Direct Drive Surf Report - 99 Sport/Air

[Tom351]

[jbgregory]

have a 2002 sport air DD and just getting into surfing setups. hoping to get this right the first go and want to have as few bags on floors as possible. we are newbies, so dont need mega wake. heaviest rider is 170 soaking wet and we wont to ride port side. looking for cleanest/easiest to manage setup (wife will get overwhelmed with bags and pumps everywhere) and also looking for some consensus:

1. is homemade plate better vs mission delta or other?
2. can you get a decent wave without having bags take up all floor space about the engine?
3. is ski locker or bow bags better or both?
4. prop change??? also like to slalom ski (that's why we have DD boat).

thanks

[Tom351]

have a 2002 sport air DD and just getting into surfing setups. hoping to get this right the first go and want to have as few bags on floors as possible. we are newbies, so dont need mega wake. heaviest rider is 170 soaking wet and we wont to ride port side. looking for cleanest/easiest to manage setup (wife will get overwhelmed with bags and pumps everywhere) and also looking for some consensus:

1. is homemade plate better vs mission delta or other?
2. can you get a decent wave without having bags take up all floor space about the engine?
3. is ski locker or bow bags better or both?
4. prop change??? also like to slalom ski (that's why we have DD boat).

thanks

My 99 Sport is probably similar to your 2002 (both DD). I currently surf with:
800lbs in rear locker
200lbs on floor behind engine
800lbs on back seat
475lbs next to engine (surf side)
370lbs in ski locker
homemade shaper (shown earlier in this thread)

1.) I have not compared my homemade shaper to a delta/similar so I can't say which way to go, mine has a pretty big face at 45 degree angle and seems to work really well.
2.) My wave would probably still be decent without the 475 next to engine (especially if some of it was made up for by a passenger - usually I have driver only) I would plan on using a bag on floor behind engine to help hold up a larger bag on the back seat. Also, plan to fill that rear locker obviously- this is what I have in mine and it fits perfectly https://www.the-house.com/wkslsm8001...last-bags.html
3.) You can get more weight in the bow than the ski locker so I'm sure it would help- for me the ski locker was automatic because I have it plumbed in with an impeller pump. I have toyed with bow weight but it was only when we moved weight from the back to the front, so it did not help in that case....
4.) I am running an Acme 422 and it seems to work well.

My wave is good enough as-is currently that I don't dream of adding more ballast (like I did for a year or so). I think it is a good, solid wave, without getting to crazy or dangerous. Let me know if you have more questions and good luck with it!

[jbgregory]

thanks for the response:

how do you fill your bags? do you use a handheld for the seat/floor bags? how bout lockers? if so what do you use?

you removed hard plastic ballast system? do you still have to engage seacock in engine bay and vacuum controls behind capt seat.?? would love to eliminate all that crap.

did you change your prop for surfing or is that your original?

do you use any lead wts/anchors?

thanks.

[Tom351]

No problem!

My boat did not come with the factory hard plastic ballast so I did not need to remove that. I installed a built in system with reversible pump for the 800lb rear locker and 370lb in ski locker- I did drill a thru-hull intake with valve so I do have to make sure that valve is open for filling. The other 3 bags are filled by handheld Straight Line Sumo Max Flow Pump (that pump is crazy fast) I make sure to have the engine running while pumping because those pumps will drain a battery in a hurry. My boat had the 422 prop on it when I bought it- I am pretty sure the previous owner put that prop on for slalom skiing and I have left in on because slalom/course skiing is my favorite boat activity. I don't use any lead or other permanent weight for the same reason- can't get rid of it for skiing.

[zeckto13]

I see this thread is still alive...here’s a vid of my only surf last year but with the Mission Delta. Love the Delta. Also removed my tanks and put two 400lb bags in. I think the wake height is slightly smaller now but I like the room for storage and less weight for slalom. https://youtu.be/HdDrD6g8QSI


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[jbgregory]

experimented with setup today and think we took water into gas through starboard vent, ugh. we surf port side and delta on starboard, thought with that side out it wouldnt be a problem. anyone have this happen and or have recommendations on how to prevent?

prior to that wave was good for kids, not for adults.

we had 850 in rear locker, 275 behind engine and 325 in ski locker. 150person on starboard corner, wife driving.

how important is the ski locker wt vs rear seat wt? what will make the wake steeper?

[zeckto13]

Sorry to hear that. Couple things on that vent, one option is to cut some foam to shape and stick it in the vent only when surfing. This is what I do, used pool noodle foam. Also, make sure the Delta is not too high up out of the water. I have mine fully submerged about an inch below waterline when weighted down with ballast.

On weight, seems to me not enough weight behind engine/ on rear seat. Need at least 750lbs back there. I have probably closer to 1,000 between two bags. The rear locker has enough weight.

I don’t have any ski locker weight since if we need weight up front can just use people on board. With the mid engine you don’t need as much weight up front. Hope that helps. Also if surfing Port side, have the people sitting in that rear corner vs the opposite.