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What's the difference between these? I'm looking at a 2017 R5 WSS.

Best info I can find is that WSS is the older version of Surf and doesn't have large trim tabs or ballasts. Also appears all the WSS have regular IO whereas the Surf has the forward drive.

You are correct. The WSS is Water Sport Series. All you can do behind it is ski, wakeboard and pull tubers. The Surf version adds ability to Wakesurf due to the tank ballasts and surf tabs. Forward drive also on Surf version.

tfarmer wrote: Tue Aug 10, 2021 8:12 am You are correct. The WSS is Water Sport Series. All you can do behind it is ski, wakeboard and pull tubers. The Surf version adds ability to Wakesurf due to the tank ballasts and surf tabs. Forward drive also on Surf version.

Thanks for the quick reply. Can you get a Surf version without forward drive? I live on a lake with a channel to Lake Michigan that the forward drive would not be a good idea, but I think I like the idea of surfing.

drtbar wrote: Tue Aug 10, 2021 8:25 am

tfarmer wrote: Tue Aug 10, 2021 8:12 am You are correct. The WSS is Water Sport Series. All you can do behind it is ski, wakeboard and pull tubers. The Surf version adds ability to Wakesurf due to the tank ballasts and surf tabs. Forward drive also on Surf version.

Thanks for the quick reply. Can you get a Surf version without forward drive? I live on a lake with a channel to Lake Michigan that the forward drive would not be a good idea, but I think I like the idea of surfing.

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Hey drrbar. So glad you found us!

To wake surf legally you either need a dedicated inboard boat like a Mastercraft; a jet boat,; or a forward facing I/O drive.

And welcome aboard mate!

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AsLan7 wrote: Tue Aug 10, 2021 8:29 am

drtbar wrote: Tue Aug 10, 2021 8:25 am

tfarmer wrote: Tue Aug 10, 2021 8:12 am You are correct. The WSS is Water Sport Series. All you can do behind it is ski, wakeboard and pull tubers. The Surf version adds ability to Wakesurf due to the tank ballasts and surf tabs. Forward drive also on Surf version.

Thanks for the quick reply. Can you get a Surf version without forward drive? I live on a lake with a channel to Lake Michigan that the forward drive would not be a good idea, but I think I like the idea of surfing.

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Hey drrbar. So glad you found us!

To wake surf legally you either need a dedicated inboard boat like a Mastercraft; a jet boat,; or a forward facing I/O drive.

And welcome aboard mate!

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The forward facing drive doesn't make a bigger wave does it? Isn't it just for safety? Can you really spring forward into the prop if you fall off?

drtbar wrote: Tue Aug 10, 2021 8:37 am

AsLan7 wrote: Tue Aug 10, 2021 8:29 am

drtbar wrote: Tue Aug 10, 2021 8:25 am

Thanks for the quick reply. Can you get a Surf version without forward drive? I live on a lake with a channel to Lake Michigan that the forward drive would not be a good idea, but I think I like the idea of surfing.

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Hey drrbar. So glad you found us!

To wake surf legally you either need a dedicated inboard boat like a Mastercraft; a jet boat,; or a forward facing I/O drive.

And welcome aboard mate!

.

The forward facing drive doesn't make a bigger wave does it? Isn't it just for safety? Can you really spring forward into the prop if you fall off?

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The surf planes and ballast give you the large wave.
The forward facing drive is for safety. Honestly I don’t think you could hit the rear facing props if you tried on our boat with the extra extended swim platform but it’s the law.

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drtbar wrote: Tue Aug 10, 2021 8:37 am

AsLan7 wrote: Tue Aug 10, 2021 8:29 am

drtbar wrote: Tue Aug 10, 2021 8:25 am

Thanks for the quick reply. Can you get a Surf version without forward drive? I live on a lake with a channel to Lake Michigan that the forward drive would not be a good idea, but I think I like the idea of surfing.

.
Hey drrbar. So glad you found us!

To wake surf legally you either need a dedicated inboard boat like a Mastercraft; a jet boat,; or a forward facing I/O drive.

And welcome aboard mate!

.

The forward facing drive doesn't make a bigger wave does it? Isn't it just for safety? Can you really spring forward into the prop if you fall off?

Somewhere, some time, some place, someone would hit the prop and sue.

