Direct Drive Surf Report - 99 Sport/Air

[hornsfan]

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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Zeckto
Looking at the description in the YouTube video did I understand correctly you had 300 lbs (rear locker) and 500-600 lbs in a bag on the starboard side. That was ALL the ballast you had and were able to get that wake? That's awesome if that's the case. I've got (3) 540 lbs and plan to run the back tanks full (~350lbs) I havent had a chance to fill the bags yet but am looking for advice on the best configuration for this weekend. Will have myself, 2 adults and 3 kids in the boat while attempting.

[zeckto13]

Zeckto
Looking at the description in the YouTube video did I understand correctly you had 300 lbs (rear locker) and 500-600 lbs in a bag on the starboard side. That was ALL the ballast you had and were able to get that wake? That's awesome if that's the case. I've got (3) 540 lbs and plan to run the back tanks full (~350lbs) I havent had a chance to fill the bags yet but am looking for advice on the best configuration for this weekend. Will have myself, 2 adults and 3 kids in the boat while attempting.

Yes that is correct. Maybe the 750 was more as it's hard to tell because it doesn't quite fit but even if it was full then only 750. I was also shocked as I was originally bummed out since my stock tank pump was broke, and I couldn't get the shaper to stick either. The 300lb fly high fits perfect in the rear locker. I had it slightly to starboard side as much as I could. I would only put your other bag on one side of floor and list the boat. Adults in back corner. Kids up front? I had one 60lb kid on passenger seat and my wife was driving with other 160lb kid in the back starboard corner. Only other thing I heard is that starboard side needs less weight given the RH prop rotation on my boat. Good luck!

[zeckto13]

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.

Do you happen to have a pic of your gate? And where your putting it on the hull? Headed out this weekend for another go.

[zeckto13]

Hi guys
I need help...
So I got out again, this time with my stock ballast working and my shaper working (a little farther up the hull) with the following specs and the wave was definitely bigger than my post above, but no push at all. What gives? My wave from the earlier video with less weight and no shaper was smaller but at least it had some push ?
Specs tonight:
Rear stock full 400lbs, 300lbs on top of that, 600-750 on side estimate, Half tank of gas, driver. Here's a pic to compare...there is no white wash on top so shouldn't need any/ much bow weight? Speed ranged from 10-11.5. Didn't matter.




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[rbalan]

No expert here, but from the pic it looks like you are going a bit too fast. Did the speed fluctuate from 10-11.5 or did you try different speeds using perfect pass?

[a0128]

Driver only in boat

Where's the fun in that?

[zeckto13]

No expert here, but from the pic it looks like you are going a bit too fast. Did the speed fluctuate from 10-11.5 or did you try different speeds using perfect pass?

ya used perfect pass and tried different speeds. When it was at 10mph, it was more of a u shape and taller but no push. I thought going up to 11 or so would help firm it up but didn't do much. My gate was a little further forward on the hull. Will try putting it as far back as I can get it next time. Just have to remove more pinstriping for the suc gate to stick. Darn.

[zeckto13]

Got out today. I went with less ballast in the back, only 400lbs (instead of 700), 600-700lbs surf side, and 300lbs in the front floor ski locker (new this time), 160lbs people in back corner. Wake shaper on. It was definitely better. But does anyone know why it seems like the shape is more of a hump and not a lot of curve from right to left? I had the wake shaper on too. I was going 2100rpm, which showed about 9.5-10mph. Does it mean I should speed up to 11? We tried speeding up but then seemed like it lost some push? Thanks. Here's a vid...
https://youtu.be/dMNyhLm-lnc


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[hornsfan]

I'll be following this post closely, thanks for experimenting and posting back.

[jtryon]

looks to me that you need more weight. i run minimum 1200lbs on the surf side, ~600 non-surf side, and 650 in the bow with a ghetto gate. it's on a different model DD but generally:
1. if you don't have enough push or have a long but not tall wave you need more weight.
2. if you have a tall wave but not long you need more front weight or need to speed up.

[zeckto13]

Thanks for the feedback, going to give it another go next week!


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[Tom351]

Do you happen to have a pic of your gate? And where your putting it on the hull? Headed out this weekend for another go.

Here are pics of the gate- along with the side view dimension that you asked about on YouTube:

It is at a 45 degree angle and the surface is 8" x 12". That does not include the little extension that goes into the step of the hull...obviously this shaper design cannot switch sides due to this extension but I really wanted to divert the water out of that narrow/lower part of hull. I run it about a foot or two (have tried various distances) forward of where the hull angles toward the swim platform. Also, you may notice that the plate is offset downward on my shaper....this is because the suction cups cannot go any lower thanks to that step in the hull. All of this being said... when I made the in the first post: I was using a previous plate on the shaper that did not reach into the step and was not offset (so it could have been used on either side- and was a little higher since the plate was not offset downward).. But my wave has more push with this newer shaper design. Also, the green plate is just a backer since the white "face" of the shaper is fairly thin and I was not sure if it would hold up- the green cutting board was thicker, but not quite large enough so I just attached the larger white face directly on top of it.

[zeckto13]

Thanks. Will report back once I build one like yours and have more ballast.


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[Tom351]

Cool- let us know how it goes!

Here is a 1st person GoPro video of my wave (camera was in my mouth)
This is with all of the ballast mentioned in first post and an 275lb bag on floor behind engine box (this helped to hold up the 475lb bag on the back seat)
https://youtu.be/E3_LAhlB7vA

[zeckto13]

Very cool! Good to see how the boat sits and how far the wave diverges over. Also noticed you have no spray from the shaper. What length of board is that one? I have a 5'4" blue lake. Nice boat btw. If you ever have a video of the wave from inside the boat that would be great to see. Can't wait to get out again but will be a couple weeks for me.


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