G23 - Ballast Add-Ons for Surfing?

[Clax]

Hey guys, just pulled the trigger on a new G23, and wondering if anyone is aware of aftermarket ballast add-ons for the G23. The stock surf wake is pretty awesome, but there are some gargantuan lockers in the back, and the boat is such a monster in size that I can't wait to see what it can do with additional ballast. The freeboard on the boat is immense, giving lots of room to safely weight the boat.

Ideally I'd like something that can be tied into the factory system, and just adjust the timers on the fill system to compensate. I've done the manual bags and Tsunami pumps before, but it's a pain in the arse, and I don't want to do that again. Any ideas? I'm sure someone has done this by now, hopefully?

[perry386]

Hey guys, just pulled the trigger on a new G23, and wondering if anyone is aware of aftermarket ballast add-ons for the G23. The stock surf wake is pretty awesome, but there are some gargantuan lockers in the back, and the boat is such a monster in size that I can't wait to see what it can do with additional ballast. The freeboard on the boat is immense, giving lots of room to safely weight the boat.

Ideally I'd like something that can be tied into the factory system, and just adjust the timers on the fill system to compensate. I've done the manual bags and Tsunami pumps before, but it's a pain in the arse, and I don't want to do that again. Any ideas? I'm sure someone has done this by now, hopefully?

If you got the NSS I wouldn't get surf bags anyways. Unless your gonna use them for wakeboarding.

[acs220]

Hey guys, just pulled the trigger on a new G23, and wondering if anyone is aware of aftermarket ballast add-ons for the G23. The stock surf wake is pretty awesome, but there are some gargantuan lockers in the back, and the boat is such a monster in size that I can't wait to see what it can do with additional ballast. The freeboard on the boat is immense, giving lots of room to safely weight the boat.

Ideally I'd like something that can be tied into the factory system, and just adjust the timers on the fill system to compensate. I've done the manual bags and Tsunami pumps before, but it's a pain in the arse, and I don't want to do that again. Any ideas? I'm sure someone has done this by now, hopefully?

It is a bag and pump system but you may want to check out what Ronix has coming this spring. They have an 1100lb bag and 3700GPH pump. Supposed to fill and drain in about 90 seconds.

[ironj32]

I'd also reccommend waiting for the Ronix system, however, if you are wanting to do it now, I'd get the following:
Rear Compartments - Fly High Pro-X Series Rear Seat Sac they are the exact specifications that you need...they are the perfect length, perfect width and only 10" high, leaving you a ton of room to put stuff on top of them.

Bow - Get the front bow sacs from the custom XStar Pro Tour setup, by Fly High. They are a bit spendy, but again, they fit perfectly up under the bow seats. Lastly, I use the Pro X Series Tube Sac for the bow floor/walkway.

[Clax]

ironj32, thanks for the info. Do you have your Fly High bags plumbed into the factory ballast system? If so, could you give me some pointers on how you did it? Thanks.

[HS]

Yes, (I do). You're talking about "piggy-back" arrangement. You can find detailed instructions on both the Fly High site www.fatsac.com as well as wakemakers.com On the G series, which I haven't seen so this has to be checked out, is whether the access points for the fill and vent lines are similar to the previous models.

[ironj32]

I did plumb in the rear port bag, but I decided to not utilize it because it took too long to fill everything up, so I removed it and put it back to normal. I found that using three external pumps was perfect, as everything finished filling up at the same time. The other negative aspect of it is that the ballast gauge didn't depict what the water level really was. When I ran the pump long enough to empty the extra sac (which just drained down into the factory bag), the gauge would show that it was empty.

Unless you are going to plumb in extra jabsco pumps, I would just recommend using external Tsunamis (or the Ronix stuff). I'll gladly still try to give the details on how I did the overflow job...just let me know if you really wanna go that route. It only took about a half hour to do it.

[robertsmcfarland]

I put 1000 pounds of lead in ,and leave it, it is hidden ,boat so big you never know its there when the internal ballast is empty, it also gives you better control of total ballast (,reduce for smaller wake,) because you are only working with the factory ballast and link system,but i also don't have to trailer.

[wakeboarder3780]

I was actually going to ask if anyone had done this, even registered just to ask it! Clax, please keep us posted if you add anything additional. Especially before and after pictures of the wake

I'm currently a malibu owner (23 LSV) but I've become infatuated with the G23. On my boat I did a lot of extra installation to get the surf wave what it is today. Specifically I'm curious if you end up moving the gas vent (From the manual, the G23 has the gas vent on the port side) and I'd assume if it gets too low to the water you could risk getting water in the gas tank. (On my boat I ended up buying a stock gas vent and drilling it on to the other side of the boat and hooking the gas vent up there. The original vent was left in, but is a dummy now and does nothing, there is just a tube with a cork in it so water doesn't end up in the boat essentially.

Please keep us posted! (By the way do you have any pictures of both sides of the lockers?) It's my understanding that typically there is a panel in nautiques (my buddies has one) rear locker for battery switching and possible some circuit breakers or something else. In his boat it actually prohibits him from being able to put a large bag in his locker. Got any picks of the G23 lockers? Or can you at least verify there is nothing there? Good luck on the install!

[OKWAKEBDR]

I don't think there's any way you could put enough weight in the boat to get the gas vents wet - especially since the boat doesn't need to be listed over with the NSS.

The circuit breakers and battery switches are now in the walk-through on the driver's side - hidden behind a door.

I really think you should go SEE G23. You could lay down and take a nap on one of lockers.

[ironj32]

I don't think there's any way you could put enough weight in the boat to get the gas vents wet - especially since the boat doesn't need to be listed over with the NSS.

The circuit breakers and battery switches are now in the walk-through on the driver's side - hidden behind a door.

I really think you should go SEE G23. You could lay down and take a nap on one of lockers.

Agreed - there is no way you could get water up close to the gas vents.