Fat Sac covers...?

Centrider · Outlaw Joined: 21 Mar 2005 Posts: 232

Is getting the covers for the fat sca a good idea or a waste of the extra money? Does the cover keep the water in incase of a leak? Also, i was told that move around, and i was thinking of making a box for them to stay in, good idea? TIA

89 skier · Addict Joined: 30 Jun 2004 Posts: 729 City: Dallas

I haven't seen any covers that are completely water-tight although they do hold a little bit of water from spillage. But I'm sure they'd probably leak if the fat sac inside busted.

I've never had fatsacs without covers but I've been on boats with coverless fatsacs. They coverless are typically stronger or made out of thicker material, but I'm not sold on them yet.

I'd say if the fatsacs are in open areas where someone could drop a board or something else on them that could puncture the sac, I'd get some covers. But if you just keep them in your ski locker or in your rear compartments, I wouldn't worry about getting covers. The money you'd spend on covers would probably be about the same as if you bought a new fat sac if/when you busted one.

As far as the sacs moving around...Yes, they tend to be a little more fluid and move around a bit, it just depends on where you have them located. Also, I've heard that most covers constrict the sacs and don't let them fill up all the way. So you may lose some weight if you buy covers.

wakeboarder89 · Addict Joined: 15 Jun 2003 Posts: 637

i aksed the same question a while back and i went with a coverless because i keep it in the ski locker so i dont really need the cover.

Centrider · Outlaw Joined: 21 Mar 2005 Posts: 232

Thanx, Sorry i forgot to add that they will be in the back of the boat on the side compartments (i have a 05 Centurion Elite C4). So would making a box or something to hole them in place a good idea, or i shouldnt worry about cause they dont move that much?

89 skier · Addict Joined: 30 Jun 2004 Posts: 729 City: Dallas

If they are already in the rear v-drive compartments, I wouldn't worry about building a box because they probably aren't going to be rolling all over the place back there. If they are, then you need bigger fat sacs!!!!!

watsoc · Addict Joined: 23 Feb 2004 Posts: 574 City: Anthem

If the sacs are going to be in the V-drive compartments then don't buy any covers. I put my bow sack on the floor of my I/O and it is well worth having the added protection of the cover because it gets stepped on and touched all of the time. If the sac is located inside a compartment on the boat then just save your money for buying a bigger sac. Cool

Centrider · Outlaw Joined: 21 Mar 2005 Posts: 232

Thanx again, i was looking at wakeside and they have the 2 fat buddies. There are both 280lbs. I cant remeber how big they are, but i think 20ins by 28ins. i guess i will have measure the compartment. ALSO, how do people fill these things? I know you have to have the pump but on the sac is there a valve that closes once you pull the hose out? on do you have to quickly plug it up and get water everwhere? TIA!

anti-shoobies · Posted: Apr 06, 2005 10:38 am Post subject:

I used to use covers, but got tired of messing with them last year. I didn't use them all season and the sacs stayed in great shape. Next time I buy sacs, I am buying them without the cover.

DLS · Outlaw Joined: 13 Dec 2004 Posts: 128 City: Modesto

I have the fat buddies, got them with covers and store them in the V drive compartments.
But I've only used the covers one time in two years. PITA.

watsoc · Addict Joined: 23 Feb 2004 Posts: 574 City: Anthem

Centrider:

When you remove the pump from the valve on the sac it will still be open. This is why the valve is located at the top of the sac so you will not have water pouring out of it when you remove the pump. You can also typically lift the valve up so that it is at a higher point then the rest of the sac. You then need to burp the sac or get all or most of the air out of sac before you screw on the valve cover. The first time you may spill a little water but once you get the hang of it you should not have any problems. Some of the new sacs have a new valve style that works kinda like you are talking about but I don't know alot about that type myself since my sacs are the older valve style.

Centrider · Outlaw Joined: 21 Mar 2005 Posts: 232

watsoc, Thanx for the info, i guess i will have to try it out then i get it. One last thing: Which one should i get? Here are the links: The fat buddies (280lbs each total 560lbs)http://www.wakeside.com/page/W/PROD/wakeboard_boat_ballast_bags/skylon_fatbuddies_hd

or 2 boys (560lbs each total 1120lbs) http://www.wakeside.com/page/W/PROD/wakeboard_boat_ballast_bags/skylon_fatboy_hd .

I;m just a little worried about having an additional 1100lbs in the boat + the 280 stock ballast + people, this is my first boat and want to take very good care of it. Thanx again for all the input and help!!!

