Wake Too Steep - Troubleshooting Guide

How to mellow out a wake that's too vertical and abrupt

Problem: Your Wake is Too Steep

The wake has too much vertical rise and not enough length, creating a short, abrupt pocket that’s hard to ride or launches riders unexpectedly.

Signs Your Wake is Too Steep:

• Very short distance from trough to lip (less than 3-4 feet)
• Wake feels like a wall
• Riders getting launched vertically instead of forward
• Difficult to position in the pocket
• Wake breaks quickly/abruptly
• Hard to do progressive tricks due to sudden lip

Solutions (In Order of Effectiveness)

1. Reduce Power Wedge (Primary Solution)

The wedge is usually the main culprit for over-steep wakes

Action Steps:

• Decrease wedge deployment by 15-20%
• If currently at 80%, try 60-65%
• If at 60%, try 45-50%
• For very steep wakes, reduce by 25-30%

Why This Works: The power wedge adds vertical lift and shortens the transition. Reducing it lengthens the wake and mellows the face.

Target Settings:

• BeginnersJust learning to get up and ride without the rope. Focused on balance and finding the sweet spot.: 40-50%
• IntermediateComfortable riding ropeless, working on turns and positioning. Starting to experiment with tricks.: 55-65%
• AdvancedPerforming aerials, spins, and advanced maneuvers. Needs maximum push and clean pocket for technical riding.: 65-80%

Pro Tip: Run for 5 minutes after adjustment before evaluating—wake needs time to stabilize.

2. Raise Wake Plates

Wake plates control boat attitude and wake angle

Action Steps:

• Raise wake plates by 10-20%
• If at 40%, try 55-60%
• If at 50% (neutral), try 65-70%

Why This Works: Raising plates lifts the stern and drops the bow, which mellows the wake angle.

Effect:

• Higher plates = more mellow, longer transition
• Lower plates = steeper, shorter wake

Caution: Raising plates too high can make wake washy or reduce size. Adjust incrementally (10% at a time).

3. Decrease Speed

Speed directly affects wake steepness

Action Steps:

• Reduce speed by 0.3-0.5 mph
• If running 11.5 mph, try 11.0-11.2 mph
• If at 11.0 mph, try 10.6-10.8 mph
• Use cruise control for consistency

Why This Works: Lower speed creates longer, mellower wake with less aggressive lip.

Speed Guidelines:

• BeginnersJust learning to get up and ride without the rope. Focused on balance and finding the sweet spot.: 10.3-10.8 mph
• IntermediateComfortable riding ropeless, working on turns and positioning. Starting to experiment with tricks.: 10.8-11.2 mph
• AdvancedPerforming aerials, spins, and advanced maneuvers. Needs maximum push and clean pocket for technical riding. (but mellower): 11.0-11.3 mph

Don’t Go Too Slow: Below 10.0 mph, wake loses shape and power.

4. Adjust Ballast Distribution

Weight placement affects wake shape

Action Steps:

• Reduce bow ballast by 15-20%
• Keep rear ballast (surf side and off-side) the same
• This shifts weight rearward and mellows angle

Why This Works: Less bow weight allows bow to rise slightly, creating a more mellow running angle.

Test Setup:

• Surf-side rear: 100%
• Off-side rear: 60-70%
• Bow: 50-60% (reduced from typical 70-75%)
• Center: 100%

Alternative: If reducing bow ballast makes wake too small, maintain ballast but focus on wedge/plate adjustment instead.

