SV211 Surf / Ballast tank questions

[MadWop75]

Hello Everyone,

Newbie here. Purchased a clean 06 sv211 limited this summer (152 hours). My questions is about the factory installed ballast tanks (3) I really want to try and learn to surf on this boat as being 45 your body gets beat up easily lol. I picked up a 2017 Quick shift wake shaper to also help with the wake. For all you surfers should I keep the stock hard ballast tanks in the boat or should I pull them out and install something else? And if I should pull them what are some good options to go with? HELP!

Thanks,
Dave

[ScooterMcgavin]

If you have sacks already I'd play around with them, starting by filling all factory tanks and about a 70/30 weight distribution back to front on the other sacs. weight the boat even side to side and start about 9.5 mph. And your quick shift on the opposite surf side, play with the hydro gate if it has one. Wakemakers is very helpful too! Give them a call if you need to buy sacs or piggy back kits that work with factory pumps they can give you recommendations and help you get the wave dialed in. then you can decide if you really want to pull hard tanks. I wouldn't pull them without figuring out how much weight I'm gonna put where first and seeing what works. On the other hand maintenance is way easier with the tanks out of the way.

[charlesml3]

I wouldn't pull them without figuring out how much weight I'm gonna put where first and seeing what works. On the other hand maintenance is way easier with the tanks out of the way.

That's some excellent advice right there. Find out what you need before you start making a bunch of expensive changes. The SV-211 surfs just fine with a wedge and ballast. It's just a matter of getting it all dialed in.

-Charles

[MikeC]

There are a few threads on here about weighting the 211. With the wake shaper it's mostly a matter of fore and aft weight, the 211 needs weight in the bow, without it it rides too nose high and the wake becomes very short. I had already removed my hard tanks and replaced them with two 750s in the rear before I built a wake shaper (suck gate) so I don't know how it surfs with stock ballast and the shaper. I'd try it with stock tanks and then make a decision. But you will need at least a 100lb bag in the bow, if not more.

[theskunk]

I've got mine dialed in for my surf wedge - full stock ballast, add 350 in each locker on top of the hard tank, 325 in the center locker, and then add something to the nose to determine how much you need - i ended up with about 150lbs of weight bags (not ballast) to get mine **** near perfect.

[homer12]

Theskunk, I've got a 211 that I'll be figuring out this summer too. Do you have the belly tank too? Also, are you running stock prop or something different with that weight?


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[theskunk]

I do have the belly tank. I had the stock prop last year, which was a bit, uh, un-economical? :-D

I just bought a new prop, ACME 1578, which is what ACME recommended. I picked it up open-box from wakemakers, which they said that the reason for the return was that the owner wanted something even more aggressive... so we'll see if this makes me happy or not. I've still got my trusty old 644 that works wonders, though

(shameless plug, I'm selling a few of the surf wedges here or there, if you'd like to see more about what I'm using, send me a PM!)

The really interesting part of my setup, is that I run the *exact* same ballast setup for both surf and wakeboard, and it seems to work really, really well. The extra bit of weight in the nose also seems to help for slalom, by a bit. I'm also in the Potomac River (big water), so I run with my belly hard-tank completely full, which has the added benefit of giving me some extra stability when i'm taking waves from 40+ft yachts.

[homer12]

Thanks for the feedback!


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[pokesgrad02]

I max my factory ballast. 500lb sacks in each rear locker as well. 350 in the ski locker. Suck gate is a must. Tape your engine vent on the side with your suck gate. Have my perfect pass set on 9.8. Works like a champ for our crew.


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[theskunk]

I max my factory ballast. 500lb sacks in each rear locker as well. 350 in the ski locker. Suck gate is a must. Tape your engine vent on the side with your suck gate. Have my perfect pass set on 9.8. Works like a champ for our crew.


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How is your suck-gate designed? My design doesn't create any noticeable spray to require you to tape the vent.. Just curious to see if I could suggest a small design tweak to let you get a better experience.

-Rob

[pokesgrad02]

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[pokesgrad02]

Rob

What weight you running? It's not all the spray but often times how low the back of the boat is sitting in the water


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[pokesgrad02]

Yes, it runs low in water. Guess my follow up post didn't make it. See previous post for my ballast


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[Rglaves]

HI there i have an 07 SV211 air nautique with factory ballasts and delta mission 2 wakeshaper. i fill all ballasts and the wake is very high and short and cannot surf without holding the rope. the closer i get to the boat the more i can ride with less rope. i have the perfect pass in WB mode at 12.5 MPH. wondering if anybody can provide any recommnedations?

thanks,
Ryan

[MTRBTR]

Try slowing down to 10 mph. I have a suck gate with stock ballast and it surfs just fine. If you have people in the boat I like to put one extra person on the side that is getting surfed. Also a lot depends on your board. I use a hyper lite broadcast.