help with surf wave on an 1998 sport/air nautique

[5bison]

We just started surfing and having trouble with the wave... any help would be great. I have an 1100# bag in the rear storage and a 600# bag in the center locker. We have been filling both up and then putting all passengers in the back corner on the surf side 10 mph. To be honest I don't really even know what I am looking for. The kids can surf but the adults are having a hard time. I need all the help I can get. Thanks.

[surroundsound64]

It sounds like you have enough weight, but maybe too much all in one place. Try moving the peopl forward and see what happens.

[glassywaters]

I have a similar boat (99 Sport) and been wanting to try surfing, too. How does the 1100 fill in the rear? I have two bags in the locker, but it would be nice to just have one. I know these hulls are not ideal, but I did find a surf video. It looks like they have a 600 on the surf side with another pop bag on the seat, plus a person on the side. Wave doesn't look bad. Maybe a little on the short side. Try adding some weight like that to the surf side?

[5bison]

Both of the ballast bags have been plumbed in to fill automatically. The rear bag fills the whole locker when full. I can generate a big wake... I just don't know if it is the right shape...

[theskunk]

Are you a right hand or left hand prop? Buddy of mine has a 2000 Sport Nautique and he surfs Starboard....

[5bison]

I believe it is a right hand? I could be wrong... We all surf starboard.

[a0128]

Yes - prop rotation is right hand.

[5bison]

a0128 I see you have a pro air. How do you weight it for surfing?

[a0128]

a0128 I see you have a pro air. How do you weight it for surfing?

Haven't tried surfing yet. The kids think its boring.

[5bison]

Tried again this weekend... Kids can do it... I can not. Am I to heavy? I weigh 230#.

[theskunk]

Shouldn't be too heavy - what board are you using? What rope length? Do you have any pictures of your wave that you can post?

Also, what's your specific weight configuration?

[5bison]

I am using a ronix koal power tail 4'11". I can try to get pictures of me, but here are my kids. Both are about 5'3" or so for reference... I have been doing 1000# in rear, 600 in the ski locker. 150# driver and 300#+ in passenger all on starboard side. 10 mph.

[MTRBTR]

I have a 97sport . Your weight seems about right but looking at your wave, it doesn't look very tall. The starboard side will surf better because of your prop rotation. I would say you either need more weight in the back, or you need to get more of the weight in the back shifted to the starboard side.
I put a 400 lb sack on the back seat in the corner I am surfing on and then about 3-4 300 pound sacks plus people on the side I am surfing on as far back as I can get. You might experiment with less weight in the ski locker. I run about 300lbs in mine but don't notice a lot of difference whether its there or not. With your hull, the more weight in the back corner the better. Weight up front will lengthen out the wave which will give you a longer surf pocket but you give up height which gives you more push. From your pictures you have plenty of length but not enough height. I weigh 210. I don't think you are too heavy.

[5bison]

Thanks for the help. I am going to try with no weight in the locker. Do you think that 1000# bag across the back is too much weight in the wrong spot? I try to pull it over as far as posable but it still fills up most of the back locker.

[theskunk]

If it's across the back, then you're actually not putting enough pressure on the back corner. Can you put it length-wise along the starboard side of the boat in some way?