>> Kind of makes me wonder how many waterskiers could go
>> behind, say, an Enterprise-class nuclear aircraft carrier

That's easy.
IF the "boat" can handle 1 skier at speed then 10% extra should be OK.

Bad assumption set:

- A skier consumes engine power at the same rate per mass as the ship 
does now.
- Add 10% mass and you can still ski.
- Average skier with gear is 120 kg
- Ship masses 40,000 tons/tonnes


Skiers = Ship_Mass a 10% / skier_mass
= 40000 * 0.1 / .12 =~~~~~~ 33,000.
Probably correct within factors of 2 to 0.1

:-)

Adjust bad assumption set to your own assumption set.

Another data point is that the Klondike express didn't have enough 
power to tow 120 skiers.



        RM





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