DLS · Outlaw Joined: 13 Dec 2004 Posts: 128 City: Modesto

Centrider
you don't need to fill them up all the way if you have a full load of friends,
so get the big ones.

watsoc · Addict Joined: 23 Feb 2004 Posts: 574 City: Anthem

Centrider:

What level of rider are you and how big of a wake do you want? Are your V drive compartments big enough to hold the larger sacs as well? Is your engine strong enough to pull that much weight and get on plane easily. Another thing to consider is that your stock ballast is only 280 lbs and therefore 1100 lbs. when combined with the engine as well may be too much weight for the back of the boat. The key to a good wake is to spread the weight out evenly in the boat. 60% back - 40% front is the main guideline. You can always get the bigger sacks as long as they fit and just don't fill them all the way. This way you give yourself more options should you want a bigger wake in the future. I myself don't always use my sacs especially when I take a lot of people out on the boat. I mostly use them when it is just a few friends and we need the extra weight. Some people think bigger is always better but this is your choice to make. If it were me I would likely get the bigger sacs and then experiment with different amounts of weight and placement in the boat to see what creates the best wake. Keep in mind that your passengers are also weight and you can move them around as well to create a better wake. The key is just having a good time and judging by your new ride it looks like you will have a great summer. Cool

Centrider · Outlaw Joined: 21 Mar 2005 Posts: 232

I'm new to wakeboarding, i have been out like 5 -7 times and LOVE it. So the sacs wont be for me right away but for my friends who are better. The comparts. are pretty big and the motor is stock (350MPI 315HP). I think i may just get the smaller ones, and an not sure if the big ones will fit, but i really think they might (im telling you the compart is BIG). What do u guess recommand for weighing the front? I dont want something to big to get in the way, i saw the launch pad (the smaller one) but thats only 85lbs. Thank you very for the info, I glad i joined this board!!

watsoc · Addict Joined: 23 Feb 2004 Posts: 574 City: Anthem

Just put all the girls/riders up front and it should make the weight better. Too much weight in the back will make it hard for the boat to plane as well as a mushy wake. Like I said before experimenting is the key. Fill the sacs up all the way and same with the stock ballast. Then spread people out in the boat. Bring the boat on plane and see what the wake is like. If it is mushy then move some people to the bow area or take some water out of the back sacs.. If it is too huge and you are scared @hitless then empty the sacs a bit to mellow the wake out. I wouldn't waste your money on the small sacs. A cooler full of cold beers or soda can be just as much weight if not more then an 85 lb. sack. Once you get your ride in the water a lot of this will seem simpler. I would definately get the larger sacs though because you don't have to fill them all the way and you can fill them up more as you progress as a rider. You may also want more weight when less people go out on the boat. A lot of people run over 2000 lbs. of sacs on their boats so don't think that 1350 lbs of sacs is overkill. You can just remove some water when you stack the boat with people. If the boat is struggling a bit with the weight then talk with your dealer to see what a better prop pitch or more blades on your prop may do for pulling more weight. Keep in mind as well that the more ballast you use the worse your gas mileage is and with the price of gas so high it may not make a lot sense to be rolling in the weighted down ride, especially when you friends can hit the same tricks on a bit smaller wake.

Centrider · Outlaw Joined: 21 Mar 2005 Posts: 232

WOW, thanx. I guess i will measure the compart and see if the big ones will fit. Do they have to be the same wieght or can it be off a little bit cause i know they will not be very accurate if i dont fill them up all the way. Also, i have a built in cooler (its not really big tho), i could but some wieght in there, like lead or something, or just fill it with ice and beer! Cool

watsoc · Addict Joined: 23 Feb 2004 Posts: 574 City: Anthem

Centrider:

A key point is that when you fill the sacs only half full then you need to burp or get the excess air out of the sac as well. If you fill one side more then the other then just have the heavy guy on the boat move to other side to compensate for the bigger sac. Laughing

If this does not help then just drain the sac to level the boat out. Once you get the boat in the water and see what the wake itself is doing then this all should make sense to you. When the wake is clean and rampy or vert on each side then you know you have it dialed in right. If one side is washed out then you need to move weight to the opposite side.

bmartin · Addict Joined: 05 Feb 2003 Posts: 794

Centrider:

I have a Centurion Eclipes V and put 2 500lb sacs in rear lockers and one 550lb in ski locker behind spotter seat. You will probably want to have some weight in the mid and front and should consider 3 sacs if you can't reguarly have a majority of passenger in bow area. Like others have said, get the big sacs and if you do not want to run the weight, do not fill them all the way up.

I have coverless in v-drive compartments to answer your original question and a covered one in locker but may not use the cover - it is a pain to find the drain fill holes sometimes with the cover on in the locker.

Centrider · Outlaw Joined: 21 Mar 2005 Posts: 232

so it is nessecary to burp the sac right? what will happen if you dont?

89 skier · Addict Joined: 30 Jun 2004 Posts: 729 City: Dallas

I've never heard of anything bad happening if you don't burp the sacs. It just keeps the water from sloshing around in the sacs too much which basically allows you to get more water in them.