2006 SV211 - Adding Ballast in Bow

[blakehales06@gmail.com]

I plan to add an additinoal 1000lbs of rear weight and need to even it out. Trying to figure out the best option with this boat to add weight to the bow. Any advice is appreciated. Wakemakers has the piggyback system that adds a sac under the bow seats but the guy I spoke with didnt sound real sure 1. How the install process works 2. How much weight the sac actually holds. Ideally I would like to add sac under bow seats to keep seating. Anyone out there install the bow piggyback system with this boat? If so how is the install to piggyback on the belly tank system/pumps? Do you have to do any actual modifications to the boat?

[dfoster]

I've looked at this and haven't pulled the trigger yet, but might do it over the winter.

I ended up tank busting my rear tanks to put in a pair of 750s. They fill up most of the way, but end up putting too much weight in the corner for a clean surf wave, so I need to put more weight in the bow as well.

When I looked at this and stuck my head into the ski locker, you can definitely fit a nice bow sac down there to add more weight. Not really sure what it will add up to, but should be at least 400lbs or more. To get to the fittings would be a complete PITA, and may really require taking some of the panels out to get good access. But their piggyback system should work the same as it does in other boats.

Doug

[Alpine331]

I’ve been lookinginto bow ballast bags as well. I almost bought this one this weekend at mylocal shop: http://www.wakemakers.com/straight-line-sumo-open-bow-bag-500.html.Problem is when I pulled up my bow cushions to verify if it would fit thereis very little room under them. I’m sure you could still fish the bag under thebow seats but I don’t think you would get more than 100lbs of water in the bagor you’d risk damaging the boat. I could be wrong on this and would love someinput from someone with a sv211 who has done this.

[dfoster]

Open up your ski locker and look forward. There is a ton of space. In the SV, that is where you would out the bow sac. I would guess that with the standard fly high bow sac, that it would fill at least 400lbs if not more. You could probably even leave some skis in there and the sac would fill around them.

NOTE: this is my observation only, I haven't done it yet, but it is on the list for this winter.

[HS]

dfoster is right, there is space , maybe just not a ton of height forward of the immediate ski locker area -- and forward, that space does "flare" out a bit but quickly loses height as well. This is the space formed in the cavity between the floor of the bow seating area and the hull. Definitely take some measurements to decide which sac or ballast route to take (an option is pop products, but I don't want to start a debate on this thread, just to point out that they are more compact, but, they are always "full". Peak under the dash and try to locate the hose and thru-hull fitting for the belly tank overflow -- this becomes your fill hose for a forward sac in a piggy back arrangement; and then you run a vent line from the sac to this fitting for your vent / overflow.

On the rear lockers, be sure to note the difference in available volume on port vs starboard -- due to the walk thru over the port locker on the 211, I think only a 400 sac will fit on port so if your goal is to have identical left/right ballast, you'll want to know those dimensions as well.

[ski4evr]

I have had the under seat bow sac for a couple of years. no it doesn't fill completely, but definitely adds substantial weight and lowers the nose close to the water. just have to be willing to let the seats pop up a little when it gets full. definitely need to use 90 degree fittings and place the drain or vent on opposite side of fill line. I keep too many skis in locker, one for each of us (4) so I opted out of the ski locker bag. I believe you could definitely get a 400 to 600 bag in there.

[theskunk]

Sorry to revive an old (read: Ancient) thread - but just wondering how far some of you guys made it on this project - I just bought a 211 and need to get more weight up front for surfing. Thus far, tossing a 350 on the seat and strapping it in seems to work, but I'm hoping for something a little more, well, pluggable for a stock look/feel.

[dfoster]

I have no tank busted in back and put two 750s in each side. Both can fill up pretty full and still have room for some vests, etc on top.... I'll guess over 600lbs each. I then manually fill a 750 under the passenger seat when surfing regular, which maybe adds another 400. I haven't done the bow sac yet, but tend to just move people around if I want more weight up front to lengthen the wave a bit. It is on the list, but hasn't made it to the top yet.

The wake definitely gets washed out if there is too much weight just in the back corner. I've been told the bow sac isn't hard to plumb in, but just is a pain to get to all the fittings, etc.

Just jump in and do it!

Doug

[theskunk]

I think for this weekend, I'm going to move the 350 that I've got laying on the dock to the front and just shove it under the seats and see if i can get 150lbs up there. I've got all the fittings to hard-connect it (and keep it from flattening) if it works well...

Only problem is that I just blew an amp and there is only so many hours to wire in another one ah, priorities...

[FMSKI]

Going to order a triangle sack to sit on top of the sac I have down the middle. Had my 200lb son up front today, with the sac and the wake was awesome. So total:

Triangle (on order)
400lb in middle
750lb in floor
fat sac in each rear locker
H3X surf tab