What's the best weight device to put in an I/O ski locker?

mnwakeboarder

Partially filled Fat Sack? WaterBed Tube? Sand Bags?

Millertyme · Posted: May 28, 2003 10:00 am Post subject:

I used a fly-high tube sac when I had an I/O.

wakeboarder · Addict Joined: 24 Apr 2003 Posts: 702

thats what im going to put in mine

arlanj · Newbie Joined: 07 Apr 2003 Posts: 31 City: The Plains

Heavy duty contractor grade trash bags from LOWES partially full of water. 2 - 39 gallon bags work perfect. They are free, well about $0.25 each and if they ever spring a leak(not likely) use them for trash.

They mold to fill the space entirely. I use 2 in the locker, and 1 under each of the 2 bow seats.

wakeboarder · Addict Joined: 24 Apr 2003 Posts: 702

i thinkin thats not such a good idea, they might leak when you ride. they make special bags for a ski locker

bluefish86 · Posted: May 28, 2003 11:55 am Post subject:

It wouldnt really matter if they leaked... ski lockers (at least all the ones I've seen) have drains that empty into the bilge, right by the bilge pump. How do you fill them up, though?

wakeboarder · Addict Joined: 24 Apr 2003 Posts: 702

yea i know they have drains, but i still wouldn't want a big bag of water to leak all over my boat(if they were placed other spots)

arlanj · Newbie Joined: 07 Apr 2003 Posts: 31 City: The Plains

They don't leak. In fact I have lifted them out to drain over the side of the boat. Unless you poke them with a sharp object while stretched they won't puncture. They are made for contractor trash, very tuff. When I am done, I just undo the tie(rubberband) and let them drain out the bildge on the way home. I did have one that I had under a front seat leak, a pinhole. In four days at Beaver Lake it leaked 1/2 way out. I didn't even notice.

I have used the water hydrants at home and at campgrounds to fill them. I also have a Walmart bildge pump that I hang over the side of the boat to fill them. For the bags under the front seats, I have put them in the water first to get about 8 gallons in them first, then top them off with the pump.

The only people who don't think it is a good idea are people who have invested in "Fat Sacks", or work in the industry, or haven't tried them, or are not scroungers. I just couldn't see $80 bucks for a bag that wouldn' t fit all three spaces I needed. If I had a wakeboard specific boat with built in ballast tanks, I would. But I just can't have large sacks taking up the floor space of my boat, my kids need the space, and couldn't see the $'s to get custom sacks. .

When people get back in the boat after boarding, I get water on the floor, who cares if one springs a leak. They won't leak because they are in compartments that noone comes into contact with.

bluefish86 · Posted: May 28, 2003 1:04 pm Post subject:

How do you do them up tight enough that they dont leak out the top?

wakeboarder · Addict Joined: 24 Apr 2003 Posts: 702

if you put the rubberband on tight enough they shouldn't leak. and arlanj-do you double layer the trash bags, put one inside another in case one does leak?

arlanj · Newbie Joined: 07 Apr 2003 Posts: 31 City: The Plains

Double bagging is not necessary, unless you are going to leave them out in the open on the floor. Even then, I wouldn't double bag them. These bags are tough.

I use regular large rubberbands. Twist the top, fold the twisted bag section in half and band it. It will hold till someone starts jumping up and down on it. maybe enven then.

The bags are in a carpeted ski locker, and in carpeted storage spaces under the bow seats. They won't get punctured as long as they are enclosed in defined spaces.

I tried a couple inside 16 gallon tubs, to enclose them, one on each side of my motor, but it made it difficult to get the boat on plane.

wakeboarder · Addict Joined: 24 Apr 2003 Posts: 702

the only reason i use fat sac is because my dad pretty much wont let me use anything else. i tryed to go by about 6 80lbs bags of cement but my dad said no to that one kinda fast. i was going to wrap them in a trash bag.

arlanj · Newbie Joined: 07 Apr 2003 Posts: 31 City: The Plains

I wouldn't use cement, lead, or anything else that is not neutrally bouyant. If you swamp your boat, it does happen now and then, the water sacks have zero effect. Your boat will remain afloat. If you swamp it loaded with cement, lead, or sand, it might just sink to the bottom of the lake. If a boat is designed to remain afloat when swamped, 480 lbs of cement might just sink it. Plus you have to haul it back and forth from home to the lake.

There is another reason. If you hit any waves and pound your boat a little, the lead, or cement may get some air, and then drop back into place. After awhile it will take a toll on the spot it is sitting.

That is why PWC's use a sand bag for an anchor because the pounding of the waves. A lead anchor would slowly pound a hole.

wakeboarder · Addict Joined: 24 Apr 2003 Posts: 702

my friend's jetski almost sank when the drive shaft broke. it was 1/2 way under water when we got there and had to tow it back

jbelson · Guest

I'd suggest just using a jet skier. Especially the one that comes into your glassy cove and chops up the water and decides to trail your boat and jump your wake Twisted Evil

Troy · Criminal Joined: 16 Apr 2003 Posts: 79 City: Nor Cal

I think the Jet Skier is the best idea yet! A jet skier and some cement gives me some great ideas Twisted Evil

wakeboarder · Addict Joined: 24 Apr 2003 Posts: 702

it would be pretty funny to tie someones jetski to thier pier so they dont know it and when they go to take off the rope pulls them back