2005 210 (Integrated after-market ballast)*vs Mali/Tige

[Providence]

Long time Lurker here.

I thought I would share some ballast insight on an Air Nautique 210. I have had my 2005 210 sacked-out for the last 3 years and although I love the wave quality, I thought this spring I would buy a new surf boat. With the G23 being out of my price range, I put my 2005 up for sale, and tested the new Z3 Tige with convex vx (Tige's surf attachment under the swim grid) as well as a 23' VLS Malibu with Surf Gate. The Tige with full pro stock Ballast (2800 lbs) could barely keep me shredding and the Mali wave with 1500# additional ballast was good, but not great (although the surf gate was as good as the hype). With overall wave quality being somewhat underwhelming with a 90K sticker (I know it takes many hours to set up each boat just so) and the state of the art changing very rapidly with regards to surf boat technology, I decided I will keep my 210 for another year or two and see what new designs come out in the wash. As I was cleaning up my boat for sale (new steering cable, new ballast helm control cables, new valves) I started looking at some simple aftermarket ballast installs using my boats existing thru-hulls and pumps. I was getting tired of filling fat sacs, moving bricks and having sacs covering the floorboard. Through Planet Nautique I discovered wakemakers.com and after some time on the website, an email to the guys at wakemakers.com, they came up with what seems to be the surf standard on my year and model boat. I pulled the rear hard tanks out, and only then I truly saw the potential to get a serious wave with only a few people in the boat. I ordered up a Straightline 900lb sumo Sac for each locker, a Fly High Pro x integrated bow sac (I gathered from Bryan at Wakemakers that I have been running too light in the bow), powered by a Jabsco ballast puppy reversible pump to fill the belly and then overflow into the bow sac. I also went with a X-link quick switch system that links both 900lb sacs together via a cross feed system that allows you to switch sides using both the fill/drain stock pumps AS WELL as the new x-link pump so switching sides takes half the time. They dialed me in with all the hardware, 1" to 3/4 " fittings, wiring for the new pumps ect. All sacs will be unseen, integrated and best part is my wife will be able to dial it all up when she goes out with her friends. I will post some pictures after the install.

Surfs Up!

[ViSoR]

Sounds sweet!
Post pics of install and wakes on both sides.

[shonuff]

I'm surprised they sold you 900's for your rear lockers. 750's are supposed to be the most they can hold.

[Sac Surfer]

Def post up some more info the that x-cross link system. I mainly surf port side 80% of the time, but would be interested to see if the cross link moving the water to the other side is worth it.

[s_kelley2000]

I'm surprised they sold you 900's for your rear lockers. 750's are supposed to be the most they can hold.

I was kind of thinking the same thing but they are the same length as the 750s and only 2 inches wider and and 2 inches higher. With no tanks there is definitely more than enough room to be 2 inches taller but that width is definitely going to be tight. They will probably be pretty apt to push the dividers toward the engine. As long as those dividers get shored up (plenty of good how to threads if you search) I think they should work pretty well.

[hondaprlud]

Cool, post up pics of your build when you do it!

[Spencermo]

How did this setup work out or your boat? I am having problems figuring out the surf setup

[Rockymtnsurfer]

Does anyone know what "Ideal" weight distribution should be for the optimum wave? stern, middle, bow

[Providence]

Rockymtnsurfer,

you revived quite the old thread. Ideal weight for this Hull how changed somewhat with all the new custom ‘suckgates’.
Search for the DIY surf gates, I made one for about 30 bucks (industrial glass suction cups and cutting board, and it has completely changed the game. Full both rear lockers, full belly and full bow sacs. Basically full displacement. It fits perfectly on the back where the hull slants towards the swim grid.

happy surfing!!!

[ODB Super Air]

I just got a 2004 san 210 limited. I'm new to the surf and v-drive world. i am running factory ballast right now and am looking for some advice on how to get a good surf set up with stock balls and people for now. any advice would be helpful. Also i would like some advice on the best ballast upgrade to do over the winter on my down time. currently i am running a 5'4 ronix cruiser board, i weight about 250 and have around 600 pounds of weight between 4 people i can move around. pretty sure i have the money prop as the boat jumps out of the water and not much to speed. i am running a wake shaper but don;t know the best place to put it. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

[Infinity]

Each hull is a little different but from what I have seen (and what I run on my boat)....is about 20-25% of total weight in bow as that makes the wave longer. You do not have to run bow weight, but using the middle tab will flatten down the wave height, lifts the stern and takes away some of the push IMO... where adding weight to bow sinks it better, still brings height down some but leaves the push there. I basically fill all except for slight list (couple hundred lbs different) to surf side using Nauticurl suck gate (I have 24ft boat and it takes more weight to sink it). One thing about suck gate is that you do not want the gate totally underwater or the wave will be washy, you want top edge even with or even out of water a little bit. I have experimented with that and you are better off having it halfway out of water than buried under water if those are your only choices due to a step in hull. You can also play with moving the gate forward to back on the side....that can also change things a little bit.
Upgraded bags are nice of course and WakeMakers sells some great kits (you can get 10% off being a PN member)...lead is also awesome cause you can move it around as needed and it does not take up a lot of room, I have 500lbs. Some people may have more issues with that tho if trailering and already maxed, etc. Its perfect weight for bow tho if you do not have a bag. I have 500lb bow bag plus I put 400lbs of lead up there so I run 900lbs in bow.