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I'm looking at buying a ski biscuit, water skis or a kneeboard to tow behind a small inflatable boat with a 30hp engine. Which one of those things would require the least amount of power to tow? I'm thinking that a kneeboard or water skis has a smaller surface area than an inflatable tube, therefore having less water resistance which will make me go faster. Anyone know much about this sort of thing?

The Tube is going to take the least.

You're opposite on the Skis. The will take the most, since you're creating alot more resistance by having a lower surface area and you have to keep the person on them on top of the water. Their weight is constantly trying to make them go under. You're going to need alot of power to even get them up on the skis. The same thing for the knee board.

Now, I don't know much about how much hp you're going to need. I've just grew up around boats and am just talking from experience. I've been on boats that can pull a tube no problem, barely even noticeable, where they couldn't even get a skier as small as me (about 150lb) up.

All I know is you're gonna need a bigger boat.

I've seen videos on Youtube of average sized adults being pulled up on water skis with less than 30hp.

Kneeboard rules with low HP outboards.  Tube has way too much drag and you can't get going fast enough to plane out on skis.

Planing out on a kneeboard is quite doable with a 9.9 even.

Skis are the only thing that may be a problem, depending on your weight and skills. It's a bit harder to get out of the water if you don't have a lot of power, but once you get up 30 hp is usually plenty.