Hull-side surf wedge DIY

[theskunk]

Getting there... Trying to get some video off the phone and pictures off the camera now.

[theskunk]

First video:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=38wlch8RkFE

I don't have a "before" video because frankly, with the boat completely evenly weighted, the wave just sucks, and is washed out on both sides.

Test configuration/conditions: 82 degrees, 7.5-9 ft of water (less than ideal, but tidal potomac, you take what you get), full tank of gas, two people and a full cooler. Board is a basic surf-style board, Air Head Banzai.

Ballast configuration:

500 in each locker, 650 in center - Intentionally even weight distribution (sans my driver).

Explanation of ballast - factory 250's in each locker were fully - i positioned a 350 on top of the port (which cannot fill completely due to the walk-through), and a 600 on the starboard (which will over-fill) - I then cut both starboard and port off as soon as port was full and peeing out the side - I guesstimate this to be about another 250lbs based on how the boat was sitting, as well as how the bag was compressed into the compartment. The center factory was full, and I have a 325 sumo piggy-backed onto it.

Installation review:

Easier than I thought it would be - Starboard you basically lay flat across the back of the boat (taking care to remove hat and sunglasses first), push one cup to the side of the boat and lock it down, then the other. The wedge seems to want to be just about an inch above the water line when the tanks are filled as they were. Port - (to surf starboard) was a little more tricky with the position of the walk-through causing me to want to more stand on the back step into the boat and kneel onto the walkthrough.

Wake review:

Port - Wave was surf able and had decent push (sorry for lack of photos here... only had one other in the boat and there were sailboats in the way...) It definitely needs more weight, or angle on the wedge for this to be as good as it can be.

Starboard - This was beautiful... Great push, great length, could have stood to be a bit steeper, but once I 'cheat' to that side a little on the weight, I think that'll clear that part up a bit. I don't think I need much more weight though, even one more person in the boat could have sealed the deal.

Final thoughts - I still need to find a good way to make the wedge adjustable. I think that pushing it out another 2 -3 inches would give the port side the push it needs to really clean it up. I also want to add a bit more floatation, however after running it up to 14mph, I'm 100% confident that it's not going to let go of the side of the boat. Another pleasant surprise was the lack of spray from the wedge. The design I've used leaves the wedge at a slight downward angle of incidence into the water, which serves two purposes, first, it puts some lift on the side of the boat helping to push the suction cups onto the hull, leans the boat a little, and finally, any spray that would be there is actually shooting out to the side. I did find that positioning it about an inch above water-line when idle with tanks full caused the wedge to be fully submerged at 10.5-11.

Overall, the proof of concept is a full success. If anybody wants one, I'll likely be starting to take some orders in the next month : )

[theskunk]

Port wave, Wedge engaged - 500 in each corner and 650 in the center.



The wedge is fully submerged, however on first install, it is about 1 inch above the waterline. This pushes the boat over and eliminates any spray. The goal was actually to put the wedge with the suction cups right above the 'lip' on the hull to guarantee that there was appropriate suction and it wouldn't 'slide' off.



Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[jbrothers513]

Nice work! Does it float if it happens to fall off?

[theskunk]

Yes! Currently it does, however it's rather hard to see. The next one will be white and have a bright orange float.

[dwelsh]

Anyone seen or know about the Eight.3 WakeShaper? Can pre-order for $599. Very expensive and appears to be very similar to this build.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GEiVxBCH388&app=desktop

Instructional video
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Ez_Pi4hQAc

[theskunk]

It is similar, and I contacted the original designer about it - the biggest downside to their design is the velcro - it also is not adjustable. I'm modifying mine to swing further out (at the hinge)... Starboard (with a RH prop) doesn't actually need any extra push from the side than what I've got built, however port need a bit more to be a clean wave with the boat evenly weighted, so two notches will work just fine.

I've also been contacted by a few people asking if I can build one of mine for them - I'm going to be selling these at roughly half the cost of what they are selling theirs for, and frankly I believe that they have an incredible amount of mark-up for what it is. The velcro version, parts only, including the covering and design, shouldn't be much over 125.00 in parts. Mine is a bit less in parts, but considerably more hours of labor to get it clean and what not.

[dwelsh]

Completely agree, the Eight.3 WakeSurf shaper is well overpriced for what it is. They do mention it is adjustable from a position perspective ie. front to back, depending on the length of velco on your hull. Apparently this changes the shape of the wake.

On another note I found a guy who had purchased a "Ten Eight" skateboard ramp as the shaper. He simply added some velcro and that was it. Not adjustable like yours of course. Was thinking of buying the ramp but adopting your technique to fix to hull. More thought needs to go into it as you would not be able to access the suction cup levers directly.

[theskunk]

Secondary problem has popped up - The levers for the suction cups break after several uses. I'm going to have some engineered out of aluminum or extremely hard nylon or PVC out of a 3d printer, so we'll see if that resolves it. The other option is to thread the top of the suction cups, however that will likely not be as easy to operate, overall...

[dwelsh]

That's no good but I'm sure you will come up with a remedy. I recently bought some double suction cups and mine also have the black plastic levers that don't look like they will last for very long. I think your on the right track if you fabricate something out of a stronger material. Good luck.

[theskunk]

With the season coming to a close, I'll be able to spend a little more time on this - I also have a couple of people who have contacted me being interested in them. I plan to have them ready to go, with a few for sale by late winter/early spring - My main issues for this design are:

Matching the curvature of the hull - If it doesn't match, it doesn't work very well. I'm considering going to a slightly more flexible design for the suction cups.
Levers on the suction cups - already contacted a machine shop to build them out of aluminum
Color - I'm never doing this in black again. It gets HOT!
Hinge - Stainless instead of zinc
Floatation - nothing really *needs* to change here, but it could use a little more to make it stand up a bit better. I've also toyed with an idea that it needs a small orange flag to pop up if it comes off the side of the boat.

[Rob04]

Hi Skunk,
I live here in CA (no real winter) I was planning on making a design very similar to yours. I'd be up for buying one and helping with feedback and improvements if you would like some help. did you see the one from World of wake. http://www.worldofwake.com/
Looks like they were suing similar Glass installation suction cups that you pump to seal. I have used these a few times to remove the big floor tiles in a semiconductor fab they are strong as heck.
Cheers
Rob

[theskunk]

I'll probably take you up on that! I've hit some electrical issues with my house that have to be resolved before I can do too much more with this, but I sincerely hope those are sorted out in the next week or so.

As for the glass suction cups - they are strong, however the one-way valves do not work when they get submerged - I played with one of them for a while and when i installed on a lift, it was great, but the second that i tried to switch from one side to the other underwater, no dice.

Let me get some materials ordered and I'll PM you regarding cost structure.

Thanks for the offer, and consider me jealous regarding being able to continue surfing! Here in DC we're just about done with the season.

[Rob04]

HI Skunk,
Sounds good. I was just in DC 3 weeks ago, I had to go to Manassas to visit a customer. Lucky i flew in the day before the pope and the day after.
Let me know cost etc and I'll get you the Moula. just send me a PM and we can exchange email addresses I'll either pay pall or snail mail you the check.

As of Now I have the factory tanks out and have the 800lb bags from wakemakers. with the surf side full, belly full and an old school 225 fat sac in the bow it is a pretty surfable wake but not quite right. and steering to pick up is a real PIG.


Cheers
Rob