more tricks. Most towers run anywhere from $1,000 to $3,000. Know that you can put lights or speakers on these towers.
- Wakeboards can come in all sizes and they can also be made of different material. If you want to purchase a wakeboard that the entire family can use, look for one that has adjustable brackets for the ankle boots. Plan on spending at least a $100 for the basic model.
- If the person you are pulling behind the boat falls down, there are a few things to know about retrieving them safely. Look in front and behind you for other boaters. When it's clear, turn the boat around, and go past the person in the water about 100 feet. Slowly turn around on the outside of them so that the towline will come towards them (figure B). Ask them to give you a signal when they are ready to go again.
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