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sebrodie1
03-12-2016, 03:30 PM
Hi everyone.

I'm new to this forum and have a ghetto gate question. I just got the $20 skateboard ramp on Amazon and industrial strength Velcro. The underside of the skateboard ramp doesn't have a lot of surface area for the Velcro to adhere to. Is it enough to stick to the boat or do I need to reinforce the bottom surface area?

Thanks in advance!

Steve

sebrodie1
03-12-2016, 05:20 PM
After doing some research, it looks like I can do one of several things. I can get some flat plastic and cut it to fit on the bottom. Then fill it with something like Great Stuff so it will float if it comes off the boat.

The other idea is to bolt TWO ramps together but that seems a little over kill to me. My guess is, if that big of size were more effective, Wakesetter would have made it that big.

cbm4ua
03-22-2016, 11:24 PM
Steve,

I have used the ramp on multiple occasions and I have never had it come loose from the boat using just the small surface area on the underside of the ramp for the velcro. I was concerned about the small surface area as well when I first installed the ramp on my boat. I tied a tether to the ramp the first few trips out on the lake just to make sure that I wouldn't loose the ramp if it came loose from the velcro. However, once you come up to surf speed the pressure of the water pushes the ramp into the boat and it is not going anywhere. Also just FYI.... the ramp will float as-is with no foam fill required. Since I had it tethered the first thing I did was chunk the ramp in the lake to see if it would float. I don't even bother with the tether any longer.

I have also thought about trying to shim the ramp to see if an increased angle will have a positive effect of my surf wake. I hope to play with this a little once the weather warms up and I can get my boat back on the water.

Derek Gerbrandt
03-23-2016, 03:40 PM
I just ordered my skateboard ramp a few days ago. Was relieved to see this idea. Just purchased a 2006 21v in November and was a little worried about surfing from other posts on this site until I seen cbm4ua's post on the skateboard ramp!! Great idea and look forward to trying it out. I would think shimming it out would be easy as well. With either wood or plastic. The shim could be wider then the actual ramp edges. Screw the wider shim onto the ramp using stainless steal screws. That would give you your wider surface area for the velcro. Lakes are just starting to thaw up here. Cant wait!!! I have had to do several repairs to my boat (swim platform had been ripped off at one point, water under the front ski locker....) and this forum has addressed all of them. thanks!!!

plav77
03-31-2016, 07:40 PM
Does anyone know that angle of the Ronix Wakeshaper?
It would be nice to try and shim it to that angle as I'm sure they have done the research on what the best angle is.

MJHKnox
04-04-2016, 09:23 AM
Post some before and after pics.

supra790
04-05-2016, 02:14 AM
I have one. I can check tomorrow for you if you still need the info?

sebrodie1
04-20-2016, 07:48 PM
so, I'm having trouble finding a sheet of plastic to cover the open side of the ramp. what are you guys using to place on the open side of the ramp in order for velcro to adhere to it?

I ordered one but it was so brittle that when I screwed holes in it to bolt it together, it cracked. Now I'm just frustrated! Argh.

sebrodie1
04-20-2016, 07:51 PM
Saw the wood idea. Maybe a thin sheet of plywood as a backing for the ramp? Just trying not to make it terribly heavy.

plav77
04-21-2016, 05:00 PM
I have one. I can check tomorrow for you if you still need the info?

I would love to know the angle to compare to the ramps!

daraujo
04-22-2016, 10:52 PM
I would love to know the angle to compare to the ramps!
Looks like it is a 30° angle, just checked mine.

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Eric1687
04-26-2016, 06:04 PM
I just got my ramp in thought about getting a piece of plexiglass and silacone it to the back of ramp and then the Velcro would have more surface area to stick too. What kind of Velcro are you all using ? Just industrial strength ?

MDVols
04-30-2016, 01:25 PM
Some people are putting 2 Ramps together, the holes line right up to bolt it or tie wrap it, because one ramp alone is like 17 degrees I believe. That's what I am going to do just waiting for my Ramps to come in. I also found the exact same Velcroe but in white so maybe you won't notice it on the boat as much.

Eric1687
05-01-2016, 12:14 PM
Yup I got the white as well 15' of 2" wide. That might not be a bad idea to get another ramp and bolt together .

MDVols
05-01-2016, 04:01 PM
Here is what I found.
17082
17083

MDVols
05-01-2016, 04:04 PM
Yup I got the white as well 15' of 2" wide. That might not be a bad idea to get another ramp and bolt together .

Have you already used one?

Eric1687
05-01-2016, 07:28 PM
Not yet how well does it work and what is your weight set up ?

MDVols
05-02-2016, 02:22 PM
just got some of the stuff in today, hope to test this week.

