We live and breathe boats; it's why we are so passionate about them. It can be a blessing and a curse. There is no one better suited to coach your boating experience, and yet we sometimes take for granted that you may find the experience a bit intimidating.
I have had experience driving boats since I was 10 years old. I grew up driving outboards and I/Os, and it wasn’t until I was introduced to waterskiing at age 15 did I get the chance to sit behind the wheel of an inboard. I was hesitant to drive one at first. Besides my young age to be trusted with something of such great value, they can also be very intimidating! From the moment I put it in gear, I felt more in control and comfortable than I had ever been in any watercraft. I was amazed at the simplicity of controls; forward, neutral, and reverse. No trim, no tilt. All too often the definition “inboard” is related to, or confused with “inboard/outboard”. They are NOT the same thing, and are actually very different.
Although every boat is a "solid in a liquid" and are handled the same way (manipulating the boat's drift to your advantage), the similarities often end there. “How different can it be?” is the question I often get asked by those whom are not familiar with inboard boats. Inboards have a unique hull shape (particularly at the transom) in comparison to any other type of boat on the market. From their physical appearance, to the way they maneuver, inboards are a class of their own. The most noticeable physical difference is the placement of the propeller, which is located underneath the hull about 2-3 feet in from the swim platform. This results in an all around faster acceleration, superior balance, tighter control, less bow raise, and not to mention a great safety feature. The placement makes for superior maneuverability on plane. The slow docking control is different, and requires slightly more planning in your approach. This can easily be overcome and learned by anyone willing to heed their coaches's advice.
In regards to waterskiing and wakeboarding, having the prop in this location makes it easier to design the hull design specifically for how you want the wakes to be shaped. This is why inboards are watersports enthusiast’s first choice! You can comfortably drive them at any speed (even at the uncomfortable speed of 10-20mph in most boats). They are also the only type of boat that is safe to wakesurf behind!
There are many different Inboard (towboat) Boat companies on the market today. Over the past 10 years I’ve had the privilege of driving and riding behind various brands such as MasterCraft, Malibu, Nautique, and Tige. From experience, each of them have their own look and feel, and at the end of the day MasterCraft is the company that has stolen my heart above all the rest. You have not driven an inboard until you sit in the luxury of a MasterCraft. Though they are the higher priced option on the market, their quality is second to none, and their passion to make the best towboat in the world certainly shines through. You’ve got to experience it to believe it!
This year at Ottawa Boat and Sportsman Show stop by the Len’s Cove Marina booth to sign up for one of our “Test Drive an Inboard Days”. This summer we want to invite you to come visit the Marina and test-drive one of our beautiful MasterCraft Boats. Bring your board, ski, or just yourself and and discover the magnificence for yourself! The test drive is proof beyond what anyone says. We stand behind that!
Timothy McNamee
2012 Canadian National Waterski Champion
Watersports Expert
