Bigger Wake Need Advice

[scottwilk]

Good Afternoon,
I have a 2003 AN 226 TE. I mainly wakesurf off the Port Side. I typically fill the Belly 1/2 way, The Port all the way and I have a Fat Sac that fits nicely in the walk thru area to the swim platform. The wake is good right behind the boat, but i would like for it to be longer. Has anyone ever put a fat sac on the Port Side long seat to do this?( if so which one ) I have read where some take out the Hard plastic ballast systems and replace. Any advice suggestions are welcome. Thanks - Scott

[BoardSkier]

I have the same boat. With surfers, I fill all the hard tanks, except stern tank opposite the surfer side and put a 400 lb v-drive sac in the rear locker and walk thru. We surf both sides of the wake, so sometimes just left both hard tanks full. Tall wake, but not long. I understand that filling the belly tank and move some passengers toward the front will make the pocket longer.

I have also read about removing hard tanks and replace with fat sacs. More weight, but I dont recall the exact difference. I recall that the fill gauges wont work. Can use the pumps. Would like to know what you find out.

[scottwilk]

I am getting ready to order a fat sac 62" L 18"w and 10" H from Fly High and lay on the Port side seat. I will let you know how it works. will add about 375lbs forward. I measured the Cooler area under the seat, but it is so small i dont think it would work even with a custom fat sac

[BoardSkier]

I am getting ready to order a fat sac 62" L 18"w and 10" H from Fly High and lay on the Port side seat. I will let you know how it works. will add about 375lbs forward. I measured the Cooler area under the seat, but it is so small i dont think it would work even with a custom fat sac

if you want to use the cooler area or the space under the wrap around seats, will have to use lead. More condensed weight. You may also want to look at bombwake.com. They sell 50lb steel sacks. Per pound, not as small as lead, but easier to get and move around.

[cedarcreek216]

I would put a 400 pound bag in the storage locker, a 750 in the walkthrough and put either a bow sac under the front seats or another 400 pound sac in the port side bow seat. They really like bow weight to lengthen the wave. It's all about displacement and water flow around the hull. Sink the entire side of the boat on the surf side and the water displaces around the entire length of the hull resulting in a longer and better wave.

[scottwilk]

Cedar,
Thanks for the input. When you say Storage Locker are you meaning the one on the Starboard Side? Do you have a reccomendtion on a bow sac? Thanks - Scott

[cedarcreek216]

We had one in each rear locker and just filled the side we were surfing on and filled both for wakeboarding. I don't know the bow configuration on the 226, but call wakemakers, they can tell you what will fit. Also, if you have a center ski locker there may be room for a tube sac or a triangle sac in there and you won't have to lose your under seat storage. Just not sure if that storage under seat wraps around or if the anchor storage breaks it up.

[BoardSkier]

Might also try wakemakers.com. They have retrofit systems to replace the rear hard tanks. Can go up to 650 lbs+ on each side. Supposedly the guages all work. Will post a threat whether anyone has done the conversion.

[HS]

The wake is good right behind the boat, but i would like for it to be longer.

I see you already have a number of responses, but I will add one: if you want to lengthen the pocket of the wave, after you've got a decent wave set up and get plenty of "push" to drive the rider forward, usually you need more weight / ballast up front towards the bow. When we first started surfing a few years back, this realization made for a huge difference in the quality of our riding experience.
For non - NSS / surf tab systems, my rule of thumb is: wave height and push comes from ballast placed on the aft / rider side (rear locker, for example) and the sweet spot or pocket of the wave can be lengthened by adding ballast / weight / passengers near the bow. Our set up is roughly 2,000 lbs. of ballast split fore and aft plus passengers -- one day we had excellent surf wave with mostly passenger weight.
When you see a washy wave, my experience is that either you've got too much ballast on the aft corner or you need to speed up.

There is a bit of trial and error in finding the set up that works best for you, keeping in mind that not all riders' ability and boards are the same. Once you get to your desired surf speed (maybe 10 or 10.5) you are looking for a nice clean face (no foam or wash, and the water begins to look more light in color) on the wave with a curl forming behind the sweet spot.

[dbrayton1]

I have that boat as well and concur with the advice to add a lot of weight forward to lengthen the wave. Mine didn't have the hard ballast tanks, so I run an 1,100 lb sack in the starboard locker plus ~400lb in the center locker, then have the crew sit in the bow and one in the back starboard corner. While driving I can see a huge difference in the length as I move crew forward. Its a good way to plan your ballast placement.

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[dbrayton1]

I have that boat as well and concur with the advice to add a lot of weight forward to lengthen the wave. Mine didn't have the hard ballast tanks, so I run an 1,100 lb sack in the starboard locker plus ~400lb in the center locker, then have the crew sit in the bow and one in the back starboard corner. While driving I can see a huge difference in the length as I move crew forward. Its a good way to plan your ballast placement.

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To give a visual - Pic while I was driving and too many crew in the back. Decent wave, but not as long as I like when I'm back there. 3 crew and 1,500 lb total ballast.



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