PDA

View Full Version : Malibu Surf Gate



Sunapee Sunsport
07-18-2012, 01:53 PM
So I am sure everyone has seen or heard of the new side trim tabs Mailbu has named Surf Gate. What are your thoughts and who is brave enought to try to design and retro fir some custom side tabs on a Supra?

wotan2525
07-18-2012, 03:18 PM
First I've heard of this. Doesn't make any sense to me! Apparently you activate the surf-gate on the opposite side of where you want to surf. Cool!

I don't see any reason why Bennett trim tabs wouldn't work exactly the same way. There also shouldn't be a huge force pushing/pulling on these surfaces (far, far less than a wedge.) I don't believe that you'd have to reinforce your transom to support these other than adding backer-plates to the inside of where you mounted the trim actuators.

Someone is going to DIY this. It will be interesting to see how effective it is.

Okie Boarder
07-18-2012, 05:44 PM
The videos showing the waves are pretty impressive, but I'm still skeptical.

michael hunter
07-19-2012, 09:46 AM
The claim to fame is the ability to switch sides in two seconds . Although its a cool idea I dont see it as a big problem solver. We only surf about 10% of the time and goofy surfers are rare . It takes about the same time to switch sides as it takes to switch riders. I haven't seen any pricing yet but $ 3000.00 has been mentioned. They also say its not available as a retrofit. I'm not a big BU fan nothing against them just my preference. The Surfgate would not temp me to buy one.

Okie Boarder
07-19-2012, 05:15 PM
It would be nice for us...we surf about 50% now and we have 50% goofy to regular riders in our family. That ratio changes when we add more people, but I digress. It will be interesting to see what other manufacturers use.

2500HD
01-20-2013, 12:35 PM
From what i have seen, it definately helps to clean and lengthen the wake. Having an 89 saltare i'm gonna need all the help i can get creating an excellent surfing wake. I'll definately be adding a detachable version of this to my boat. (once winter breaks that is.)

sybrmike
01-20-2013, 01:27 PM
Yeah, I'm waiting to hear more real world experience before diving in, but definitely considering it as an option. I've got a goofy daughter & still haven't found the right combination for either side yet, even with 2800# in my Salt. Maybe I just need to spend some time with someone that knows what they're doing?

2500HD
01-20-2013, 01:43 PM
I ride goofy myself, i can ride regular but it is not natural to me.....20 yrs of snowboarding. if you have a chance you should check out martin archers work with his surfgate or as he calls it...Teakgate. he has provided enough proof of concept with his 87 sunsetter that I'm gonna pursue it. http://i497.photobucket.com/albums/rr332/martinarcher24/Surfgate/NoSurfGate2.jpg
http://i497.photobucket.com/albums/rr332/martinarcher24/Surfgate/SurfgateWave.jpg
The first pic is without the gate and the second is with the gate.

2500HD
06-02-2013, 05:39 PM
These pics are from my testing of my home made surfgate.
no ballast, surfgate only.
http://i1280.photobucket.com/albums/a494/2500hd1/IMAG0293_zpsedef0cdb.jpg
rear locker mostly full and 1 bag on the seats
http://i1280.photobucket.com/albums/a494/2500hd1/IMAG0295_zpsd64c7554.jpg
rear locker and 2 bags on bench
http://i1280.photobucket.com/albums/a494/2500hd1/IMAG0296_zps5287d8a3.jpg
rear locker and 3 bags on bench and about 400 in the bow
http://i1280.photobucket.com/albums/a494/2500hd1/IMAG0297_zpsefe4c603.jpg
these were just me and my wife on the boat, later i picked up a buddy and his daughters and surfed it. the wave was even better. But with a water temp of 52 degrees it was a short ride even without getting wet. I have one more 500# bag to use but thats for another day. Now i just have to build my real surfgate or wave shaper! These pictures don't due the actual wave justice.

CornRickey
06-02-2013, 06:50 PM
Any pictures of them on the boat?

2500HD
06-02-2013, 06:53 PM
Any pictures of them on the boat?
I didn't get any of it in the water but i took this one after i built it.
http://i1280.photobucket.com/albums/a494/2500hd1/IMAG0289_zps12b87fcd.jpg

CornRickey
06-02-2013, 08:48 PM
Alright now I'm confused. These go on the opposite side of were you are surfing? If so what are the physics involved (how does it help)?

