Anyone checked out the Malibu Surfgate

[scottb7]

Curious, has anyone seen in person the Malibu Surf gate? Does it work?

http://www.surfgatewave.com/

Claims no weighting of boat to surf...and can switch sides on the fly.

[Nautiquehunter]

Sun July 29 SMG is having a beach party in Sunset Cove on Lake Lanier . They are supposed to have it there. Its kind of a cool idea you still have to fill the ballast like wakboarding but then you can switch sides within 2-3 seconds. There is no need to tip the boat. After the introduction of the Gs all the builders are bringing their A game.

[MikeC]

I don't know if adding a gate to the back of the hull is quite the same as designing a boat like the G23. It's a novel idea but why can't they design a boat that you don't have to hang stuff off the transom to make it work.

[Chexi]

I disagree Mike. If the surfgate works as advertised, it is a significant improvement and has a significant similarity with the g series (ie no need for ballast taking up your storage space). If hanging stuff off the back of the boat works, then it works. Personally, I think the idea (if it works) is a great one, and being able to switch sides that quickly is a game changer. A lot of people presently have to ride backside or switch when surfing because it takes too long to hangs the setup. The surfgate would change that and allow each rider to ride the side they want and to test out the other side without wasting 10 plus minutes. This is a big deal.

[lucky7t]

Haven't they had this for a while? If I remember correctly they hang a bit low and weigh alot. I'm not too sure. But I think I have seen these as they are stainless steel and I think they offer it manual or power.

[gride]

The boat still has to be slammed. But to surf you deploy the opposite sides trim tab

[tdc_worm]

It's a novel idea but why can't they design a boat that you don't have to hang stuff off the transom to make it work.

all of the wakesetters work just fine with and without deploying the wedge. the bottom line is to increase wake/wave size, you have to increase the water displaced by the hull while under way. there are two ways to do that: 1) add more ballast or 2) add drag hardware.

in theory, the surfgate "adds" more ballast because you run with the entire stock ballast system full (instead of just the surf side and the belly), if i am not mistaken, and use the tabs to create list while under way.

[gride]

great thread with good explanations on wakeworld. in short, the boat does not list b/c it's evenly weighted. the tab coming out on the opposite side changes the distance the water has to travel to converge. this is the short answer.

[SkiTower]

and don't forget the stress those things put on the hull. Seen a couple of pics where they've torn holes in the hull breaking off. Probably fixed it by now but still not crazy about the idea.

[Chexi]

You are thinking of something else, not the surfgate.

[MikeC]

I don't disagree with the convenience of having a device such as this. My point was that this was not on par with the design of the G series of boats, that is it's not bringing their "A" game. It's merely adding a device to the transom.

But I do wonder about how it drives with the gate deployed - you are basically sticking a rudder out one side of the boat - the yaw has to be enormous. And the thought of being able to switch sides while surfing is cool, but what does the design do to the way the boat runs through the water when you're not surfing. You have effectively added a foot to the side of the boat and every time the boat turns it has to push that water to the side, and unlike lengthening the entire boat, the gate has to accept forces from both sides as it turns.

I'm not saying it's bad, but it's just an add on and certainly not their A game.

[LR3w8kbrdr]

Haven't they had this for a while? If I remember correctly they hang a bit low and weigh alot. I'm not too sure. But I think I have seen these as they are stainless steel and I think they offer it manual or power.

Thats the wedge you're referring to. Something different.

Heres a pic of the new surfgate. (power wedge is in the middle, surfgate is the red tab in its deployed position)

[mdvalant]

I don't disagree with the convenience of having a device such as this. My point was that this was not on par with the design of the G series of boats, that is it's not bringing their "A" game. It's merely adding a device to the transom.

But I do wonder about how it drives with the gate deployed - you are basically sticking a rudder out one side of the boat - the yaw has to be enormous. And the thought of being able to switch sides while surfing is cool, but what does the design do to the way the boat runs through the water when you're not surfing. You have effectively added a foot to the side of the boat and every time the boat turns it has to push that water to the side, and unlike lengthening the entire boat, the gate has to accept forces from both sides as it turns.

I'm not saying it's bad, but it's just an add on and certainly not their A game.

You still don't really know how it works do you? The gate hides behind the transom when you're not surfing. Malibu has done some cool stuff. I love the wedge. Anytime you don't have to add or adjust ballast in a boat is a +1 in my book. You talk about merely adding a device to the transom....my question is, why not?!

[MikeC]

You still don't really know how it works do you? The gate hides behind the transom when you're not surfing. Malibu has done some cool stuff. I love the wedge. Anytime you don't have to add or adjust ballast in a boat is a +1 in my book. You talk about merely adding a device to the transom....my question is, why not?!

I know exactly how the device works...and again I'm not knocking it - I'm just saying it's not the same as the completely new design of a hull such as the G series - NOT their A game! I still wonder how it drives. There is no "hiding" it behind the transom unless it folds up out of the flow of water like the wedge (which it doesn't) it's in the flow of water when it's not in use, it has to affect the handling of the boat - there's no way it couldn't. And when it's deployed it's going to cause the stern to yaw which you'll have to counter with rudder input unless they designed some sort of auto-compensation into the steering.

[Texan1554]

I think it's a great innovative tool. It will probably not build the pinnacle of waves but it will get done what 80% of the people out there want... a surfable wave, period.

Big thing, is safety, no listing is a huge plus in my book. AND you can bring in the gate while turning around so you have full mobility and no sluggish handling.