Additional ballast

[axeman]

This will be the first year my wife and I try to wakesurf. Is the stock ballast in a 2012 SAN 230 going to be enough? Should I consider any additional ballast and if so what are my options? I know NSS is an option but it hasn't been released yet to be retro fitted so aside from that what are my options?

[HS]

This will be the first year my wife and I try to wakesurf. Is the stock ballast in a 2012 SAN 230 going to be enough? Should I consider any additional ballast and if so what are my options? I know NSS is an option but it hasn't been released yet to be retro fitted so aside from that what are my options?

Check out wakemakers.com. Your boat model is listed along with options and plans for adding ballast...

[axeman]

I did check them out already. I wanted to hear suggestions from the forum befor "jumping in"

[swankster]

In my 2010 230, I ran a 750 in the locker and usually partially filled another 750 in the seat, depending upon the amount of people in the boat. The wake is good with a 750 in the locker, better with another 750 on the floor and best if you put the second one in the seat. It is a pain to keep it in the seat so I made a sling to hold it. Pics are on my profile page. It is whole lot easier if you bring a few friends and shift them around verses the 750 in the seat but I definitely recommend a 750 in the locker and plumbing it in is easy.

When my G23 is ready, I will likely be selling my locker 750's with all the plumbing.

[axeman]

Cool I may be interested in those if I haven't made a move by then... Do you have it plumbed in to the factory pumps? If so, how does that work? Is it better than using the stand alone tsunami pumps?

[swankster]

It is not as fast as using the tsunami pumps but at whole lot more convenient. In connecting it you plumb the overflow of the factory tank to the bag and then run a line from the bag to the overflow at the side of the boat. I chose not to change the timing on my pumps so it took about three cycles to fill the factory and 750. You you can change the cycle time on the factory pumps so they will cycle longer but because we have different riders who liked different weights, I liked having to actuate the pumps multiple times. I also put ball values between the bag and boat so I could close the hose and prevent siphoning, which mainly occurred on the side we were surfing on. The biggest problem you can have is in draining the bag. If it collapses and doesn't all air to the hard tank then you can damage it. One of the guys on the forum had a great idea to fix this. His solution, which I used, is to run a 1/4 flexible hose through the bag and into the quick connects so if the bag collapses air can still get to the hard tank.

Other people are just taking out their factory tanks and putting in 1000# bags. The disadvantage there is you loose your gauges, but if you mainly run all full, it doesn't matter.

I used the tsunami for the the one in the seat.

[moto822]

Cool I may be interested in those if I haven't made a move by then... Do you have it plumbed in to the factory pumps? If so, how does that work? Is it better than using the stand alone tsunami pumps?

In my 230 the stock was not even close to enough water. What I did last season was had a 750 bag in the back port locker and another 750 on the passenger seat. This threw a good size wake but it didn't have the roll I was looking for. I needed more water in the bow of the boat. After riding that way for a season I got tired of using a pump to fill those two bags and losing all my storage. I thought about using wakemakers piggy back system since I had the 750's but I wanted storage since we usually go out on day trips with 4-5 people. I don't like having everything lay around the boat so I am in the process of doing the following: 1100 on both back lockers, 400 bag under passenger seat for surfing, 650 integrated bag w/wakemakers piggy back system in bow. I am also adding 400 lbs of Pop-Products lead to use around the boat. I am going to use the lead to even out my wakesurf when I have a tough time cleaning the wash. It will also help with surfing. Now, in the back the divider is not that strong so we fab'd up a bracing system to protect the engine from getting hit by the sacs. I put check valves on all my vents to help with emptying. I am also running my vents in "X" formation to help with syphoning. in total I should have around 3600 to 3800 lbs of water/led then the 4 people. I have rode on a few 230's and other boats with this configuration and you can produce a great wakesurf that is steep with a long pocket. I will have pictures once everything is done and my boat is back from the stereo shop.

[Nordicron]

Moto:I don't understand how you can use check valves on your vents? Wont this cause the vacuum issues? The vent is need to drain and fill correct?

[moto822]

I don't have hard tanks so I am using the CV to suck my bags dry when emptying. It will allow filling still since the air is pushing outward. In my piggy back system in the front I won't be using CV's at this time. I am still in the process of installing. I just got everything bought through Wakemakers and am mirroring my buddies MC that has this same design. Putting the CV's on the vent in the back created awesome suction to get the bags empty. I am still working on my process for eliminating syphoning.

[Neverenough]

Axeman your going to love surfing. My wife is actually better than me. I have an 1100 lb sac we used in our 226 that you could try out one weekend. Sounds like the 230 can handle a ton of extra weight. Also we have a couple different boards you can try out. The biggest deal is how easy do you want your set up to be.

[axeman]

Sounds good. I'm thinking a couple of 750s should do the trick with the tsunami pumps. Already picked up a Shred Stixx Thresher (for myself) and a Nano (for my wife). If only it would finally just stay above 80 degrees around here I could test it out!