How to Build a Wakeboard Ramp

The extreme sport of wake-boarding involves riding a wide ski-like board while executing tricks off of the waves made by a skiing boat. A recent trend in wake-boarding involves the rider catching air off an inclined kicker ramp. Many professionally built wake-boarding parks throughout the states of Florida and California feature various types of ramps including the kicker ramp. Building a homemade kicker ramp allows the wake-boarder to have unlimited access to the ramp as opposed to having to pay to ride in a professionally built wake-board park.

Things You'll Need

  • 2 sheets of 4- by 8- by 3/4-inch plywood
  • 2 sheet of 3- by 8- by 1/2-inch plywood
  • 16 treated 2- by 4-inch pieces of lumber
  • 2 55-gallon plastic barrels with lids
  • 3 containers of all-purpose adhesive
  • 2 boxes of size 16 penny nails
  • Carpenter's pencil
  • Jigsaw
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Instructions

    • 1

      Lay one sheet of the 3/4-inch plywood horizontally on the ground. Draw a half-U-shaped line from the top right corner to the bottom left corner to create one of the transitioned sides for the kicker ramp. Cut down the drawn line. Save the bottom piece of plywood with the half-U-shaped edge.

    • 2

      Lay the newly cut side of the kicker ramp on top of the other piece of 3/4-inch plywood. Trace the side's dimensions onto the full sheet of plywood. Cut down the traced line to create a second identical side for the kicker ramp.

    • 3

      Attach the two sides of the kicker ramp by nailing eight 2-by-4s between them going down and across the L shaped outer edge. Nail the 2-by-4 pieces 12 inches from one another with four nails in each end. Nail the left over 2-by-4s between the two sides following the bisected U-shaped edge. Place 4 nails in each end of the eight 2-by-4s.

    • 4

      Place the two sheets of 1/2-inch thick plywood lengthwise and side-by-side over the 2-by-4 supports running along the curved edge. Nail the two pieces of plywood in place by adding four nails through each of the eight 2-by-4 supports to create the face of the ramp.

    • 5

      Flip the kicker ramp over. Apply the all-purpose adhesive to the bottom of the face of the ramp. Lay one of the 55 gallon barrels lengthwise toward the back of the ramp on top of the adhesive. Place the other barrel toward the middle of the ramp on top of the adhesive. Allow the adhesive to dry on the barrels.