Can You Water Ski With An Outboard Motor?

Water skiing with an outboard motor is a thrilling and exciting activity that requires knowledge and skill to be done safely. To start, ensure you have the proper equipment, including a strong ski rope, a sturdy pair of water skis, and a life jacket. Towing a single tube is possible with 35HP, while skiing needs more power, and a heavier adult needs at least 60 HP on an appropriately sized boat.

Outboard motors can be used for water skiing, but they may not be as powerful as inboard motors. Water skiing doesn’t require breakneck speed, and you can get a person up with a 35hp on a 15-foot or 16-foot boat. Just have the spotter and you in the boat initially to keep the weight down. Once you figure out how easy it is to pull a skier with an outboard, you can start adding a bit more complexity to your boating adventures. Most wakeboarders prefer ropes with no stretch, while many water-skiers like ropes with a little bit of stretch. Check that a tube ropes rating matches the weight.

If the boat is heavy and slow to plane, look for a water ski propeller that gets you out of the hole faster. It won’t go as fast on the top end but you can ski more. The short answer to whether it is safe to wakeboard behind an outboard motor is yes, but it depends on boat weight, skier weight, skill, and how fast the boat can get on plane. Outboards in the 22-24 foot range with a single engine (not a twin) generally work well for water skiing.