Eric1687
05-02-2016, 03:49 PM
Awesome mines coming in tomorrow I got some stainless steel bolts and silacone to seal it up hopefully put it together tomorrow so it can dry and try it out Wednesday! I thought about making the Velcro on the boat longer than the ramp to try and move forward and back to see what works best.

sebrodie1
05-02-2016, 04:32 PM
I didnt know white velcro was an option. I have the black already but looks like I'm going back to Amazon! I am going to wait on putting marine grade thin plywood on mine until I hear back from someone who has tried the two ramps bolted together. Seems offly big and hard to keep velcroed on at 15 MPH but if it worked that would be pretty awesome.

MDVols
05-06-2016, 06:01 PM
Still waiting on Ramp #2, for some reason they shipped separate. It is supp to be in tomorrow, hopefully I can still get a test in before the weekend is up.

Eric1687
05-08-2016, 03:09 PM
1710117101

How do you upload phones from phone on to here ?

Eric1687
05-08-2016, 03:10 PM
Never mind lol

MDVols
05-09-2016, 10:11 AM
1710117101

How do you upload phones from phone on to here ?

Did you test it out yet or get any pics?

Eric1687
05-09-2016, 01:02 PM
I'm dieing to try it but it keeps raining hopefully tomorrow !

MDVols
05-09-2016, 05:43 PM
I'm dieing to try it but it keeps raining hopefully tomorrow !

Make sure to get some before and after pics to post! My other ramp came in I'm just waiting to get out myself. did you put any foam or anything in it?

Eric1687
05-09-2016, 06:14 PM
Nope just 6 stainless steal boats had to drill 2 additional holes in the center and a bead of silicone around the whole think I would think it should float if not I was thinking of putting a pool noodle inside of it.

Zim
05-11-2016, 12:23 PM
You guys should check out this thread:

http://www.mastercraft.com/teamtalk/showthread.php?t=70442&page=6

steinkda1984
05-12-2016, 09:20 AM
I took two of the skate board ramps and bolted them together. The ramps have two small holes on the lip of the ramp. Bought two cans of great stuff and sprayed it in to ensure it floats. Also, used the velcro as advertised and this velcro holds very well. Spent about 5 hours surfing and the ramp did not move. I fill center ballast 1125#, 450# in the playpen, both rear lockers at 800#, wake plate up and cruise at 11 mph.

Eric1687
05-12-2016, 09:27 AM
I ended up having to double up Velcro because it popped off and found it bouant enough without putting anything inside of it.

MDVols
05-12-2016, 02:58 PM
I took two of the skate board ramps and bolted them together. The ramps have two small holes on the lip of the ramp. Bought two cans of great stuff and sprayed it in to ensure it floats. Also, used the velcro as advertised and this velcro holds very well. Spent about 5 hours surfing and the ramp did not move. I fill center ballast 1125#, 450# in the playpen, both rear lockers at 800#, wake plate up and cruise at 11 mph.
How did you like it, and what kind of boat do you have?

steinkda1984
05-16-2016, 01:41 PM
It works great and does the job for less the $100. The only negative is it is pretty big once you screw the two together. I have a 24ssv and I run out of storage when all ballasts are full and we are wakeboarding. Guys are making them out of suction cups and cutting boards which are alot smaller and no velcro on boat. I might make one of those this winter for less than $100. These guys mass producing them are way over priced. I love the American ingenuity to make a product and take it to market but in this case I feel like we have to do like the Chinese and steal the idea and DIY your own.

mydogzeke
05-16-2016, 06:34 PM
Has anyone tried both one ramp vs two ramps? Is two better than one or will just one do the trick? I'm not too worried about sealing off the backside of it; I can spray foam it or something.

Also, does anyone have any wave pics of before and after? Does it legitimately make a difference? I'm contemplating ordering one now. Thanks for any and all info and thanks for this thread, guys! Super helpful so far!

cbm4ua
05-16-2016, 10:24 PM
Has anyone tried both one ramp vs two ramps? Is two better than one or will just one do the trick? I'm not too worried about sealing off the backside of it; I can spray foam it or something.

Also, does anyone have any wave pics of before and after? Does it legitimately make a difference? I'm contemplating ordering one now. Thanks for any and all info and thanks for this thread, guys! Super helpful so far!

I can't tell you that one ramp vs two ramps is better or worse, but I can vouch from my own experience that one ramp will do the trick and it will improve your surf wave. I also did not fill in the backside of my ramp and it has never once come off my boat while surfing.

check out this thread for some pics and videos of my wave with one ramp on a 2007 Launch 21V: https://forum.supraboats.com/showthread.php?17851-Pics-of-my-new-Ghetto-surf-setup-on-my-2007-Launch-21V

mydogzeke
05-16-2016, 11:25 PM
That's enough to convince me! That's good info. Thanks for the response.

