Fat Sac setup, 99 Air Nautique

[wakemeup3460]

Have a 99 Air Nautique with the following fat sacs and factory ballast:

2 Fly High Tube Sacs. 370 lbs a piece. 720 lbs total. 62L x 16W x 10H
2 Fly High Side by Sides, 260 a piece. 520 total, 48L x 12W x 12H
Factory ballast, 200 each rear corner, 400 total

Total pounds: 1660

We played around with them for surfing and didn't get a very good wave. What is the best way to set them up for both surfing and wakeboarding? Obviously, I would be moving them around for each sport.

Also, I noticed that the swim step screwed up the wave by deflecting water. Do you guys ever remove it for surfing?

Thanks for your help.

[Chexi]

Never tried removing the swim step, but I have always wondered about it. I got a strong surfable port-side wave (but not terribly clean) with 560 lbs in the rear surf side, about 500 in the belly and about 250 in the nose (surf side). Sometimes I found filling up the non-surf side rear to about 200 helped as well. Starboard side is probably better, but I never really played around with that side.

Post a picture of your boat.

[wakemeup3460]

Fat sac setup on 99 Air

Never tried removing the swim step, but I have always wondered about it. I got a strong surfable port-side wave (but not terribly clean) with 560 lbs in the rear surf side, about 500 in the belly and about 250 in the nose (surf side). Sometimes I found filling up the non-surf side rear to about 200 helped as well. Starboard side is probably better, but I never really played around with that side.

Post a picture of your boat.

Thanks
When you say "in the rear" are you talking about in the rear storage compartment or on the floor, in front of the rear seat, and next to the engine cover. I assume "in the belly" means the ski locker. Where exactly do you mean "in the nose"? Are you talking about inside of the bow compartments under the seats or just on the carpeted floor area in the bow?

[Chexi]

In rear I mean in the rear hatch compartment where the factory ballast is. I also had 160 lbs in lead along the gunwhale hidden (pulled rear seat). I would keep that lead (pop bags) on both sides for wakeboarding, and would move it all to 1 side for surfing. In belly means in ski locker. In nose, I meant underneath the seats. I had one of those integrated bow sacs. If you look at my profile, I have an album with pics of most of the setup. I did rip out the tanks though and installed a ballast puppy system. You can also find a surf video I took with that setup if you search under my name.

[Chexi]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wLq4eTfTfOU

Looks like I had 380-400 sac on the rear seat off center biased to the surf side as well. This was about my 3rd time surfing in this video (taken 2 years ago). Also, I had a fresh air exhaust on the boat, which might affect the surf wake negatively a bit.

[wakemeup3460]

Thanks Chexi. Not too bad of a wave. Great pics on from your album. I may tackle something like that this winter. Question: If you had to do it over again would you even mess with the 99 and just buy a SAN? With both boats converted is the SAN a lot better in terms of wakeboarding and surfing?

Did you sell the Python? Awesome boat.

Thanks again and I don't have any updated pics of my boat. But will try to post something the next time I get it out. Its in a tight storage place right now.

[Dnovo3]

Chexi, I just bought a 99 SN and I have a few questions about your ballast. Was it difficult/worth the work removing the factory ballast? Is there anything you would have done differently?