What's the typical ballast setup for pro riders?

[Uzj100]

We have several professional wakeboarders on our lake (one of which is #1 in many of the tours). How much ballast do these guys use?

[ironj32]

Depends on what boat they are using. Every model has it's own specific weight setup for producing maximum wake. Generally speaking you are looking at anywhere from 2000-4000 pounds EXTRA, on top of stock ballast. For example: G23 - about 2300 lbs extra, SAN 230 - 4000 lbs extra, XStar - approx 3000 extra.

[DanielC]

If they are on your lake, why can't you just go and ask them?

[LR3w8kbrdr]

Its sometimes commical to see one of their boats with fatsacs all stacked up trapping the driver in his seat, climbing all over them and having room for 2 people in a boat that seats 15.

[Uzj100]

If they are on your lake, why can't you just go and ask them?

I'm not really one to drive up on someone's boat, and ask newbie questions. I like the anonymity of message boards ;-). Besides, I'm just a creepy old guy to these kids.

Here's a recent video showing one of the boats.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1PaWz...e_gdata_player

[Uzj100]

Depends on what boat they are using. Every model has it's own specific weight setup for producing maximum wake. Generally speaking you are looking at anywhere from 2000-4000 pounds EXTRA, on top of stock ballast. For example: G23 - about 2300 lbs extra, SAN 230 - 4000 lbs extra, XStar - approx 3000 extra.

Well that explains a lot, the wakes these guys put out are pretty big. I've only got stock ballast on my 210, but my kids are learning so I think I've got time before they progress to level that requires bigger.

There was a G series on the lake yesterday wake surfing. Blows my mind that these 20 somethings have these >$100K boats at their disposal.

[Andrew14]

IronJ is right - depends on the boat. For the PWT tournament series, they were running a little over 5,000lbs of total ballast in the pre-2013 X-Stars (several HL and MC reps confirmed) and at Wake Games last year, they were running 1,400lbs over stock ballast in the G. For pro-level riders, Moye had his 2011 Star with the 7.4L Ilmore set up the following way: two 1,100lb Fly High sacs in the rear lockers, two 400lb Fly High sacs under the front seats, 500lbs in led tucked under the nose and a 100lb lead bar on the back seat to move around....then plus peeps. The 7.4L Ilmore jumped out of the hole and was on plane pretty quickly, even with all that weight (running the new 5-blade OJ). That motor is a hauss.

[bhectus]

That vid makes Jessamine look a lot bigger than it is. It's funny to hear that boat sound like a clubbed seal on its last breath. But what does he care, he gets a new free one every year. I feel bad for all the people that live on that lake that have to contend with his rollers all the time.

[LR3w8kbrdr]

IronJ is right - depends on the boat. For the PWT tournament series, they were running a little over 5,000lbs of total ballast in the pre-2013 X-Stars (several HL and MC reps confirmed) and at Wake Games last year, they were running 1,400lbs over stock ballast in the G. For pro-level riders, Moye had his 2011 Star with the 7.4L Ilmore set up the following way: two 1,100lb Fly High sacs in the rear lockers, two 400lb Fly High sacs under the front seats, 500lbs in led tucked under the nose and a 100lb lead bar on the back seat to move around....then plus peeps. The 7.4L Ilmore jumped out of the hole and was on plane pretty quickly, even with all that weight (running the new 5-blade OJ). That motor is a hauss.

Picture to go with it. Id ridden behind his 7.4 was really nice.

[LR3w8kbrdr]

That vid makes Jessamine look a lot bigger than it is. It's funny to hear that boat sound like a clubbed seal on its last breath. But what does he care, he gets a new free one every year. I feel bad for all the people that live on that lake that have to contend with his rollers all the time.

He also flips his boats too. Not sure if you guys knew but he totalled his brand new 2013 and the boat & trailer were tossed from his truck a few mos back. Had a scary accident.

Somewhere I have pics from his boat and how many fatsacs were stacked up. This was in the oakley blue xstar.

[Andrew14]

LR3w88kbrdr - that's it, nice pic! IMHO, that is the best looking Star yet - thing looks so bada$$ slammed like that. Was the wake with that much ballast just straight up ridiculous to ride? I rode it with tanks empty and thought the wake was pretty awesome (I have a 2008 SANTE 210 Team with the Fly High kit).

[wakeboarder3780]

You know that bimini snap cover is on with the window shut for a reason on that star Reminds me of a pic I've seen of a sanger where the transom was so buried the swim platform was under water - by quite a bit. I'll see if I can dig that up.

[wakeboarder3780]

I would be terrified of swamping the boat in these setups.

[Uzj100]

I would be terrified of swamping the boat in these setups.
[ATTACH=CONFIG]20533[/ATTACH]

I agree, that looks nuts!

[TRIP]

Really cool picture though!