Opinions/Options for extra ballast on 230

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  • lion90
    • Apr 2009
    • 182



    #1

    Opinions/Options for extra ballast on 230

    Finally pulled the trigger and took delivery on my 2009 SAN 230 TE on Friday. Since we are still breaking her in, we didn't ride too much but just enough to

    see what the wake was like stock, plus what the wake was like with an extra 800 in the nose (400 in the locker and 400 in the walkway) and an extra 600 in the rear (300 in each rear locker). Wow, what a difference!

    Anyway, I had always planned to plumb in additional ballast and the original plan was just to use the kit that Fly High makes (integrated bow sac in front and

    two V Drive sacs in the rear plumbed into the overflows).

    After reading on here, I have seen several different variations and wanted to get some opinions from you guys on each before I plop down the dollars to get

    the stuff.

    Let's start with the rear. The two options I have seen are the V Drive sacs on top of the factory hard tanks OR removing factory tanks and putting in the

    750lb sacs. I see pluses and minuses to each. Gauges still work and probalby a little less work to put the 400 on top of factory. However, how do you prevent the bags from sliding backwards since the factory tanks slope down at the rear. Does the front overflow hose connection keep the bag from sliding back? The other option is replace the hard tanks and just put in a 750 on each side. This gives more storage when the ballast is empty and keeps things pretty simple however the gauge will not work at all. For people who have done this option, where on the bag did you connect the fill/empty hose and where did you connect the overflow. For the factory tanks, it appears both are on the same side of the tank that is closest to the cockpit.

    Now let's talk about the front. The Fly High system plumbs directly into an integrated bow sac that is listed as 600-750lbs. Seems pretty simple and you only lose the storage in the front bow that we rarely use. I have seen others plumb in a sac into the ski locker. My only questions with this is that the overflow from the hard tank would then go into the lowest connection on the bow sac. That means water has to move from the lower point on the bag to the higher point on the hard tank. Does that work fine? I assume that it does since to suck the water out, air has to come in from the vent on the bag and thus move the water through. I also believe someone mentioned plumbing in both?!? Overflow of tank into ski locker sac and then over flow of that into integrated bow sac? Did I read that correct somewhere? Seems like that is the most difficult and error prone option to go with but gives you plenty of weight in the nose.

    I have read various threads already posted but I would like to get feedback from people that have done this on their 230s and how it worked for them (210/220 owners can contribute too as I assume those are similar).

    I just want to pick the best options and learn from others that have done one or the other and see if I can get their feedback on the pros and cons they have experienced.

    Thanks in advance!
  • EASWWS
    • Jan 2009
    • 5



    #2
    RE: Opinions/Options for extra ballast on 230

    i have a 220 and i use 2 750ibs in the rear wells and a 5ooibs in the front seat.it gives a monster wake.my friend has a 230 he runs with the same thing.if you want to surf on the 230 you can on both sides at 9-11mph.if you want on side unload all of it on that side at around 10mph.you kind of need to play with it to see what you like.oh the 220 will take along time to plane off with that much weight,i dont fill them up all the way,2-5ooilbs should do just fine.

    Comment

    • Kevin_B
      • Jan 2008
      • 313

      • Greensboro, NC

      • 2008 SANTE 220 1990 Sport Nautique

      #3
      RE: Opinions/Options for extra ballast on 230

      Well I have done a lot in trying different extra weight configurations on the 230 and Like you I definitely see the value of more weight. How could u not. I have not gone as far as plumbing it in because it was when I worked at a Nautique Dealership and it was our demo boat. But I have a few areas of advice or at-least areas to think about more.

      If you add the sacks on of the rear hard tanks why would you are if they slid down. I think I would probably pull them down initially assuming they fit well. This would increase your useable storage space when the bags are filled.

      I want to throw out one question for you and hopefully someone has a good response becasue I have been curious of this myself.

      How do you keep the the sacks from filling properly and not twisting during the filling process. I use fat sacks all the time in my own boat and I feel like I am constantly having to adjust them and make sure its straight. I have a feeling this could occur when adding additional ballast.
      1990 Sport Nautique

      Comment

      • tdc_worm
        Senior Member of PLANETNAUTIQUE
        • Feb 2004
        • 532



        #4
        RE: Opinions/Options for extra ballast on 230

        here is my setup (all sacks are Fly High):

        150lbs lead in belly locker

        W705 (650lbs) Rear Seat sack in the belly locker. it is piggy backed on the belly tank and probably gets 75% full, so estimate 450lbs.