5. Redistribute Passenger Weight

Move people forward to mellow wake angle

Action Steps:

• Move 1-2 people from surf-side rear seat to bow
• Keep some weight on surf side but not packed in corner
• Avoid overloading rear corner seat

Target Distribution:

• Surf-side rear: 2 people (not 3-4)
• Bow: 2-3 people
• Off-side: 1 person okay
• This shifts center of gravity forward

Step-by-Step Troubleshooting Process

Step 1: Reduce power wedge by 20%

• Run for 5 minutes
• Still too steep? Continue to Step 2

Step 2: Raise wake plates by 15%

• Run for 5 minutes
• Still too steep? Continue to Step 3

Step 3: Decrease speed by 0.5 mph

• Run for 5 minutes
• Still too steep? Continue to Step 4

Step 4: Reduce bow ballast by 15-20%

• Run for 5 minutes
• Still too steep? Continue to Step 5

Step 5: Move passengers forward (bow and center seating)

• Test again

Common Scenarios

Scenario 1: Wake is Steep AND Big

Problem: Massive wake but too vertical for rider

Solution:

• Reduce wedge by 25%
• Raise plates by 15%
• Decrease speed by 0.3-0.5 mph
• Keep ballast the same (size is good, shape needs work)

Result: Similar size but longer, mellower transition

Scenario 2: Beginner Rider, Wake Like a Wall

Problem: New surfer can’t ride the steep wake

Solution:

• Wedge to 40-45% (significantly reduced)
• Plates to 60-65% (raised)
• Speed to 10.4-10.6 mph
• Reduce bow ballast to 50-60%
• Move people to bow

Goal: Long, mellow, forgiving wake for learning

Scenario 3: Wake Steep and Breaking Up

Problem: Wake is too steep AND losing shape

Solution:

• Reduce wedge by 20%
• Raise plates by 10%
• Check wake breaking up guide
• May also need speed adjustment

Scenario 4: One Side Steep, Other Side Fine

Problem: Uneven steepness between sides

Solution:

• Check passenger distribution (are more people on one side?)
• Verify ballast is filling evenly on both sides
• Use asymmetric wake plate adjustment (if available)
• See inconsistent sides guide

Understanding Wake Geometry

What Makes a Wake Steep?

The wake’s steepness is determined by the transition length (horizontal distance) vs wake height (vertical distance):

• Steep Wake: 2-3 foot transition, 30+ inch height = very vertical
• Mellow Wake: 4-6 foot transition, 24-28 inch height = gradual

Visual Check:

• Look from the side of the boat
• Steep wake looks like a ramp at 60-70 degrees
• Mellow wake looks like a ramp at 35-45 degrees

Advanced Tuning

Fine-Tuning for Intermediate Riders

Goal: Moderate wake with rideable push but not overwhelming

Setup:

• Wedge: 55-65%
• Plates: 45-55%
• Speed: 10.9-11.2 mph
• Ballast: 75-85% total
• Bow ballast: 60-70%

Creating a “Cruiser” Wake

Goal: Long, mellow wake for extended sessions and practicing carving

Setup:

• Wedge: 45-55%
• Plates: 55-65%
• Speed: 10.6-10.9 mph
• Ballast: 70-80% total
• Bow ballast: 50-60%

Effect: Lower power, longer pocket, forgiving shape

Pro Tips

✅ Wedge first: Always adjust wedge before plates—it has bigger impact

✅ Small adjustments: Change settings by 10-15% at a time, not 40-50%

✅ Give it time: Wait 5 minutes after changes for wake to stabilize

✅ Note the difference: Steep ≠ Big. You can have a big, mellow wake or small, steep wake

✅ Rider feedback: Ask rider specifically about the lip/transition, not just “too steep”

✅ Water conditions: Chop can make wakes feel steeper—smooth water helps

When Steep is Good

Some riders WANT steep wakes!

AdvancedPerforming aerials, spins, and advanced maneuvers. Needs maximum push and clean pocket for technical riding. riders doing big airs often prefer steep wakes with abrupt lips for maximum pop.

If rider wants steeper:

• Increase wedge
• Lower plates
• Increase speed
• See not enough push guide

Quick Reference Table

Related Troubleshooting Guides

• Wake Too Big
• Wake Too Mellow
• Not Enough Push
• Wake Breaking Up

Still Having Issues?

If your wake is still too steep after these adjustments, our team can help you dial it in.

Contact Us:

• Visit: Canby, Oregon City, or Redmond locations
• Call: (971) 715-1170
• Back to All Guides