Help me optimize the ballast for my 92 Sunsport DD for a surf wake.

[trayson]

I'd love some help with optimizing the bags and layout for my ballast on my 92 sunsport direct drive. It seems like a fairly popular model on these forums, so I'm hoping I can leverage others experience.


I currently have a hard plumbed fly high bag that fills the space beneath the rear seats.



I'm going to add a Fly High X-series Tube Sack that will fill the ski locker (I'll put in some valves so I can fill them both from my impeller based Ballast Puppy pump). This is the setup that the previous owner had, but he kept the ski locker sack when he sold me the boat.

The previous owner gave me another bag that I'll be able to use to fill the center locker at the rear of the playpen.

Right now I have dual batteries under the passenger seat (might add a 3rd battery if I get ambitous sometime).

I'm thinking that 1 more bag on the floor alongside of the engine compartment would finish up the job. Maybe pick up the Fly High X-series 50x20x20 sack? --or will that even fit? (I'm at work dreaming of surfing, so I can't just run outside and measure my boat's floorspace).

Will that be too much with everything predominately in the stern? Or just right?

Keep in mind that I'd like to optimize with the idea that most the time I'll have a minimal crew with me. Often just 2 or 3 others.

http://www.wakemakers.com/wakeboard-...manufacturer=6

[wotan2525]

50x20x20 should fit perfectly either behind the engine or next to the engine.

Too much weight is better than not enough. Sounds like you've got a good plan but with only 2 people you might still be a little light.

[trayson]

50x20x20 should fit perfectly either behind the engine or next to the engine.

Too much weight is better than not enough. Sounds like you've got a good plan but with only 2 people you might still be a little light.

Well, I do have 6 bags of cement that the previous owner wrapped in duct tape that I could use for static ballast. they can be stashed in pretty much any of the storage lockers (except the one w/ the batteries). But I'm just kinda leary about ballast that I have to haul around when trailering the boat... (not that it's a big deal going under 10 miles to the launch)

[Jetlink]

Well, I do have 6 bags of cement that the previous owner wrapped in duct tape that I could use for static ballast. they can be stashed in pretty much any of the storage lockers (except the one w/ the batteries). But I'm just kinda leary about ballast that I have to haul around when trailering the boat... (not that it's a big deal going under 10 miles to the launch)

The issue with ballast other than water ballast is that in the event that you were to ever overload your boat and swamp it, water ballast will not continue to drive your boat to rest on the bottom, non water ballast such as these cement bags or weights for working out will.

[trayson]

The issue with ballast other than water ballast is that in the event that you were to ever overload your boat and swamp it, water ballast will not continue to drive your boat to rest on the bottom, non water ballast such as these cement bags or weights for working out will.

Yeah, I agree. While non-water ballast is "cheap and easy", in the event that something bad happened, the price of water ballast gets surprisingly cheap when compared to the cost of sinking the boat!!

[kvand347]

Trayson--can you pull that bag to the side for me and take some pics of what the PO did to the supports under the bench seat? Mine have framing under each cross bar so that my bench has 3 separate storage compartments.

[Jetlink]

Add ballast to the bow on the surf side so you can start to create a pocket. The pocket is what will allow you to surf without the rope.

[2500HD]

Add ballast to the bow on the surf side so you can start to create a pocket. The pocket is what will allow you to surf without the rope.

I agree, when you have all the weight in the rear you get a very steep but short wave(small pocket). Adding weight to the bow will lengthen the wave and make it slightly less steep(longer pocket).

[trayson]

That makes a lot of sense. Sounds like I'll have some trial and error to dial it in when my ballast shows up. I can't wait. Right now I'm 100% on the rope with my lack of surf wake. My left arm is so sore!

[2500HD]

the picture doesn't do the wave justice