Slalom skiing behind 211 and weighting for boarding

[Mikeski]

Went out today in my 211 knowing that I might take a slalom set so I removed the lead and emptied the stock ballast. It was very enjoyable to ski behind, I just took 4 passes at 34/15 for early season exercise (that course usually screams injury to my body). The wake was absolutely no issue, my driver did comment that the boat moved around a little more then a direct drive. He also called it a beast referring to how it felt between the boat guides.

What was really interesting was that with only 3 people in the boat and no extra weight the boarding wake seemed very good as compared to the last time out with more crew and 400#s of lead. Today I ran the rear tanks full but only 1/2 to 3/4 full in the belly tank. I think this lets the rear sit a little deeper making the wake a bit peakier. My neighbor that has an older v-drive MC said the wake was great.

[bkhallpass]

Mikeski,

I've been really interested to ski behind the 211. I bought
a super air before my significant other came into the picture.
She likes to ski. Good to hear there might be a good
compromise out there.

BTW. I'm certainly no pro wakeboarder, but I like the
shape of the wake on my super air better with no ballast.

BKH

[FatBoy]

Mike,

Correct me if I am wrong but I was thinking of putting 3 to 4 hundred pounds of lead under the bow. My thinking is that this would not hurt my wife's ski wake with tanks empty but make the boarding wake better with tanks full. I haven't tried it yet but I would like to know your thoughts on this.

[Franz]

If you put 3 to 4 hundred pounds of lead in the boat and Lecia finds out, SHE will correct you because you will be wrong...

[FatBoy]

Thanks Franz, thats helpful.

[Mikeski]

Fatboy,

It was really weird, when I skied Thursday I was bouncing over the wake like I was skiing behind a super air. On Sunday it was almost like a different boat. Now one major thing that skews everything is the fact that I did not notice my ballast valves leaking until Sunday. On Sunday I pumped the ballast out right before I skied and again afterwords. So it's possible that some of the tanks were partially full during my ski ride Thursday. I had also not yet dialed in the speed yet too so I don't think I can tell you how much difference the bow lead will make until I ski with some bodies up there.

If you SO is anything like mine Franz is right. Every ounce of wakeboarding ballast needs to be gone or you will be in trouble. These boats have really nice ski wakes at 32 and 34 mph.

Mike

[FatBoy]

Yep, my SO would be happy with no lead in the boat at all. As a matter a fact if I put any lead in the boat it would have to be a completely covert operation.