Building a Wake on a 94 SKI N

[94ski]

So when I got my SKi NAutique 2 years ago it was perfect for me becuz it had no wake and I was a huge slalum skier. Now in the past year I have started wakeboarding allot and am really unhappy with the size of the wake....way to small! Does anyone have any sugestions? I really dont want to throw 2 fat sacks on the side of the engine and lose my space. Do the trim tabs work? I was thinking about buying a rectangle gas tank and rebuilding the back seat over it to fill with water..

[DanielC]

RE: Building a Wake on a 94 SKI N

Before adding a lot of weight to your boat, check your own technique. Invest in a wakeboard lesson or two, and learn fine details of getting the max pop off the wake you do have. I have a 97 Ski, and I have seen flips thrown successfully behind it with only people for ballast, and still below its max weight. Having said that, I have run a 550 lb fat sack in it behind the engine, that was too much weight aft. I also have put 4 50 pound weights under the rear seat. That worked ok, but the steel got wet and left minor rust spots in the carpet. Get an extended pylon, or a tower on your boat, that will help more than weight, in my opinion.
trim tabs will not have much effect on your boat, trim tabs work to lift the stern by pushing down on the water behind your boat, and do not really pull the stern down. Somebody who sells trim tabs will probably tell you different, but they want your money, I do not. If you wakeboard in the 23-25 mph range, it it going to be more difficult to get a huge wake, because your boat is doing what it was designed to do, be a ski boat. Slowing down will help. Please do not be another wally that needs 3000 pounds of ballast in a boat to throw a single wake 180.

[bradb]

RE: Building a Wake on a 94 SKI N

In my '94 I throw about 150 lbs of lead under the back seat, and a 500lb sack in front of the back seat (right behind the dog-house). I have a spare battery and all my tools and stuff under the bow, and If you have 3-4 adults in the front, it is fairly nicely weighted. If we only have 2 in the front, I will move some of the lead forward a bit. I have the center section of my rear seat removed, and it is not a big deal to step over the fat sack and get around the boat. I've thought about side sacks too, but they would make moving around in an already small interior even harder.
This year, I have an extra 150 lbs of lead. I would imagine I will distribute it farily evenly about the boat, since I like the shape of the wake the way it is now. I don't think i'd feel comfortable driving the boat with any more weight than that in it, but the wake is fantastic for what I do with it (intermediate to advanced riding).
In my opinion, the boat is a great cross-over boat, since the ski wakes are great for all 3 events for all but the most serious skiers, but with some weight and a tower it can be a killer wakeboard boat.
Got to agree with Daniel though... I can land 9 or 10 different inverts off the tow bar with no ballast at all. Sure is more fun with a bit of weight though!