Direct Drive Surf Report - 99 Sport/Air

[Tom351]

A lot of people have asked about surfing with older DD Nautiques- here is what seems to work fairly well for us: (video below)
Boat: 1999 Sport Nautique
Ballast: 800lbs in rear locker
475 lbs on back seat (centered)
800lbs on surf side next to engine
370lbs in ski locker
Driver only in boat
using homemade suction-gate wake shaper

https://youtu.be/0OEytgzOttU

[jtryon]

wave looks great but....


....what the **** is that board you're using???

[Tom351]

wave looks great but....


....what the **** is that board you're using???

Thanks, and the board is an regular (for ocean waves) surfboard- 6'-0" Twin Keel fish....might buy an actual wakesurf specific board now that I have confirmed that my boat is surfable.

[rbalan]

I was hoping someone could be a good guinnea pig for me, thanks for posting this. What angle did you use on your shaper? I didn't want to have to weight too biased side to side, but at least it looks like you got a decent distance back from the platform. Anything else you plan on changing set up wise?

[Tom351]

I did 45degrees on the suckgate- 7"x12" paddle, The boat still seems to like the heavy surf side bias....+800 on the surf side really worked well, although last time it was +400 on surf side and still did almost as good. Yes, I am surprised at how far back we can get. I might try adding about 200lbs up front, it seems like we have it dialed in pretty good for a boat that is also very course-slalom-able.

[hornsfan]

Tom351 We finally bought some additional ballast (3 - 540lbs sacs) besides the ~400lbs in our AN 216. I've not had much experience driving my boat with that much weight. Any tips to keep in mind once we get it loaded down? Stopping/starting wise and turning?

[MTRBTR]

When your rider falls, slow down and stop gradually. Let the wave pass you by before you make your turn back to the rider.

[Tom351]

When your rider falls, slow down and stop gradually. Let the wave pass you by before you make your turn back to the rider.

Yes, this is what you want to do...and just don't be afraid to use the throttle to raise the bow if you need to....don't decelerate into rollers.

[hornsfan]

Thanks! Appreciate the tips!

[charlesml3]

One more item that's mostly been addressed by suck-gates, but I want to point it out anyway: Be careful with the fuel tank vent on the Starboard side! If you get the back of the boat too deep, the vent will be under water part of the time and it'll eventually draw water into the gas tank. Don't ask me how I know this will happen...

-Charles

[funkster]

For anyone trying to learn how to produce a good surf wave, this video is about the best 7 min investment. I like to screen shot key info for easy reference while out on the water.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=Tl1kzbgmW74


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[zeckto13]

Glad to see a DD surf thread on the older boats. I just tried surfing our 2000 Air Nautique that we just got. Here's a vid with specs, not perfect but promising anyway. I couldn't get my aluminium handle suction shaper to stick. I think I have to remove the wax as I had just waxed the boat? Vid...https://youtu.be/Ro7iq2mxzik


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[Tom351]

Glad to see a DD surf thread on the older boats. I just tried surfing our 2000 Air Nautique that we just got. Here's a vid with specs, not perfect but promising anyway. I couldn't get my aluminium handle suction shaper to stick. I think I have to remove the wax as I had just waxed the boat? Vid...https://youtu.be/Ro7iq2mxzik


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That should help, I hit mine with denatured alcohol to remove wax where the shaper was going to go, also, I have found the aluminum handle to hold better when locked, but is much more sensitive to slight hull curvature since it will not flex between the cups like the plastic one will flex and "conform" to slight curves- I press and lock the front cup first (since the front one takes most of the load-make sure that you feel a lot of resistance when lifting the suction cup lever) and then press really hard on the back one while locking to make sure that it locks well- I have never had mine come off, but I rope it to a slalom buoy sitting on the back seat just in case- that way if it comes off it will just take the buoy with it and not sink.

[zeckto13]

Thanks for the tips. I had mine tied to the rear lift ring and only enough rope for it to drag just below the swim platform. I like your idea better.


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[Tom351]

Thanks for the tips. I had mine tied to the rear lift ring and only enough rope for it to drag just below the swim platform. I like your idea better.

I use the buoy because I have read a few stories about homemade gates flying off and recoiling back into the boat because of the tether...one even hit a passenger or surfer in the head.