Krob1114 wrote: Tue Aug 10, 2021 8:45 am

drtbar wrote: Tue Aug 10, 2021 8:37 am

AsLan7 wrote: Tue Aug 10, 2021 8:29 am

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Hey drrbar. So glad you found us!

To wake surf legally you either need a dedicated inboard boat like a Mastercraft; a jet boat,; or a forward facing I/O drive.

And welcome aboard mate!

.

The forward facing drive doesn't make a bigger wave does it? Isn't it just for safety? Can you really spring forward into the prop if you fall off?

Somewhere, some time, some place, someone would hit the prop and sue.

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Honestly I think the Carbon Monoxide poisoning with CC open would get them first.

Remember this

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That was because of captain's call? I missed that earlier. I'm not so worried on our boat now.

Krob1114 wrote: Tue Aug 10, 2021 10:10 am That was because of captain's call? I missed that earlier. I'm not so worried on our boat now.

Not sure K…I was just referring to our boat in relation to the earlier question.(CO poisoning vs prop strike risk )

Carbon monoxide poisoning has to be a one in a million chance. No doubt have a higher chance of Covid19 getting into the boat

drtbar wrote: Tue Aug 10, 2021 10:56 am Carbon monoxide poisoning has to be a one in a million chance. No doubt have a higher chance of Covid19 getting into the boat

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So true drtbar. All of life is managing risk. We each manage it differently. I’m in the business of managing risk so we are trained on it quite frequently in order to make sound decisions that balance risk vs safety. Unfortunately FUD (fear, uncertainty, and doubt) rules the roost with many and will take folks down roads that don’t make sense to others. I’m sure many of us have seen this lately with friends, family, and coworkers, in addition to the general public —especially with the pandemic.

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drtbar wrote: Tue Aug 10, 2021 8:25 am

tfarmer wrote: Tue Aug 10, 2021 8:12 am You are correct. The WSS is Water Sport Series. All you can do behind it is ski, wakeboard and pull tubers. The Surf version adds ability to Wakesurf due to the tank ballasts and surf tabs. Forward drive also on Surf version.

Thanks for the quick reply. Can you get a Surf version without forward drive? I live on a lake with a channel to Lake Michigan that the forward drive would not be a good idea, but I think I like the idea of surfing.

Hey drtbar...I'll chime in with my take...I bought a new R3 last fall...and we love wakeboarding and tubing. My eldest wants to give wakesurfing a try so I starting looking at options. One of which, legal or not, is to surf behind our boat. Yes, there is risk involved, etc. etc. etc. as there is with swimming around the docks by our houseboat with the risk of electrocution. To each their own...

However, when I inquired with my dealer, he sent me on a mission to look at Wakefoils. It's basically just like surfing and using the energy produced from the wake behind the boat, but with a foil wing under the surf board and a longer rope which you can lose once you get up and going. The foil wing allows the user to glide above waves, etc. but still have a surfing action. Do a google search for Liquid Force Wakefoil 2.0 and you'll get the idea. Also tons of YouTube videos out there showing how and in action. This will probably be the route that I go for next summer.

drtbar wrote: Tue Aug 10, 2021 8:37 am

AsLan7 wrote: Tue Aug 10, 2021 8:29 am

drtbar wrote: Tue Aug 10, 2021 8:25 am

Thanks for the quick reply. Can you get a Surf version without forward drive? I live on a lake with a channel to Lake Michigan that the forward drive would not be a good idea, but I think I like the idea of surfing.

.
Hey drrbar. So glad you found us!

To wake surf legally you either need a dedicated inboard boat like a Mastercraft; a jet boat,; or a forward facing I/O drive.

And welcome aboard mate!

.

The forward facing drive doesn't make a bigger wave does it? Isn't it just for safety? Can you really spring forward into the prop if you fall off?

We have had some people get really close to the boat while surfing, get scared and fall and almost hit the swim platform. I wouldn't surf behind a traditional IO or outboard, but it is possible.
You can get WSS on a surf but it is just different graphics and wasn't a native option but was available via special request at the time I bought my boat.
Do you normally hit the ground when running through the channel?
I have done several tests and the forward prop doesn't sit lower than a traditional prop. Obviously when you are in surf mode the stern sits lower in the water. And if you do frequently run aground in the channel then yes the prop is more exposed on a surf model and you may want to avoid it.

And yes I've heard of people hitting the prop when falling. If you want to deal with a chance like that go ahead. It won't happen on my watch.