        W711 (1000lbs) Integrated Bow sack under the front seats. it is piggy backed on the W705 and probably gets 90% full, so estimate 900 lbs

        W707 (750lbs) Fat sack, one piggy backed in each rear locker. the will get completely full w/ room to spare.

        Total estimate is 3000lbs on top of stock ballast all on switches, so no need to pick up a pump. w/ everything full, it will not get on plane w/ more than 3 people in the main cabin, and that is w/ my OJ power prop and ZR6. w/ that much weight, the boat will hold its wake shape down to about 22.5 mph. at 24mph and up it is ridiculous, but you are never going to get there w/ the stock prop (i prefer my OJ to the acmes i have had, whatever that is worth).

        I do not recommend pulling the hard tanks, the 750s will fit fine on top of them, and are also a nice touch for the surf wave....so are the extra v drive sacks that i fill up just for good measure, as if i need the ability to go another 800lbs over stock, hahaha...

        dont be afraid to go w/ the bigger sacks, even though they may not get all of the way full, they will fill every nook and cranny of whatever compartment they are in....

        Comment

        • SuperSquirt
          Senior Member of PLANETNAUTIQUE
          • Apr 2008
          • 534

          • Tennessee

          • 2008 SANTE 210

          #5
          RE: Opinions/Options for extra ballast on 230

          Fly High system works great, my 3 bags in the 210 don't really move around since the stiff hoses hold them in place. So much easier now. I am contemplating on adding an integrated bow sac piggy backed onto a tube sac i have in the ski locker. Should be an easy add on. FYI, I did the 400s on top of the rear tanks

          Comment

          • 230konrad
            • May 2008
            • 45

            • Smith Mountain Lake, VA


            #6
            RE: Opinions/Options for extra ballast on 230

            I recently installed 2 fly high sacs on my 230, on top of my tanks. Easy install.
            Results:
            The wake for surfing is awesome, even with 3 people on the boat. Can surf endlessly.....
            The wake for wakeboarding is awesome, and it gives you more flexibility to tune the wake.

            Downsides:
            to empty the bags, you have to go thru 2 empty cycles (not fully automatic)
            Reduction in the storage space at the back of the boat.

            Next steps:
            need more weight in front. Currently if I fill the bags beyond 50%, I get too much tail dragging and not a clean top of the wake.
            I plan to add a bow sac in the future. For now this set up was relatively inexpensive, easy to install and easily removable if it does not work out.
            There are instructions online on how to do this, but I will be glad to walk you thru the steps (the instructions are good, but of limited use).

            Good luck! :grin:

            Comment

            • kaikane
              • Sep 2008
              • 47

              • San Francisco, CA


              #7
              RE: Opinions/Options for extra ballast on 230

              I'm also looking at making some surf wake improvements on my 2008 236. Has anyone hard plumbed the Pro X Series Open Bow Sac under the bow in the storage locker? We currently use all of the under seat storage and I'd have a tough time winning that battle. Anything I should be aware of if I give it a shot. Thanks.

              Comment

              • lion90
                • Apr 2009
                • 182



                #8
                So, I am now up to 20 hours so I tried a configuration last night with some mixed results.

                I filled up my integrated bow sac for about 650lbs on the conservative side. 250lbs of lead in the nose and a 400lb sac in the locker. That is about 1300 above stock in the nose.

                I then filled up my two rear 750s about 3/4 so that is another 1200 above stock in the rear.

                This brought the total to 2500 + 800 stock for a total of 3300lbs.

                Here are my observances which seem to be different when I was riding on a guys 2008 that we weighted.

                I still see a decent amount of wash right where the water wraps around the boat and meets up with each other (the beginning part of where the wake starts fanning out). Don't have pics yet but you can see what I am talking about at a lesser degree here on the wake detail page: http://www.wakeboardingmag.com/VTD/2...cture=1&boat=6. That did continue, just a little more pronounced, for the length of the wake. So from the boat with no rider, the wake looks washy on top on both sides. (We could move to one side to clean up that one side). This was at 23.5 and 24.