ICEMANFiZ
05-17-2016, 05:52 PM
http://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20160517/179ccb54386efc72219a862cc6e1d904.jpg
http://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20160517/8ea23c6d752423d32fbb8f719ca693be.jpg
New Evolution.


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steinkda1984
05-17-2016, 10:54 PM
What did you make the L bracket out of icemanfiz? I really like that design over the ramps.

Mydogzeke, some sort of wakeshaper is a must. Weather the suction cup or ramps is better I can't answer but you definitely need something to change the flow of water on the opposite side of your surf wake. Before I put the ramps on my wake was pretty much unsurfable. Once the ramp went on and I evened out the weight in the rear the wave is great.

ICEMANFiZ
05-18-2016, 01:38 AM
What did you make the L bracket out of icemanfiz?.

$5 at Lowes each. Just a shelf bracket.

Zim
05-18-2016, 09:59 AM
Looks good Iceman!!

I notice you used the 3" screws. I ended up not using those and just used the 2 inchers, but I also countersunk the hole in my HDPE board to allow me to do that.

The guys on the MC forums using this plastic handle on demand have noticed cracking around the bolts attaching the shelving brackets. For this reason, I ordered the all aluminum handle as others have done, and will have version 2.0 here soon.

I see you don't have a hole cut for the lever on the forward suction cup. Did you just cut the big part of the handle off?

Zim
05-18-2016, 10:00 AM
Another thing... you might want to put some lock washers on in front of your nuts so they don't back off while you're using it. I didn't have those on my lowe's receipt cause I had a whole box of them already that I used. Forgot to mention that.

ICEMANFiZ
05-18-2016, 08:27 PM
Looks good Iceman!!

I notice you used the 3" screws. I ended up not using those and just used the 2 inchers, but I also countersunk the hole in my HDPE board to allow me to do that.

The guys on the MC forums using this plastic handle on demand have noticed cracking around the bolts attaching the shelving brackets. For this reason, I ordered the all aluminum handle as others have done, and will have version 2.0 here soon.

I see you don't have a hole cut for the lever on the forward suction cup. Did you just cut the big part of the handle off?

Just cut some of handle off. Yes I lost mine in lake and will be upgrading to version 2 soon. Well worth it!!! Need a better suction cup and all aluminum will be the way I go too. http://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20160519/f1d7f6564d595262d3d1ed8b576d6474.jpg

Zim
05-19-2016, 11:03 AM
Just FYI, I just got the aluminum version in the mail, and it's MUCH stronger feeling. It's definitely worth the extra cost.


Did you not have a leash on your SUCKgate tethered to the boat?

ICEMANFiZ
05-19-2016, 12:26 PM
Just FYI, I just got the aluminum version in the mail, and it's MUCH stronger feeling. It's definitely worth the extra cost.


Did you not have a leash on your SUCKgate tethered to the boat?

I did have it tethered. Somehow spun itself out of it. I'm also ordered the $18 aluminum one for version 2. Thinking about drilling holes in this one to alleviate some stress on suction from slipping. Might make like 4 versions and test them all out. Could easily build 4 for less than a Hundo

plav77
05-19-2016, 01:14 PM
This is the location I keep mine at. With all my ballasts full it's just out of the water by an inch, once I start moving it's under.
You can see the leash I use also, it's never come off. My blade dimensions are 8x12
I just ordered 1/2 hdpe. V2 will have the blade at the back instead of the front.
17146

ICEMANFiZ
05-19-2016, 02:15 PM
This is the location I keep mine at. With all my ballasts full it's just out of the water by an inch, once I start moving it's under.
You can see the leash I use also, it's never come off. My blade dimensions are 8x12
I just ordered 1/2 hdpe. V2 will have the blade at the back instead of the front.
17146

Nice leash setup. What is it? Why blade in back bs front? How many degrees is blade?

Zim
05-19-2016, 03:54 PM
Ice... I bet I know what happened with yours...

From other pictures, your leash on the bungee looked to go through only the arch on the shelf bracket. I'll bet when the SUCKgate came loose, it just ripped the weld of the arch off and came undone that way because of all the water pressure/resistance when that bungee hit its max extension. I put my leash around the handle and the lower shelf supports that were bolted to the HOD. You can kind of see that in my picture sitting on the back of my boat.

This is all assuming you didn't lose the bungee tie. If your bungee cord came off the boat entirely, then I'm totally off base here haha.


http://i.imgur.com/wAJ38ahh.jpg

ICEMANFiZ
05-19-2016, 05:34 PM
Ice... I bet I know what happened with yours...

From other pictures, your leash on the bungee looked to go through only the arch on the shelf bracket. I'll bet when the SUCKgate came loose, it just ripped the weld of the arch off and came undone that way because of all the water pressure/resistance when that bungee hit its max extension. I put my leash around the handle and the lower shelf supports that were bolted to the HOD. You can kind of see that in my picture sitting on the back of my boat.

