Upgrading the ballast System on a 98 Air Nautique

[dsthomas05]

I recent bought a 1998 Air Nautique and I'd like to upgrade the ballast system to get a better wakeboarding wake. I was wondering how much extra weight I need to add and where I should add it (i.e. how do divide it up between the back, middle, and/or front ski lockers)?

I mostly ride with just my wife in the boat who weights all of 100lbs soaking wet so I'd be relying solely on the ballasted for weight. The boat came with the stock 450lbs tanks which I have currently removed the for extra space and replaced with a Fat sack at weighs about the same.

Also, can this boat be set up for surfing behind?

I'd love to hear what other people have done to help me design a custom system for the boat.

Thanks,
Dave

[rbalan]

Search direct drive ballast and you will get some ideas. You will need to fill the rear compartment to get an improvement, (2) 400 lb vdrive sacs minimum and a rear seat sac in the locker. I have (2) 500 + lb gravity games sacs in back that don't fill up all the way. I also put weight in nooks and crannies, it isnt super air wake, but it makes riding a lot more fun. I don't think any body has got a big surf wake, but there are a few that were able to make it ridable.

[dsthomas05]

Thanks Rbalan.

I had thought about buying two of the X-2 rear sacs to fill the rear ski locker but those 400lb vdrive sacs look like they should fit a little better, plus there cheaper which is always good. Right now I'm thinking of putting (2) 400lb vdrive sacs in the back locker and (1) 370lb sac in the front ski locker. That should give me 900-1100lbs of total weight with a pretty good rear bias. I can almost fit a 580lb sac (almost because the locker is 22in wide and the bag is 26in) which would probably give me 450-500lbs of weight in the ski locker but I'm concerned that that will be to much weight in the front of the boat and hurting the wake size and shape.

Next on the list if figuring out how to pump the system. Currently I'm using (2) 800GPH Tsunami pumps (1 fill / 1 drain), a solenoid control value (to stop water from coming in while driving), 3/4" tube, and the stock seacock and thru hole drain. Fill and drain times are ok but not great, I haven't accurally measure bu I think its about 6-9min fill and 10-15 drain (I think the stock thru hole is adding a lot of restriction) for a 450lb bag. And it generally leave about 25-50lbs of water in the bag after it's done, which isn't idea when I want to switch over to waterskiing. Right now I'm trying to decide if it's worth the extra money to go with reversible pumps over the aerator pumps. I know the reversible pumps work a lot better but I struggle with the added cost. Plus I like the challenge of trying to make the aerator pumps work just as good for less money.

[Miljack]

Rbalan was trying to get you to search the site, alot of info here, and also on Wakeworld.
I'll link the thread from my build on my old DD boat...

http://www.planetnautique.com/vb3/sh...hlight=ballast

[s_kelley2000]

Wow I never realized you can fit two 400s in that rear locker.

If the center ski locker is the same size as my 99 super sport then that 580 should fit almost perfectly in there. I don't think you need to worry about too much weight in the center hurting the wake size but others that have your boat can speak better to that. With 800 lbs in the back the extra weight in the center could help with planing. Another possible idea for front weight is the under seat sack for the bow. I have been very happy using that but not sure if it's too much bow weight for a direct drive or not.

[Chexi]

http://www.planetnautique.com/vb3/sh...allast+install

[Lazic]

Hey mate sorry to go a little off the subject
.. Just seeing with your hard tanks if u eer had any issues filling them? I've just brought the boat and can't work out how to fill them.. Also was considering doing plug and play on the back tank and getting a nose tank plummed in.. Fly high system possibly.. Have u plummed your in yourself?

[wcherashore]

You can definitely get a good wake out of this boat, depending on how much weight you put in it. Based on the install I just completed, I would recommend the v-drive sacks in the trunk and a tube sack in the belly. I used the gravity games sacks in the trunk and the rear seat sack in the locker, but they're all a bit too big for the space, particularly the rear seat sack in the locker and don't think it's worth the extra money. I would also recommend adding additional weight in the back on top of that and currently am running a 750 on the rear seat, but I need to take the seat back out so it fits. If you add the sack on the rear seat, you'll likely want some extra weight in the bow, but you surprisingly don't need too much and I am currently running without it. You will likely want to prop up though, particularly if you're making tight turns often.