aftermarket wedge system

[mapleleaf]

If Malibu has a wedge system installed on a low freeboard comp LX why couldn't us comp owners do something similar? I know this topic was up for discussion before, but it sure would help save the space that bags take up....
http://www.salvagedirect.com/asp/Vie...date=2/16/2011

[jet]

There is no reason we cant do this maple. Im on board. Jet

http://forums.wakeboarder.com/viewto...35435f97277552

heres my fav, a floating wedge:
http://www.themalibucrew.com/forums/...ds__mod_id__19

[mapleleaf]

the polished one is amazing, really like the backing plate inside the transom. Don't totally understand how it's a "floating" wedge. There was some fastener looking deal inside the mounting bracket i couldn't make sense of....

[jet]

Yeah, it also has some kind of switch on it to?? Im going to do a 2-position locked version. light and heavy. Since Im redoing the stringers Im going to beef up the stringers back there.

[mapleleaf]

that was what i liked about that backing plate, transom and stringer mounted....

[stinky_1]

so, I had been doing research on something like this for my Nautique. I did come across this

http://www.wakeworld.com/MB/Discus/m...tml?1075167217

I learned a few things by digging through that thread

1) You need to make sure anyone driving the boat with the wedge down knows that you can NOT power turn at any speed. This is how stuff like the wedge ripping off happens.

2) If you look at the pics in the other post I linked to, you will see that the hull is NOT reinforced where the wedge is attached. At first I figured it would be a LOT thicker than that. After a while of looking, and figuring I realized something. The forces on this will be pulling pretty much straight down. They claim about 1000 lbs of ballast, which would mean around 1000 lbs of force on the hull. We are looking at sheering strength, not straight pull force. I would throw a metal plate across the back as big as I can actually do. but otherwise you should not need anything special.

3) the pics of the home made wedge clearly show that it was welded to the supports. If something had to "give" I would think it wil be your hull. I would go for the bolted on design. This allows for a engineered "sheer pin" basically. So if something were to happen you would hopefully rip the bolts out of the wdge part, and keep your hull in tact.

4) this should be a really good solution especially for the guys with low freebord. The weight increase is only felt when you are moving forward. SO while sitting in the water you boat will be at factory hight. Which is good. No worries about big waves crashing over the sides. Once you get under way the wedge will pull your boat down and make the wake you want.

The actual system looks pretty basic. There is not a lot to that at all!

As near as I can tell there are only a few important things to note. First of all would be that the wedge needs to angle slightly down from the angle of the hull. It will want to ride parallel in the water, so once it is horizontal, your hull will have a bit of a rise to it. If you dont get that angle right you will not create the same down force as you would like. A real precise guy would try to measure it somehow relative to the hull. If this was me I would go for trial and error. Take some shims with you and you can always angle the wedge part more or less by a few degrees once at the water.

The only other thing would be to go for overkill on the hull support. The more support you can add the better off you are.

The rest is unimportant.

Let us know how it goes. I still have not written off the idea. And I am confident it would work pretty easy.

[stinky_1]

so, after very little pushing or prodding I have decided I am going to make one of these. I am not sure when I will actually bolt it onto my boat though. If anyone has access to a real one I would love some measurements. Otherwise I will just go off the pics and come up with some rough sizes.

I have all the stainless I should need to create this. And the hardware will be pretty simple.

I will try to take some pics of the creation process as well.

The expected start date for this is still 4 weeks away. I need to wait until I am working afternoon shifts at work again. That way I can be left alone to create it.

[jet]

Stinky you are correct..the force is pulling downward and the foil only has a degree or two from horizontal. My unknow question is how the boat sits when its in the water?? So you might have to compensate for that tilt to the rear. I will bet that my old hull is smaller and thicker than most newer boats in that area, but a large backing plate is what I was thinking to. Just go ahead and make 2 of them..PLEASE!!!

[mapleleaf]

ya or 3, I've had my gas tank out enough now too pull it for a backing plate install..or that glass work I know I'll be doing.
Stinky, we're working on a summer Alberta trip, I'll let you know when I'm coming to pick it up!!!

[stinky_1]

Ill get the first one made, then see how that works as a prototype.

I have looked at those pics and its looking like they set it up to be about 5 degrees off the hull or so. Ill show you guys what I come up with. That one in the link should be easy enough to mimick.