                When riding, it was a bit temperamental. At 75' it seemed when cutting in, it would be clean when I hit it. Looking at it from outside, it was huge and had that little bit of whitewashy lip. Maybe I am just not used to a lip and that is what I am calling wash? At 80' and 23.5, it wasn't clean... even at 24 it was curling over a bit. Based on others posts, this should be an ideal config. Next time out (after I plumb this in as filling all this manually was a pain in the you know what) I will take a couple pictures to share and maybe I can get some feedback.

                At 75' it was fine most of the time... it was absolutely huge with so much kick that I wanted to move to 80' but moving to 80' wasn't right in my book. Too much of a slap and loss of momentum when hitting the wake.

                I am also going to check my hydrogate to make sure it is going all the way up. What should it look like when the lever is pulled all the way back to vert? I am just trying to figure out why my experience is slightly different.

                All I know, when I rode a guys 2008, it didn't seem to have this little bit of wash effect and seemed less temperamental. I don't think hulls changed between 2008 and 2009 so I doubt that could be my problem.

                If any of you with 230 experience come to the ATL area... free pulls to help me get this dialed. I have no doubt with some experimenting and help fom new friends, I will get this. The wake is incredible when it is clean.. big and plenty of boot.

                I love the shape when it is right. It is almost as big as an XStar with PWT but definitely steeper and poppier. Not better or worse, just a different shape. I guess due to this, it can be a little more temperamental. Maybe that is the trade off to be made.

                WIth all that said, the boat drives like a dream with this weight... it is almost as if tnere is no weight in it... amazing.

                Any more thoughts / suggestions appreciated.

                Comment

                • Chattwake
                  • Apr 2008
                  • 341

                  • Chattanooga

                  • 2010 SANTE 230 - Sold 2009 SANTE 230 - Sold 2008 SANTE 230 - Sold

                  #9
                  I live in Chattanooga. Anytime you want to come up and ride with us, hit me up on www.chattwake.com (I'm the site Mod - T.G.).

                  The wake behind the 230's with added weight is tempermental. I had an '08, and the only way I ever could get a decent, clean, wake with extra weight was to put a 540lb sack in each rear hatch over the stock hard tanks, and then put two 540lb sacks in the nose of the boat. I know that the wake can be bigger - I don't need it though. With 4 540lb sacks, it's clean at 75 at 23.6 mph.

                  That being said, I talked to JD Webb about how he weighs his 230. As best as I can recall, he said that he took out the rear hard tanks and replaced them with 750's. He then puts two 540lb sacks on the floor behind the driver. The puts an 800lb sack in the walkway/next to the driver. The then has a triangle sack under the floor in the front and adds a triangle or under the seat bow sack in the front.

                  Basically, he puts and additional 6k in his boat. I don't know how in the **** he gets the wake to stay clean. Mine always washes when I put more than 4 540's in my boat. BTW, the same holds true for my '09 230.
                  2012 Axis A22 - on order
                  2011 Axis A22 - sold
                  2010 SANTE 230 - sold
                  2009 SANTE 230 - sold
                  2008 SANTE 230 - sold
                  2007 VLX - sold
                  2002 XStar - sold
                  1990 Prostar 190 - sold

                  www.chattwake.com

                  Comment

                  • Chattwake
                    • Apr 2008
                    • 341

                    • Chattanooga

                    • 2010 SANTE 230 - Sold 2009 SANTE 230 - Sold 2008 SANTE 230 - Sold

                    #10
                    Oh, and for the record, last time we had my '09 out, we put 2 540's in the rear over the stock ballast, 2 540's in the fron, an 800lb sack in the walkway/next to the driver, then a 540lb sack and 2 250lb sacks on the floor. the wake was washy as **** until we pumped out the belly - then the ****ed boat started porpoising like crazy.

