Rooster tail effect?

[Cljbeck]

Hello,

We just bought a used Cobalt 190, and have noticed when tubing we are getting a sort of rooster tail type effect, where the water is spraying up right behind the boat in the middle of its wake, making it difficult to get the tuber moving from side to side because the tube gets stopped by the higher water in the middle. Could that be trim related? We are just getting a feel for how it handles, so are trying to find the right position for things.

thanks!

 

[Sea Rider]

The Cobalt uses an outboard or inboard engine ? If outboard, are there water splashes out or over transom when combo is on plane without tuber regardless of the middle wake formed ?

Happy Boating

 

[Maclin]

That is probably not a rooster tail, typically only jet drives produce those, see below youtube for reference. What you are describing is part of the wake at whatever speed you are running at. At what speed are you towing the tube? You may need to go just a tad faster and/or trim up some. Plowing through the water at just under planing speed generates the biggest displacement of water. Your boat may be producing that naturally, and you should try wakeboarding

Rooster tail(s) start at 0:15...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MCzIqfNtVFE

 

[Maclin]

Sorry, forgot one of the basics... How long is the tow rope? Skiing is usually about 75', and tubing a little shorter at 60'. Tubes for more than one rider need a heavier tow rope. Many tow ropes with a handle have a removable section that make it shorter for the tubing option. When we were kneeboarding we went even shorter to be able to use the big hump in the middle to launch over. The wake shape will be different for each boat and conditions, and could require different rope "tuning".

 

[Cljbeck]

It's an inboard/outboard. The video of the rooster tail looks similar, but much bigger. We used to tube on our old boat around 22 to 24 mph, and tried that first with this one, but ended up needing to be in the upper 20 to get any side to side movement of the tube. The center peak seemed to diminish at the upper speed at first, but reappeared again toward the end. Not sure why!

 

[Maclin]

Ok, so not your first tubing excursion, cool! You may need to post up a video or some pics so we can see what you are seeing.

 

[Cljbeck]

Hmmmm.... it's a long ski rope that we double to make it shorter for tubing. Not sure how long it ends up being. Maybe it's too short on this boat?

 

[Maclin]

Yes, something like that may make sense for you. Most heavier duty tow ropes just for tubing package in at 60'. Try making the rope 50-60'.

 

[jimmbo]

Probably just trimmed in too much, very deep vee hull, and perhaps a rope the wrong length

 

[Cljbeck]

Thanks, everyone. Jimmbo, when you say trimmed in too much, do you mean we have the trim too low and need to raise it a bit? Sorry, we had a Glastron for years before a storm took it out, but our boating knowledge has always been pretty basic!

 

[QBhoy]

Probably not a rooster tail. Don't think you would get one in the normal sense of the term at tubing speeds.
I've tried to upload a picture of one from my boat in the traditional sense of the term.

 

[Cljbeck]

Yep, ours is much smaller than your picture. Maybe a baby chicken tail?

 

[QBhoy]

Haha.
That was a total show off thing and probably pretty stupid.
It serves no purpose and only slows the boat down considerably and probably damages the impeller in the long term. Looks good though. Haha

 

[Texasmark]

Agree with MacLin. Boat is at a slow speed, dead rise at the transom, lots of wake, wide beam, when water that boat pushed aside to move through it comes back together behind the transom it comes with such force that when both sides slam into each other, it has one way to go......up.

As others have stated, get back out on the 75-100' rope to get the tuber or skier out beyond the disturbance caused by the boat and the propulsion system.