bigger wake help

blue_jax · Newbie Joined: 02 Aug 2006 Posts: 2 City: columbus

need some advice...my dad just bought a 2005 bayliner 175 xt I/O and i have just learned how to do my first backroll and maybe a tantrum but thats about all i can get out of its wake. I have heard about fat sacks, wedges, and ballest systems to enhance the wake and wondered what would be best. Also, shuold my 900 pound capacity on my bought be a factor when adding weight? any other ideas?

newt · Newbie Joined: 03 Aug 2006 Posts: 1 City: Clarkston

I have a 2006 175xt, and just started this sport myself.Tonight I went out and got some sand bags to try. Gonna be out all next week, and try lotsa different things. Will let you know how it turns out.

wesgardner · Posted: Aug 04, 2006 9:00 am Post subject:

blue_jax, Good on you for the back roll and tantrum...you'll need 60%/40% (I think) for an I/0 - 60 in the front, then "pull" the stern down with the trim control...

Alot of weighting issues are trial and error...

bmartin · Addict Joined: 05 Feb 2003 Posts: 794

Good for you landing inverts without any ballast.

This has been posted many times b4, but here are some general things that people do to enhance I/Os.

1.Low pitch prop. 4cy 15-17 pitch, 6cyl 17-19 pitch. A lot of folks like high fives.
2. 500-1200lbs of extra balast for a boat that size. Could be sacs, fat chicks, sand - lead, whatever. A little more weight up front - 60% a good place to start.
3. Foils for your stern drive to get you on plane faster and prevent porposing.
4. trim it up for a firmer cleaner wake.

The main thing to getting a better wake is adding weight in the right places and trimming it to clean it up. The other stuff allows you to add more weight. I wouldn't worry too much about the 900lb sticker - most have gone over that but if you add non neutral boyuant ballast (sand - lead) you need to be more careful if you ever swamp the boat.

blue_jax · Newbie Joined: 02 Aug 2006 Posts: 2 City: columbus

thanks for the responses guys...they all sound like good ideas i will need to try once I can convince my dad. I always thought the more weight in the back of the boat the bigger the wake but i guess that is not the case.

Newt- yeah let me know how it turns out. Hopefully we can stay in touch and help each other out since we have basically the same boat

I cant go out for a few days cuz i suffered a concussion on a tough fall, but i hope to be able to mess around with this stuff soon

One more question bmartin, how would you recommend adding this 500-1200 of balast. Do i need to go to a boat store to have someone install it, or is there a better way. Again, thanks for your guys help.

WesleyPipes · Newbie Joined: 24 Jul 2006 Posts: 5

On my friend's I/O Sea Ray about the same size as your boat, I would say trimming the motor up 1/4 of the way made the most significant improvement in the wake. Fine tuning this made it so there was no wake wash. As you trim the motor up, you are able to watch the wake grow under you, that is some cool stuff.

By also adding ballast, consisting of people/sand bags/massive water jugs,we were able to get a knee high wake off of his I/O, it made riding fun as hell.

Good luck and let me know if you need any help with this.