                    What I'm curious about is how people are adding all this weight and still getting a clean wake with no wash.
                    2012 Axis A22 - on order
                    2011 Axis A22 - sold
                    2010 SANTE 230 - sold
                    2009 SANTE 230 - sold
                    2008 SANTE 230 - sold
                    2007 VLX - sold
                    2002 XStar - sold
                    1990 Prostar 190 - sold

                    www.chattwake.com

                    Comment

                    • Chattwake
                      • Apr 2008
                      • 341

                      • Chattanooga

                      • 2010 SANTE 230 - Sold 2009 SANTE 230 - Sold 2008 SANTE 230 - Sold

                      #11
                      :???:
                      Attached Files
                      2012 Axis A22 - on order
                      2011 Axis A22 - sold
                      2010 SANTE 230 - sold
                      2009 SANTE 230 - sold
                      2008 SANTE 230 - sold
                      2007 VLX - sold
                      2002 XStar - sold
                      1990 Prostar 190 - sold

                      www.chattwake.com

                      Comment

                      • Chattwake
                        • Apr 2008
                        • 341

                        • Chattanooga

                        • 2010 SANTE 230 - Sold 2009 SANTE 230 - Sold 2008 SANTE 230 - Sold

                        #12
                        Oh, here's the same perspective with the '09

                        2012 Axis A22 - on order
                        2011 Axis A22 - sold
                        2010 SANTE 230 - sold
                        2009 SANTE 230 - sold
                        2008 SANTE 230 - sold
                        2007 VLX - sold
                        2002 XStar - sold
                        1990 Prostar 190 - sold

                        www.chattwake.com

                        Comment

                        • tdc_worm
                          Senior Member of PLANETNAUTIQUE
                          • Feb 2004
                          • 532



                          #13
                          ignore it. the boat will throw a slight foam ripple down the lip of the wake. it is exacerbated if you come edge while you are cutting out and allow the line to get slack in it. keep tension when you change edges and it will help keep things clean...not that it matters

                          run the hydrogate forward on 3 to get on plane. pull it back to 1 to get help the boat settle in and clean up the wake. the hydrogate seems to make the wake more washy on every CC that i have been in when it is in the forward position.

                          at any rate most of what you are seeing is from the boat's perspective. from the end of 70-87.5 feet (our various line lengths) and 22 - 25.2 mph (our various speeds), that little foam ripple isnt visible and is a total non factor. from the drivers seat, i am always worried about that ripple. from the end of the line, i have never noticed it. charge away.

                          Comment

                          • rivercowboy
                            • Jul 2008
                            • 36

                            • muddy maumee river


                            #14
                            A great thing to do is to turn into the rider as he approaches the wake. I mean ever so slightly This get the boat riding on the keel side that the rider is on. This makes the wake clean and the rider can never tell the difference. We have to do this all the time on our 220, and my friend also does this with his 230. He is a high level pro rider and he can tell the slightest inperfections, and this is what he does, it works. Keep in mind the more weight you add the more picky the boat becomes, we run at least 3500# all the time!
                            1978 Ski Nautique, 2007 SANTE 220

                            Comment

                            • TRO
                              Senior Member of PLANETNAUTIQUE
                              • Mar 2009
                              • 410

                              • Houston, TX


                              #15
                              Originally posted by Chattwake
                              I live in Chattanooga. Anytime you want to come up and ride with us, hit me up on www.chattwake.com (I'm the site Mod - T.G.).

                              The wake behind the 230's with added weight is tempermental. I had an '08, and the only way I ever could get a decent, clean, wake with extra weight was to put a 540lb sack in each rear hatch over the stock hard tanks, and then put two 540lb sacks in the nose of the boat. I know that the wake can be bigger - I don't need it though. With 4 540lb sacks, it's clean at 75 at 23.6 mph.

                              That being said, I talked to JD Webb about how he weighs his 230. As best as I can recall, he said that he took out the rear hard tanks and replaced them with 750's. He then puts two 540lb sacks on the floor behind the driver. The puts an 800lb sack in the walkway/next to the driver. The then has a triangle sack under the floor in the front and adds a triangle or under the seat bow sack in the front.

                              Basically, he puts and additional 6k in his boat. I don't know how in the heck he gets the wake to stay clean. Mine always washes when I put more than 4 540's in my boat. BTW, the same holds true for my '09 230.
                              Chatt: what were the dimensions on those 540 sacks that you had in the rear lockers? do you recall?

                              i'm looking at some 16"x16"x42" that say 400lbs + from fly high, just not without measuring if they would fit. seems like they would be ok in those rear lockers on the 08 230 though...

                              Comment

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