Ballast weight recommendations for 99 Air, Sport, etc.

[Chexi]

For those of you with DD Sports and Airs (non-pythons), what weight / ballast layouts have you been most satisfied with from a wakeboading wake perspective?

[rbalan]

RE: Ballast weight recommendations for 99 Air, Sport, etc.

From a proportion standpoint with 2 people in boat, fill the space in the rear trunk, the ski locker, and the bow walkway. I actually like a little more weight than this, but the ratio front/rear is good for wake shape, handling, and planing off. Add 120-150 more lbs lead under bow seating and 120-150 lbs lead in nooks by gas tank and thats about my favorite set up. My boat is actually a 2000, but it should be very similar. Other than the bow sac, weight is hidden out of the way.

[bchesley]

RE: Ballast weight recommendations for 99 Air, Sport, etc.

By buddy had a 99 proair that we would have the rear tank full, a 400 on each side of the motor, a 600 in the ski locker, and a probably another 400 behind the motor. Its a lot of weight but the wake was perfect, just dont stop to quickly....

[hondaprlud]

RE: Ballast weight recommendations for 99 Air, Sport, etc.

I had a 96 Sport, I would put a fatseat in the rear (not full but probably to 800 lbs) and a fatsack in the bow- (about 3/4 full). I also had 150 lbs of sand weight in the locker. I tried filling the sacks all the way but the handling on the boat suffered too much for me. The wake was steep but solid and did not washout. I agree you need to keep the front to back ratio about 60/40, no matter how much weight you use.

[Chexi]

RE: Ballast weight recommendations for 99 Air, Sport, etc.

Thanks gentlemen.

I have a 10x16x70 sack in the locker (takes up the entire space, but I don't have the specs on its weight). I have a 340# on top of the rear factory tanks, so a possible total of 740 in the rear. Sounds like I'm too rear heavy. So you all are saying have the ratio 60% front to 40% rear or 60% rear to 40% front?

[hondaprlud]

60% rear

[ally606]

I've got a '97 sport and weigh it as follows;

2 side sacs (260lbs ea) as far back as possible running down the side of the boat
Locker sac (300lbs?) er, in the locker!
Second battery up under the bow
Around 300lbs of lead hidden around the fuel tank.

The boat could do wih a little more weight to the stern, either that or only half fill the locker sac. I find the older sloping transom nautiques a bit more tricky to weight as it can be quite difficult to get the weight aft and yet retain the back seat.

I've often thought about making a new seat up and set this forward a little but this would be a lot of work so I'm going to try finding some space for some more lead shot instead!

[rbalan]

Ally, it sounds like you need to replace the side sacs with vdrive sacs (400 lbs each) or rear gravity games sacs (550 lbs each?).

Chexi, if you don't mind trailering the extra weight, adding 200 lbs or so of lead or whatever under the bow seats would be a simple fix. Are you satisfied with your wake's size? If you are, the extra weight up front will firm it up and give it more mass in width. I use to ride a little stern heavy myself and now find it less effortless getting pop.

[ally606]

totally agree, the side sacs were a real bad idea!! That said I can get lead shot for free and it's good to hide around the back of the fuel tank!

[Chexi]

My wake size has been pretty good, but it is washy on the port side and the sweet spot on the starboard is pretty small. I'm hoping to clean up the port side and and increase the sweetspot a bit. I have noticed that the wake can be pretty washy on the opposite side the rider is on (i.e., the wake will clean up when you need it to for the side you are on). However, I thought it was possible to have a pretty clean wake without the help of the rider.

I have a ton of space under the bow seats to add weight. I have been pondering the under bow integrated fat sac, but it's a pricey investment if I don't absolutely need it.

[mhaaland]

I've been thinking about getting on of the 125lb Launch Pad sumo seat sac & putting it in the bow, i don't have the walkway but this sac measures 8" tall 16" wide & 24" long so I'm thinking it will be a good fit under the bow seat. I've got the 400lb hard tank in the back & I'm wondering how much more i should put back there. I've got a Launch Pad 540lb (i think it's 540lbs) to put in the locker but then that not the 60/40 ratio. I've been toying around with the idea of getting a few of the 85lb Launch Pad bricks to place around the boat where needed. I'm not sure what I'm going to do, myself & my "crew" aren't that advanced so I'm thinking i don't need the excessive weight just yet.

We did start wake surfing last Saturday & we had the 400lbs hard tank 1/2 full, 540lb filled 2/3 on the port side rear & it was a OK wake (not enough to let go of the handle, but it was the 1st time wake surfing for everyone). my fiance was surfing & my buddy (220lbs) was sitting on the side leaning over the side a bit & i would get her up to 11-12mph & i (155lbs) would quick go over by my buddy for about 10 seconds(FYI there wasn't hardly anyone on the lake at the time) & the wake doubled. So I'm thinking a full 400lbs in back, a full 540lbs port side rear and add a 125lb, 85lb into the mix.

[Chexi]

If you add weight above the hard tanks, be sure to reinforce. I built a plywood false floor, epoxied it, carpeted it with outdoor carpet and built a wood I beam support structure for it, along with some other supports closer to the corners. Was probably more work than just ripping out the tanks and putting in big bags, but oh well. At least it works.

[mhaaland]

sorry for the thread hijack & the rambling but if "Chexi" had 740lbs in the rear should he put 300ish in the bow & 440ish in the ski locker or am i going overboard on the ski locker weight?.?. it's really not a suggestion but more of a question because I'm kind of new to dialing in the ballast thing & I'm kind of trying to figure out what i should do only with smaller weighting.

[vortech347]

99 Sport

Here is how mine is weighted normally.

In the front I have a Skylon locker sack that is claimed to be 600 lbs. I would esitmate it around 550 or so because I can never get it totally full. I slide it as far forward in the locker as possible before filling.

In the rear I have the stock 400 lb tanks plus either 2 x 200 lb sacs or a single 550 on top of the tanks mostly full.

It's ~ 550 front and ~900 rear that way. The wake is big and clean on both sides.

If I really want to go with more weight I will put a 350 between the back seat and the motor box and one in the bow.

[Chexi]

RE: 99 Sport

Hmm... sounds like pretty much what I have, I just haven't filled at all at the same time lol. I'll try this weekend.