Lead Ballast Fuel Consumption

[astilley]

I have been using fat sacs for surfing for over ten years and I am tired of the hassle of filling and draining the bags, and getting the storage lockers wet in the boat. I have heard great things about the lead wake bags but I am concerned about the excess fuel burn that 600lbs of lead would cause. This worries me because my family doesn’t only surf. We like to tube and cruise around the lake. Do you guys drop off your lead bags every time you’re done surfing, or do you just leave them in the boat?

[GMLIII]

I have 750 lbs of lead bags in my G23 and never take out them out . Keep them in your boat and just deal with it. If you are worried about gas consumption you should not be owning a 2021 G23. I love the lead bags , and easier to deal with then fat sacks . Anyway my 2 cents

[nyryan2001]

If.... when you want to save gas while keeping lead in your boat... move it mostly to the bow... you end up with a killer efficient prop shaft angle while cruising.... probably not much than without lead... because at 25mph+ you have such a nose down profile.... giving a much more efficient prop shaft angle.

[FireBreathingRubberDucky]

I have 750 lbs of lead bags in my G23 and never take out them out . Keep them in your boat and just deal with it. If you are worried about gas consumption you should not be owning a 2021 G23. I love the lead bags , and easier to deal with then fat sacks . Anyway my 2 cents

This seems to be the canned response on all message boards any time this subject is addressed. There are a wide variety of reasons to consider fuel consumption with these boats. The first thing that comes to my mind boils down to accessibility to gas on your lake. Not all lakes have a refueling area, which means you have to pull out and trailer for a refuel. If you’re going camping for a night or two and don’t plan on pulling the boat out of the water for any other reason than refueling, I could see where increased fuel consumption could become a pain in the arse. In regards to the financial aspect, I have buddy with a supercharged Supra SE550 and they have to refill everyday. On Lake Coeur d’Alene, running premium gas that came out to $250 per day. They stayed for 7-days. That was a $1,750 gas bill for the week, give or take. On the flip side, I could go 2-2.5 trips with my G23 before refueling and I never took it below 18-20%. I was also running 800lbs of lead. Perhaps not everyone is blessed with a money printing machine in their basement that makes commoner trips to the gas station nothing more than a mundane exercise in futility. “If you’re worried about gas consumption you should not be owning a 2021 G23,” seems like a relatively shortsighted comment. In fact I believe the question is wise. I will take your 2 cents however since you seem to have plenty of coin to spare.

[Glafko]

Benefits of our 1000lbs of lead far out way the consumption of fuel

[Nautiquehunter]

You guys actually move 600 lbs of lead every time you finish surfing? I have bags piggy backed on the hard tanks push the fill buttons until they time out then push them again to fill the bags. Same thing to empty them I don't see how it can get any easier than that?

[charlesml3]

You guys actually move 600 lbs of lead every time you finish surfing?

No. I Never move them. I have 850 pounds of shot bags in my 230. I know it hurts the fuel consumption. I just don't care. I bought the boat to surf.

-Charles

[FOB1SAN]

1950 lbs and leave them on. Drinks gas like a mofo....

[Nautiquehunter]

Water is neutrally buoyant so in the case of a sinking lead will send you to the bottom.

[XBIGPUN66]

I can tell you as a qualified Navy submariner that the boat will sink with the additional water on board also(if it submerges). This is how submarines are ballasted. The neutral bouyancy point is a fine line in relation to un-ballasted weight.

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[markj]

I can tell you as a qualified Navy submariner that the boat will sink with the additional water on board also(if it submerges). This is how submarines are ballasted. The neutral bouyancy point is a fine line in relation to un-ballasted weight.

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Man, I have always thought that too, but aren't Nautiques supposed to have closed-cell foam buried within the hull that keep the boat at the surface? I remember reading one of my first Nautique's owner's manuals and thought it said something about always staying with the boat if it capsized because they were designed to float if submerged. That may just be the way it USED to be. I run lead and want to buy more so I should probably know this for sure and not be assuming anything.

[XBIGPUN66]

The closed cell foam is designed to allow the boat to survive with factory ballast and normal weight of boating items. The additional amount of lead or water would overcome this safety margin and cause negative buoyancy and submerge the boat in the case of an accident or swamping.

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[mjp2222]

I run 600lbs of lead in my G21 and don't really notice a difference in fuel consumption when surfing. I seem to burn about the same amount of fuel whether I have lead, no lead, 4 or 10 in the boat. We all know that more weight burns more fuel but 600lbs doesn't appear to be significant.

[Gtsum2]

I recently went from 450lbs of lead to 850lbs of lead in our 20 g23. 1) the surf wave is much longer and firmer with more push farther back, 2) I can tell getting up on plane the weight is there, and 3) it sucks more gas for sure. I have no idea how much more...when I get low I fill it up and I don’t track it...but it is certainly more thirsty.

I don’t take the lead out...it’s me and the wife and our two boys (9 and 13) most of the time in the boat...maybe a few more kids if they have friends over. It’s likely hurting our tubing mpg also


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[Gwozhog]

I have been using fat sacs for surfing for over ten years and I am tired of the hassle of filling and draining the bags, and getting the storage lockers wet in the boat. I have heard great things about the lead wake bags but I am concerned about the excess fuel burn that 600lbs of lead would cause. This worries me because my family doesn’t only surf. We like to tube and cruise around the lake. Do you guys drop off your lead bags every time you’re done surfing, or do you just leave them in the boat?

Have you considered hardpiping your bags? But as far as 600 pounds of lead goes I dont think it would make a difference in fuel burn. That is not alot of weight.