Advice: Wake Surf Set-Up for Ski 200 Closed Bow

[davebuc]

Hey Gang,
While slalom skiing is my main jam...
This year, my friends and I have become more interested in surfing after we are tired.
(Largely due to them spending a week in Michigan riding a Phase 5 Danielo Diamond board behind a Wakesetter.)

I am wondering if any of you have dialed in what you feel is a good surf set-up for a Nautique 200 Direct Drive?
Nothing I do is going to turn my SN 200 into a G23. I get that. I'm going for the best result you can get with a 200.

My best result so far is this combo:
-Twin 750 lb Fat Sacs, one on each side of the motor box as far forward as I can get them (my undestanding is that forward weight helps get a longer wave by putting more hull length in the water)
-750 lb Fat Sac on the rear side of the motor box between it and the rear seat
-home made suction cup surf gate installed opposite side we surf on (like Mission Delta). Cleans up wave very nicely.
Then:
Adding a 250 lb man on the rear seat on the side I was surfing on seemed to give the wave more push. Having the boat driver turn the boat just slightly toward the surf wave also seemed to give it more push. Also tried him on the observer seat. Wave was not as good.

With the above, a 130 lb woman was able to surf rope-less and slash on a Phase 5 Model X 58" board (weight rating on that board is up to 250 lb).
I am 205 lb. I can definitely get slack in the rope, but may not be able to go rope-less. Maybe I need a more buoyant board?

I saw this post yesterday suggesting 750 across the back seat and 750 between the motor box and rear seat. Have not tried it yet:
http://www.planetnautique.com/vb5/fo...ng-and-surfing

Thanks in advance,
Dave

[davebuc]

Update (In case it helps others).

With a few changes, we produced a winning result.
1. More of a Surf Style Board with more float for me (6'3 205 lb). Phase 5 Rio X. Super fast.

2. Removed the back seat from the boat. We put an 1100 pound Fat Sac across the back, as far back as we could get it, and slightly toward the port side ("regular" surfers)
So current ballast set-up is:
Starboard: 750 lb Fat Sac behind driver as far forward as we can get it (space available allows it to fill to about 70% capacity)
Port: 750 lb Fat Sac even with port (fore-aft) (space available allows it to fill to about 70% capacity)
Rear: 1100 lb Fat sac


3. Folks up to 170 lb are riding the Phase 5 Model X while carving, slashing and we have had a couple people super close to pulling off a 360 with it.
Pic below with my surf wave and a rider

[laddski]

As a fellow 200 owner, 2012 200 OB, that is impressive and must sit really low in the water. Does your platform make tons of noise while submerged? Mine did until I replaced the factory pins with 10mm bolts that are nice and snug in the holes. Now no noise.

We have only done minor surfing but can get a pretty decent wakeboarding wake with 3 440lb sacs on the side and rear of the motor and then 6 adults on board. I have to use much caution coming to a stop so as not to bury the front. I am keeping your setup around if we get into more surfing.

[davebuc]

laddski,
Yes, the exhaust rattles my swim platform quite a bit when I have the ballast in the boat.
Great suggestion on replacing the swim platform pins with bolts to eliminate the rattle.
I will look into that.