I/O Sac Questions

[5280HighButter]

I've been searching around and I've decided to throw a locker sac in my I/O but I have a lot of questions. The boat is a 20ft 1995 Mariah, 5.7L 250Hp w/4 blade stainless steel. I'm considering the 600lb Skylon locker sac.
1. Is this a good quality sac? Are there any cheap alternative sacs that fit in a locker (I'm not too crazy about this sac's fill/drain plug placement).
2. Will the weight in the middle benefit my boat as much as weight strategically placed (60%-40%) in the rear and front? The locker seems like it would distribute the weight 60-40. Give alternatives please.
3. How will weight in the bow affect my wake shape/size vs weight in the rear?
4. How much weight should I add, I have a 9 person capacity but it is a big V8.

Thanks for the Help![/url]

[-=LoneStar=-]

5280HighButter,

I used to have a '99 Mariah 202 with only the 220hp 5L. I put a 700 lb. sack along the back bench and two 350 lb sacks in the bow. I honestly think the boat could have easily handled another 6-700 lbs. in the locker. I had a 4-blade 18P aluminum prop along with a "hydrofoil stabilizer" and it had no trouble at all planing or holding speed with the 1400 lbs. of ballast.

As far as front-to-back weight ratio goes, that was really weird. I didn't really notice much of a difference in the wake whether I put 750 lbs. in the bow or if I put it in the middle of the boat. I've noticed a much bigger difference on other boats.

I think, if I had kept the boat, I would have probably put a couple of v-drive sacks under the rear hatch (would have had to do something with the battery), a 6-700 lb. sack in the locker, and a 350 up front. Then, if I really wanted to get crazy, I'd pull out the additional 700 lb. sack and maybe another 350 up front.

Whatever you do, I think the locker sack is a great idea. I never used my locker for anything and a sack in there is totally out of the way.

[matt1808]

5280HighButter, with I/Os usually you want the 60% up front. It is the opposite of the inboards 60-40 ratio. That locker sack should really help out your wake.

[Jeff206]

yeah with an i/o put more weight up front because you can get on a plane easier then adjust the trim which acts like shifting the weight back, also i/o's have pretty steep wakes to start with so you don't want a ton of weight on the back.

[-=LoneStar=-]

My old Mariah had a pretty rampy wake (not steep). It also did fine with more weight in the back. It was never washy The only think more weight in the front did was, like you said, planing a little faster (though it was never a problem with the 4-blade 18P prop and hydrofoil stabilizer) and being harder to steer. IOW, 60/40 front/back (especially when back means in front of the rear bench) sounds excessivly front-heavy for this boat.

If I were you, I'd add, in order:

1. 600-700 lb. locker sack.
2. 2 350-450 lb. V-drive sacks in back compartments
3. 350 lb in bow.
4. 700 lb in front of rear bench
5. another 350 lb in bow.

This is just based on lots experimentation with my old '99 Mariah 202 which seems to have a fairly similar running surface to the '95.

[Letsride]

I have a 1997 mariah 198SE. It has a 260 HP 5.7L in it. I am running a SS 21P 3 blade. No problem getting up on plane but I have a heck of a time holding spped at 18-22 MPH. I notice that you guys are running a 4 blade prop. Will this help me? I was going to switch out to a 19P 3 blade but I could go to a 4 blade.

[bmartin]

[5280HighButter]

Thanks for the comments, I'm definetly going to get the locker sac, then I can add on from there. Even without ballast I think for an I/O wake it is looking pretty good, a little wide but at 60' (inc handle) the wake is easily cleared. Hopefully with some weight I can start riding longer because of the bigger wake.

Letsride: I used to run a 21p 3 blade as well, then I dropped to a 17p 4 blade which helped with the hole shot and maintaining speed. I would go test drive a new prop from your local marina. Also, if you plan on running a lot of ballast I would go with a stainless steel prop so there is no flex during your hole shot. I added perfect pass which is amazing so if you are still having probs maintaining speed consider it.

[Letsride]

Thanks for the info. I think I will try out a smaller pitch first , then a 4 blade. I am trying to maintain as much top end as I can, but wakeboarding does take priority. I have been looking at PerfectPass but i just blew a grand on the stereo, so maybe next season.

[-=LoneStar=-]

Letsride,

Yes, an 18P 4-blade would definitely lower your top end by making you hit your redline with power to spare. When I switched to it, I was somewhat unnerved about how the engine revved high so easily. It pulled like a tractor though. You know, if you really want to maintain your top speed, you might be better off keeping a 21P 3-blade and getting PerfectPass to worry about the speed control. I never really had much trouble with hole-shot, even with the 21P 3-blade. I mainly got it for speed stability. If you get PerfectPass, you might not need that.

BTW, there was a little inaccuracy in my previous posts. I said that weight balance wouldn't matter much on these boats (not sure about the 198SE) but that's not exactly true. If you are having a lot of trouble maintaining a constant speed at 21 mph, more weight up front might help with that. Also--I can't say it enough--if you don't have a "hydrofoil stabilizer", get one. I made one myself but the Cobra one at Overton's looks pretty good. It will help with hole shot and maintaining speed, and it can completely eliminate porpoising (if you have that).

[revelation]

-=LoneStar=-, I'm thinking about getting a hydrofoil also but i've been told that it can have a negative impact on the wake. Is this true?

Thanks,

Rich

[gene3x]

No it does not have a negative affect on the wake.

[revelation]

gene3x, Thanks. I'll give it a try.

[onomado]

What is the benefit for adding a foil to an I/O? I am curious since I don't have one, and I just need an excuse to go buy crap for my boat...