Bow weight

[FOB1SAN]

What does adding weight to the front of a boat do to the wave? I need to even out my weight distribution a little better. Just curious what bow weight is supposed to do to the wave.

[GMLIII]

What does adding weight to the front of a boat do to the wave? I need to even out my weight distribution a little better. Just curious what bow weight is supposed to do to the wave.

100 lbs bow Portside and 100 lbs Starboard bow.Boat 2017 G23

[FOB1SAN]

Thanks.

question is what does adding bow weight do to the wave? Make it taller? Make it longer?

[hal2814]

I’m assuming surfing since you’re using the word wave. What bow weight generally does is lengthen the surf wave. What else it does is dependent on the boat and the amount. It can potentially clean up a washed out wave. It can reduce push, sometimes significantly. Nautiques generally like something up front if you’re also adding additional weight in the rear. On my 230, I run 2,200lbs in the rear. I added a 650lb bag up front to offset some of that. It made the wave a lot longer without sacrificing push. When I’ve tried moving more up front, I only get a slightly longer wave and lose a ton of push. You’ll just have to play around with your specific boat and see. Or maybe you can look at what some others are running in your boat (presumably a G25 based on your profile) to get a head start.

[FOB1SAN]

Thanks. I need to add some up front. I got about 800 in the rear 950 in the middle and 200 upfront. I will probably move another 200 up front. Wave is ginormous right now with way too much push.

[TXtiki hut]

hal2814 i have an 09 230 i'm trying to get dialed in. i've got an 1100lb sac on the port side, hard tank and piggyback wakemakers sac on the starboard side, and a 370lb ski locker sac. if i load up all the rear ballast the wave is tall, but right at the swimstep. i added the ski locker bag to get more length. I'm debating between an arrow shaped sac for the front, or adding lead bags.

what bag did you use in the bow? is it piggy backed to the factory tank?

thanks

[hal2814]

hal2814 i have an 09 230 i'm trying to get dialed in. i've got an 1100lb sac on the port side, hard tank and piggyback wakemakers sac on the starboard side, and a 370lb ski locker sac. if i load up all the rear ballast the wave is tall, but right at the swimstep. i added the ski locker bag to get more length. I'm debating between an arrow shaped sac for the front, or adding lead bags.

what bag did you use in the bow? is it piggy backed to the factory tank?

thanks

My setup is a little different in a 2011. I don’t have a ski locker but it’s my understanding my belly hard tank is a little larger and it’s right where the ski locker used to be. I run a Fly High W711 under the bow seats. It piggybacks to the center tank. I run that and 1,100lb bags in each rear locker. They’re some Ronix bags. I pulled the tanks. That puts my swim deck a couple of inches underwater when loaded at rest. I’m probably going to play around with a little lead on the observer’s side once the Black Friday deals hit. My goofy wave is otherworldly. My regular wave is really good but I’m jealous of the other side.

[TXtiki hut]

hal2814 Ahhh....wasn't sure what year the center tank shape changed. have you had any problems with the 1100s draining down after filling all the way up?

i've been closing the ballast inlet valved after i shut off the fill pump, and thinking about putting in a ball valve for the breather line. the bag sorta balloons to fill the space, then the breather line releases all the pressure. sucks to be riding and slowly loose the push of the wave.

just curious what others are doing.

thanks

[hal2814]

No issues here. I just have a check valve on the vent line to prevent it from sucking air into the bag on drain. You don’t need to shut off the ball valves at the intake. Unless your impellers are toast water won’t move past an impeller pump unless it’s on.