Useful Tips from Chris Kinsey, Part 2

WIPING THE BOAT DOWN
Wiping the boat down is the task that not many people enjoy doing. The frequency of wiping your boat down completely depends on where you ride. The lake I ride on requires my boat to be wiped down every time. The water in the lake is dirtier than most and leaves calcium like water spots if not wiped off. Different colors also dictate the amount of cleaning you have to do. Lighter colors hide buildup well whereas darker colors are tougher to keep clean. I’ve used very many different types of sprays and waxes but the cheapest and most effective way to get rid of buildup is a vinegar and water solution. I have put every commonly used boat cleaner to the test; so far, vinegar and water always comes out on top. After I strip the boat of the buildup, occasionally, I will put on a coat of wax to help keep the hull clean. I have found that applying a small coat of wax after removing the water spots drastically reduces the amount of cleaning that is required for next time. Water spots have a tendency to build up if left on the hull of your boat. If the water spots are allowed to build up, it makes getting them off much more difficult and creates a foggy like stain on the hull of your boat.

DEPTH
Water depth plays a huge role in the shape and size of your wakesurf wave. The lake I ride on is shallow with the max depth being that of around 15 feet. The driver should look for a deep and consistent channel when towing a rider. Changes in the depth cause the wave to surge drastically in size. The deeper the water, the better wakesurf wave you will have.

REPLACING A PROP
Throughout my life on the water I have seen many props come and go. Feeling your prop hit something is one of the worst feelings I can experience on the boat. The solid thud is always an alert that I am probably done riding for the day. Since I am on the water constantly, I decided to invest in a prop puller (pictured below).

Long ago, replacing a prop had been a task that I had thought was more difficult than it actually is. Now, I keep a prop puller and spare prop in my truck in the event the prop on my boat becomes damaged. When replacing a prop be sure to keep track of your prop key. The prop key is a small rectangular wedge that keeps your prop from spinning freely on the shaft. They’re very important and very easy to misplace.