2500HD
06-02-2013, 08:51 PM
Alright now I'm confused. These go on the opposite side of were you are surfing? If so what are the physics involved (how does it help)?
It does go on the opposite side. The basic theory is delaying the convergence of the 2 waves.

CornRickey
06-02-2013, 09:11 PM
video of it working would be great.

2500HD
06-02-2013, 09:26 PM
If i can get some next weekend i will. The next week we will be at lake powell on the houseboat and i will take video for sure. I'm also gonna make one for my buddies moomba v drive. Can't wait to see what it does behind that beast.

CornRickey
06-02-2013, 09:38 PM
nevermind. I saw a bunch on youtube. Pretty cool. The Malibu guys seem to be doing a lot with the diy stuff. The video "teakgate" sure has it figured out mechanically but I'm not so convinced compared to the factory ones and there performance. Probably though a lot of photo editing.

2500HD
06-02-2013, 09:46 PM
Big difference between the new malibu vdrives and an old inboard like the one on teakgate. the main thing i like is i can weight my 89 saltare evenly and just switch the gate from one side to another without moving bags. it also made the cleanest darkside or goofy foot wave i have had yet, that is very important since i ride goofy.

villain
06-03-2013, 08:44 AM
wouldnt it be easier to just get a set of trim tabs on their own pump and mount them on the side?

2500HD
06-03-2013, 08:46 AM
wouldnt it be easier to just get a set of trim tabs on their own pump and mount them on the side?
Yes, except for the $500.00 cost of the trim tabs.

wotan2525
06-03-2013, 11:01 AM
We need some photos of weight only vs. weight + surf-gate.

I can't wait to get this figured out so that I can build/adapt it to my setup. ;)

jtryon
06-03-2013, 09:42 PM
2500HD, what are the dimensions of the board you used? looks good.

2500HD
06-04-2013, 08:23 AM
2500HD, what are the dimensions of the board you used? looks good.
10x24 from square edge to long point. I may back that size down to 8x20 on my next one. I don't think it needed to be that big.

jtryon
06-04-2013, 08:28 AM
10x24 from square edge to long point. I may back that size down to 8x20 on my next one. I don't think it needed to be that big.

Thanks for the info. I've been reading up on these since last summer and will be taking a shot at building one soon.

2500HD
06-04-2013, 08:36 AM
Thanks for the info. I've been reading up on these since last summer and will be taking a shot at building one soon.
Good luck, The one i built worked well enough that my buddy wants one for his 06 mobius xlv. I'll just have to use machine screws to mount my ram mount.

CornRickey
06-04-2013, 10:39 AM
How about angles? What is the angle from the beam (how far it sticks out past the side of the boat) and is it compounded?

villain
06-04-2013, 06:01 PM
Yes, except for the $500.00 cost of the trim tabs.

touche'...... sometimes i forget the perks of working at a dealer. love the parts at cost thing.

2500HD
06-04-2013, 08:09 PM
How about angles? What is the angle from the beam (how far it sticks out past the side of the boat) and is it compounded?
I did compound the angle to follow the transom, i think it was 10 or 11 degrees and came off the side of the boat at 22.5 degrees.

CornRickey
06-05-2013, 02:29 AM
so the compound angle was for aesthetics or for the performance of the gate? How did you come up with 22.5 degrees? No reason to reinvent the wheel if you know what I mean. Additionally I have read several posts from people saying that it doesn't generate a lot of pressure on what it is mounted to. Although I haven't witnessed it first hand but watching the videos I have to believe this isn't the case. There redirecting a lot of water. I curious for your thoughts on that. thanks.

2500HD
06-05-2013, 08:57 AM
so the compound angle was for aesthetics or for the performance of the gate? How did you come up with 22.5 degrees? No reason to reinvent the wheel if you know what I mean. Additionally I have read several posts from people saying that it doesn't generate a lot of pressure on what it is mounted to. Although I haven't witnessed it first hand but watching the videos I have to believe this isn't the case. There redirecting a lot of water. I curious for your thoughts on that. thanks.
The compound was also to follow the side of the boat, that was the 10 degree. the 22.5 was out from boat and also following the transom down. My first post was sort of misleading. as far as the amount of force generated. I have no way of calculating that but if you stick the end of an oar in the water doing 10.5mph its about the same.

CornRickey
06-05-2013, 11:25 AM
Cool. I've been kicking around th idea of a modular system that clamps onto the step and is automated like the teakgate system.