2006 Air Nat. SV-211, Surf Wake Setup....need help

[Jake Holt]

I've been monkeying with my setup for many trips now in an attempt to get a good surf wake with little success and most I have talked to have different advice. I need help from the pros.

I have stock ballast system (port, starboard, belly) and hydrogate system. I've tried all tanks full, all tanks full plus loading passengers on rider's side, belly and rider's side tank full only, plus passenger loading, passenger loading in bow, center, rear, etc., etc. A speed of 12 to 14 seems about right, but wake seems to lack a sweet spot and does not sufficient "push" to ride without rope. I'm getting severe rooter wash right behind the swim platform and the hydrogate doesn't seem to do much. Having a slightly longer rope to get away from the rooster helped but wave is flatter.

Has anyone perfected the setup on a 211 to pitch a decent surf wake? Please advise on ballast and hydrogate setup, suggested passenger loading, speed, and rope length so I know I am getting the max wake out of this thing. Thank you!

jake

[spunkie202]

You are going to have to add another 1000 lbs of ballast to have a shot

[HS]

Is the 2006 a right hand or left hand prop? This matters as I describe below.

I used to have an '07 211 (left hand prop), and was able to get a nice wave on the port side. This was afetr a LOT of trial and error. The breakthru cam with the sac in the bow. My kid could get wayyy back and the pocket was long and sweet.

Setup was all tanks full, a 350 lb. Straight Line sac on the port walk thru, a 370 lb. Fly High tube sac under the aft most end of the passengers side bench seat, and another SL 350 sac on the floor of the bow. Could go about 10.5 for adult riders, and lighter weight riders could go as fast as 11. Forget what HG setting was, it didn't seem that important at the time.

Did try a big bag on the corner once but it washed out the wave. This set up worked pretty well with just a driver and two adults. Everybody except driver spread out on port side. Kids in the bow. I also had tucked away about 200 lbs. in pop products on the surf side.

If you do add this ballast, make sure you are a careful and heads up driver. Let the wave pass you before turning in to retrieve a fallen rider and be ever vigilant for rollers from other wakes.

[Mikeski]

Most common problem with 211 surf wake is too much weight in the back. If it is curling over or washing out there is too much weight too far back. I run my gate on #2, stock belly full, and stock corner full. If I am running a light crew I will place another 80-100lbs against the side I want to surf under the windshield as close to the side as possible (typically under the clamshell on the port side). Keep the passengers in the middle of the passenger area and load the side you want to surf. About 600-700lbs in the passenger area works well, that can be people or ballast. Add ballast to replace passengers to try to keep it constant, much more than that gets a little sketchy from a driving standpoint as you will need to put weight in the bow and it starts to ride low and dip. The boat should be leaning about 6" lower on the surf side if possible but still running level front/back. We run at 11mph, it throws a nice little surf wake the wife and I ride comfortably with no rope. I weigh 185 and surf on a Inland Surfer 4 skim 4'8" but that's too small for most my weight so I carry the good old 5'6" Landlock for most others. The wife weighs 115 and makes it look stupid easy on the 4'8".

[MikeC]

I second what Mikeski says. If you load the stern too much you'll get nothing. Also speed is critical, as little as 0.4 mph will make a huge differece, we surf in the 10-11 mph range, usually closer to 10. Good luck.

[Jake Holt]

Thanks for all the advice. I usually have a good amount of passengers on my boat so I am going to see what I can do with the stock system (as per Mikeski) before I spend some $ on sacks.

Mikeski - to confirm, you leave the other rear-corner tank empty? So essentially....belly tank full, surf-side corner tank full, and 600-700 lbs of passengers or ballast on surf side (in middle passenger area), and 11mph.

Please confirm and I will give it a go.