210 ballast question

[hundo]

Is it imperative to get the center ballast? Is it as good to later get the fatsac instead. Were novice boarders and at our level now we probably wont use it. Were going out in a 04 210 Monday and it does'nt have the center tank, the sales rep says just add it later and if you don't need it you get more storage anyway. The difference in the 05 is the tower? anything else.


Thanks

[NautiqueJeff]

A Super Air with only the rear tanks will not ride very well with the rear tanks full unless there is other weight in the front or center of the boat. You'll most likely experience porposing and will have substantial bowrise. I would recommend getting the center tank installed ASAP if you do purchase this boat. You can add a sac if you want, but you'll either have to fill it manually, or work up some kind of auto-fill system. The easiest thing is just to add the factory center tank.

As far as the changes to the Super Air for 2005, see THIS ARTICLE.

[hundo]

I don't want to fill it manually thats for sure. Can the dealer add the factory center tank. I'm not sure if the color on that boat will work anyway. $48k for limited is what he said he could sell it for. Trailer is a sportsbaot which I dont like, and not sure if it has perfect pass . We want the heater and shower.Did'nt get all that was on it , my main concern is to demo it and see if we like it.

Thanks

[skinautique]

The dealer can install the center tank on the boat. I would hold off on the shower. I have had them before and I never used them (I know I am in Florida but I have been colder places and still never used them). We used to have people just bring a cooler of hot water out instead. One less thing to maintain and winterize. When you demo it, don't rule it out because it will porpoise without weight up in the front of the boat.
Have fun!

[hundo]

Thanks for the info

[Luke]

Make sure you weight the boat like you will ride it. I'd take a fat sac with you and try it with & w/o the weight up front. There would be a lot more storage up there without the tank, and you can actually fit a fat sac in there that will hold more weight than the factory hard tank, but you have to deal with filling it all the time. I never run in my boat with out my center tank full.

[hundo]

Were new to the wakeboarding , so how would we fill the sac? Your saying your center tank is always full , even when your just getting to your destination. We want to make our choice this week after the demo. We demoed the 05 VLX which we liked the interior better , but I like the 210 quality better, especially the gelcoat. So I should ask the dealer to bring out a fat sac for the demo. I really appreciate the help

[skinautique]

The only time that you are going to want your center tank filled is when you have the two rear tanks filled. When the rear tanks are empty, there isn't a huge need to fill the center one. To fill a bag, you can do it with a pump. You tap into your battery supply and then stick the pump in the lake to fill and then put the pump in the bag to empty it. It gets old real fast if you ask me. I think I would get a fatsac for the demo. That way you can check everything out.

[hundo]

When he calls me Monday I will have him bring a fat sac out . The 2 04's he has left don't have the center tank, so we may have to go with the 05 if it costs too much too add the factory tank

[Brownie]

I have an 03 Limited with the back wedge tanks and no centre tank, I run a sac in the centre and just use a throw over the side pump connected to one of the numerous 12V plugs around the boat. I highly recommend getting that front tank. If you are new to boarder you will want to ride with just weight in the front/centre and nothing in the back. Just back tanks make the wake ramp up but you have to move all the humans to the front of the boat, other wise it will porpoise and be hard to drive.

[hundo]

All you guys have been great with the help.

[Luke]

I typically leave my center tank full any time my boat is in the water. Obviously I empty it before trailering it. If there is any kind of chop I just feel it helps the boat ride a little more smoothly.

We always add more weight to the front (internal hard tank + 750lb Big Bump). It is annoying enough filling sacks every time we ride, I can't imagine filling additional sacs to compensate for the lack of internal tanks.

When you demoed the VLX did you fill the front tank?

[hundo]

The rear and center, and wedge down no bow tank though. It still handled pretty well.

[Luke]

I meant more from a wake perspective. Did you ride behind the VLX, are you going to be riding behind the 210? For wake comparisons to be accurate, you should weight them the same when you demo the wake.

As far as handling is concerned, you won't notice much of a difference on either one with or without the addtional center tank filled. They should both handle great with only stock ballast.

[hundo]

Did'nt ride behind the VLX yet, tomorrow I will ride behind the 210. Going to try and ride Tues behind the Vlx. Like I said earlier we are new to boarding so filling them full will probably look intimadating compared to what we have been used to. Whichever boat we choose will be more wake then we need for a while, but my friends will love it