Uneven Wake?

[camman621]

I recently bought a used 2003 210 Air TE. When I initially test drove the boat, everything worked great, but I didn't get a chance to wakeboard behind it. Now that I've had a chance to ride behind it a few times, I've noticed that the wake seems uneven. With all of the ballast tanks empty (or full for that matter), the drivers' side of the wake has significant whitewater on the crest of the wake, while the other side is very clean. This is clearly a problem when wakeboarding. I don't have anything wieghing down one side of the boat and not the other (I've even tried it with just two people in the boat...one on each side), so I don't think uneven weight is the issue. I've never had this problem on any other boat. Does anyone have any ideas as to what may be causing this? Thanks.

[bkhallpass]

RE: Uneven Wake?

camman,

I have a 2001 model. I had similar issue. I'm a fairly big guy, about 225 lbs. The battery is on the starboard side of the boat as well. When I added two additonal batteries for the stereo, I mounted them on the port side and no longer have the problem. I believe you'll find it is a weight thing, but not that much weight. Try putting a couple of weight plates in the port locker and see what you get. If my theory works, you'll know how to fix it. BKH

[NautiqueJeff]

RE: Uneven Wake?

Yep, almost certainly a weight issue. At what speed do you ride? You might try bumping the speed up a little bit. Add some weight to the side that is washed out and see what happens.

[03Air210]

RE: Uneven Wake?

I also agree its a weight issue. I have always been amazed how you can have people move around just slightly and it will change the wake a lot. It takes a little playing with to get it the way you like it.

[pj]

RE: Uneven Wake?

If the driver's side has more whitewater, you want to add weight to that side.

[bkhallpass]

RE: Uneven Wake?

pj, you're probably right. I've gotten so used to adjusting weight from my mirror that I don't think about it any longer. BKH

[waketime]

Make sure the tanks are full also.. I have an 02 san te and i have a 90lb tractor weight to balance mine out.. If you have a few people out with you. You might have to shuffle them around to get it even. If its only you and another person, you'll definitly have to get some type of counter weight.

[Flux]

We have a sack in our 02 that we keep on the floor and can pull around, it usually has about 150 in it and usually ends up behind the driver.

The SAN is also set up that if you have multiple people in the boat, they usually sit opposite the driver and that also helps the unbalancing. A bit of this is due to prop rotation, from what I understand.

Most, if not all smaller boats that throw a real good wake will have this type of issue. You just need some weight in the boat to counteract it. If one side is washing out, add weight to that side. Have the rider stay in the center on takeoff and you will see.

On the plus side of this, when you cut out, you can usually apply enough force to tilt the boat and firm up the wake. I like this alot, and it actually softens the opposite wake where you land in case you come up a bit short.

It took two summers, but we have the wake pretty dialed and ride with about 1800 lbs of ballast at about 23-24 mph. It's a beautiful thing.

[camman621]

Thanks for all the replies guys. I'll definitely do some weight shuffling experiments and see what I can figure out.

[lbz99smp]

Another point to keep in mind, The driver seat is further away from starboard side of the boat than the seat on the port side. So even with no weight in the boat & two equally weighed people (1 driver & passanger) the boat's wake will still wash on the drivers side.

If the passanger moves about 10 inches towards the center it rectifies the problem.....

I've often thought it would be a good idea to have a mecahnically operated counter weight fitted somewhere to conteract this problem as its only take an un knowing passenger to move slightly & the wake is upset again :|

[brianc]

I HAVE HAD THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM WITH MY 226 AND WENT DOWN THE ROAD OF SAYING IT WAS A WEIGHT ISSUE AND TRIED EVERY COMBO OF WEIGHT AND PEOPLE TO NO JOY AND WAS SUPRISED TO FIND THAT IT WAS THE PROP THAT HAD BEEN VERY SLIGHTLY DAMAGED NOT ENOUGH TO CAUSE BAD ACCELERATION OR VIBRATION BUT ON CLOSE EXAMINATION HAD SLIGHT RIPPLES ALONG THE TRAILING EDGEOF THE BLADES ON MY BOAT IT WAS JUST THE RIGHT HAND WAKE THAT I COULDNT CLEAN UP AND DROVE ME MAD LIKE YOU IT WAS FINE WHEN I TEST DROVE THE BOAT HAVE A LOOK FOR ANY DAMAGE TO THE GEL COAT ABOVE AND AROUND THE PROP TRY BEG BORROW OR STEEL A PROP FROM SOME ONE TO TRY IT IT WILL CURE IT

[882001]

yeah move weight to the side with the white wash

[Laptom]

I've seen boats which are perfectly balanced and still create white wash. Even when balancing the boat more to the side of the white wash couldn't help it (say 3 people on drivers side and still white wash on starboard wake, you could see the boat hanging to starboard side). Any ideas, I thought many times of the prop, but that thing seems 100% and was refurbished (still white wash before and after the prop refurbish).

Any thoughts?

[brianc]

YA I WENT DOWN THE ROUTE OF PROP REFIRBS AS WELL AND TO BE HONEST SOME COMPANYS ARE CRAP I HAVE HAD PROPS COME BACK WORSE THE THEY WENT OUT STILL REACON ITS WORTH A TRY I LOADED AS MUCH WEIGHT ON THE BAD SIDE AS I COULD AND STILL COULDNT CLEAN THE WAKE UP