Thanks for the board input. I'll definitely be looking into gear specific to wakesurfing for the kiddos, just wanted to see what you thought of trying out the one on hand. It does not have foot straps or pads, just use good ole "sex wax". It's truely a "soft" board - foam core with a wood center stringer, all wrapped in a heavy plastic film, with rubber nose and tail bumpers like this. Lots of surface area compared to what I've seen on dedicated wakesurfers, bouyant, and safe (for riders, spectators, and the transom).
Welcome the the winter of project boats, snibb. Look forward to sharing our experiences along the way (as so many others have already graciously done so...).