This is all assuming you didn't lose the bungee tie. If your bungee cord came off the boat entirely, then I'm totally off base here haha.


http://i.imgur.com/wAJ38ahh.jpg

Nope you're right that is exactly what happened.

ICEMANFiZ
05-19-2016, 10:01 PM
V2. http://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20160520/26a2d9618a4d9d15282db51385ea5fc9.jpghttp://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20160520/0b1cac1f3dfeb5db6d8102e98832db0b.jpghttp://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20160520/b133a2174f96d009e62681b5dd6a16e0.jpghttp://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20160520/d63e14f2f48b6ed653cdd3e02168bd19.jpg


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plav77
05-20-2016, 11:23 AM
Nice leash setup. What is it? Why blade in back bs front? How many degrees is blade?

Bunch cord that I found at Home Depot!
https://www.homedepot.ca/en/home/p.bungee-cord24-inch-superduty-carabiner.1000804722.html

Blade is 30 degrees, my blade is in the front of the Suckgate, next version will be at the back to see if I notice any difference.

ICEMANFiZ
05-20-2016, 08:36 PM
V3 finished! All new design, aluminum alloy body, stainless construction, and better suction. http://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20160521/ddb01ed3b02819334e072ebed3bc3d73.jpghttp://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20160521/59dad44c7aa2d2240f4ac20b95acdeef.jpghttp://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20160521/8263cb6c89e8d5a6a12a0b278d488020.jpghttp://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20160521/c1897bf62f779bbaf56e658d919422d8.jpg


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MDVols
05-22-2016, 09:28 PM
First time out with ghetto gate, still have to play some more.
17171
17172
17173
17174

plav77
05-22-2016, 10:47 PM
How much weight you running?

Eric1687
05-24-2016, 02:48 PM
What are you all using for a shim I used a piece of 1" pine but the Velcro keeps coming off of it

plav77
05-24-2016, 05:10 PM
What are you all using for a shim I used a piece of 1" pine but the Velcro keeps coming off of it

I had the same issue, was going to try cutting a piece of plastic cutting board until I found the SUCKgate which is way better than the ramp IMO.

Luvmysupra
05-25-2016, 12:25 PM
It works great and does the job for less the $100. The only negative is it is pretty big once you screw the two together. I have a 24ssv and I run out of storage when all ballasts are full and we are wakeboarding. Guys are making them out of suction cups and cutting boards which are alot smaller and no velcro on boat. I might make one of those this winter for less than $100. These guys mass producing them are way over priced. I love the American ingenuity to make a product and take it to market but in this case I feel like we have to do like the Chinese and steal the idea and DIY your own.

17202 less $30 infested



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Luvmysupra
05-25-2016, 12:28 PM
17202 less $30 infested



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17203



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MDVols
05-25-2016, 07:59 PM
I didn't use a shim but I am having problems with Velcro peeling as well.

MDVols
05-25-2016, 08:01 PM
How much weight you running?
pretty much factory ballast but will probably upgrade to 750s in the rear and 1100 in the center. Don't know when. I think the backs are like 400lbs.

Eric1687
05-25-2016, 11:38 PM
Yeah sucks since I had around $40 in Velcro it was fine on the boat but came off on the ramp and shim, and the ramps took on water and I silaconed the crap out of it. I was running 1100 and 600 on each side of the rear and the wave was great.

MDVols
05-26-2016, 09:00 PM
Is there an updated material list for the V2.0 SUCKGate? And also those of you that have tried both (meaning ramps or SUCKGate) which do you like best?

Luvmysupra
05-26-2016, 09:06 PM
Is there an updated material list for the V2.0 SUCKGate? And also those of you that have tried both (meaning ramps or SUCKGate) which do you like best?

I built mine based on ronix wedge for under $40 and it works flawlessly so far


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sebrodie1
06-08-2016, 05:16 PM
[QUOTE=Luvmysupra;123118]I built mine based on ronix wedge for under $40 and it works flawlessly so far


Luv,

You included a picture of what looked like your ramp backing a few pages back but I couldnt find what you made it of? Wood, plastic? Looks great and I want to copy yours please! have the ramp and the velcro just need to put a backing on the skate ramp.

Thanks!

steve

MDVols
06-21-2016, 08:21 AM
Ok Zim? Would like to get the dimensions and results from you SUCKgate. I have looked on the Mastercraft link but would like your input if you don't mind.

Luvmysupra
06-27-2016, 02:59 PM
Ok Zim? Would like to get the dimensions and results from you SUCKgate. I have looked on the Mastercraft link but would like your input if you don't mind.

17376 I built this one for $15 works amazing stole idea from master raft link 17377



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MDVols
07-27-2016, 09:53 AM
Built one for $30 and works great! A lot better than dealing with velcroe and bulky skateboard ramps, thanks for everyone's project info and the MC link.