Weighting a 196

[harddock]

You want to balance the wake, balance the boat. If you have a 200lb driver and 100lb observer you need to add to the passenger side. Now because you may be taking turns it will mess up where the weight needs to be but you can get close. Tension on the wheel just helps keep the boat straight while being tugged by the skier. There will be some discrepancy in the wake because of prop direction but that is an issue with all boats and minor to overcome just like good side, off side.

[east tx skier]

You want to adjust the rudder's trim tab so that the boat pulls to the left (port) if your hand isn't on the steering wheel while under speed (IIRC, that means adjusting the trim tab to starboard). Don't fight prop rotation by trying to trim it to pull right. It won't happen. The best you'll end up with is neutral (sloppy) steering. The purpose of this has nothing to do with the wake. It's purpose is so you can steer the boat through a course without having to constantly make steering adjustments. For the most part, you can hold the wheel steady (apart from the skier pull).

For weighting, you want to avoid too much weight up against the port side gunwhale. That includes passengers sitting in that ever so comfy curved spot of the observer seat. If all you have is a driver and a small observer, skip the weight. The right hand prop turn will pitch the boat slightly to port and the wake should be symmetrical, even with an observer or two, as long as the observers are sitting somewhere in the middle of the seat or closer to the driver.

[windsurfnut]

Thanks - I'm aware of the rudder tuning from the tracking standpoint. Just reading through this thread, it sparked a thought if the rudder load did affect the wake and if it could be tuned to affect the wakes.

Currently my rudder trim is set at neutral and I have positive pressure. I just cant remember to what side it pulls to, but there is pressure there and the boat tracks through the course gloriously.

The prop rotation doesn't seem to offset the driver weight enough with the kids spotting or empty seat. Perhaps my weight bag is doing more harm then good. I'll start with an empty boat this year and add weight strategically to help. Glad to hear that prop tuning has little to no effect on wake shape/size/position

[PatM]

I had about 100 to 150 lbs in my 196 with the trim tab on the rudder all the way to right. Tracked great. This was with a 235lb driver with no observers. We took out 50 and shifted weight with observers.


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