Ballast Advice for 98 Air Nautique

[phantom268]

We have a 98 AN and so far just using the stock rear 400lbs of ballast. Anything else we go with people ballast but we often run with at least 4-8 people. Mainly looking at what options I could implement to improve the wake, with minimal impact on functionality inside the boat. WE don't use the ski locker, so that is a prime candidate for a nice fat sac for hopefully another 400-600lbs if possible. Any other recommendations?

Might go with 1 or 2 portable 100lbs or so sacs to move around to balace the boat and/or wakes. Never done this before, not sure how much I can put in there safely. I'm shooting for around 1000lbs ballast and have 4-6 people at least in the boat without sinking haha. Thanks for any info. If you have any brand recommendations of sacs do share them.

[Commodore]

That boat can easily handle 1000lbs, but it honestly sounds like you have the right idea. Use that ski locker, it's a prime place for some good weight, and can really balance out the boat. Me personally, would get two 250lbs bags on each side of the motor. Those with a good bag in the ski locker, and the 400lbs ballast, will put out a great clean wake. Then with some additional people to move around how you want, you can get a great ride.

Take pics of whatever you choose. We wanna see.

[phantom268]

Will do hehe. Gonna try to get some good shots of my current wake now as soon as it warms up. Then see what it looks like with some more weight. Only thing I don't like about bags on the sides of the engine box is it might hinder movement inside the boat. But putting one in or maybe even under the bow might be an option just need to see what areas would be feasible. I'll look through last season's pics see if I have some of our current wake.

[jdial2]

I have a new 206 ski nautique that I have made into an air. We do the following, I put one bag in the back locker, one on each side of the moter box, and one in front of the baock seat. All of which are 350Lbs. I also have a 100 pounds of wieghts under the front seats in the bow. If I could I would not put the bags on the sides of the motor. It really does hinder the mobility inside the boat.

[Chad H]

phantom268,
If your ski lockers are on the sides, you should grab some side sac's and put them there. Then put a little in the bow also to even it out. Just start looking at the options of sacks you have on buywake. They have some nice wedge sacks for Nautiques out now.

[SouthWaker]

Wakeboarddrumma, it is an Air Nautique not a Super Air Nautique.

phantom268, general rule of thumb is 40/60 which is 40% in the bow and 60% in the back. From there you can move things around to get it steeper or more mellow.

[downsideup]

You could try something like this:

http://www.wakesiderides.com/rides/index.php?page=out&id=475

[phantom268]

I have a center ski locker just in front of the engine box, the regular Air's are not V-drive. I have a rear locker where the factory 400lbs ballast is just behind the back seat across the width of the boat. Might could add some more back there but we have to use that to store our gear. I'm thinking at least 400 in the center ski locker, then I'll look into my options for the bow area and some moveable weight to balance things out and get up to or over the 1000 pound mark. I'm wondering if I can find some kind of long and thin sacs that might run along the side gunnels somewhat out of the way. I'm fine with the wakes as they are now, but think I'll want to add more down the road. I've seen that boat downsideup that's really sharp. Bet that wake is sick.

[Chad H]

phantom,
Maybe something like tube sacs for the side of the engines? That are long and skinny.
http://www.buywake.com/catalog/detail.lasso?cat=8&man=Launch%20Pad&sku=LA_Ytr1r

That would be nice and pretty good for the sides. I don't know how much room there would still be. Also try:
http://www.buywake.com/catalog/detail.lasso?cat=8&man=Fly%20High&sku=FL_ZVcC1
They seem to take up less room than the first one.

[Liquidmx]

Phantom, I would get two of the fly high seat bottom sacs and build a wooden box over them so you have something solid to walk on. That would give you around 1000lbs of weight and only be around 1ft high. Build a box that covers them and match carpet it, your set. You could even build in a seatback that leans against the drivers seat for watching the rider.

My parents used to have an older sunsetter I was going to do this to until I bought my own boat. My plan was to run a fully auto ballast that filled the seat bottoms on each side of the motor and have the pump line come through the motorbox so I didnt have to drill any holes into the flooring. Then run a fly high bow sack under the front cushions and another seat bottom sac for the ski locker. Here are some links. By the way I am not affiliated with fly high in anyway, they just make good products in the sizes I would have needed.

http://www.buywake.com/catalog/detail.lasso?cat=8&man=Fly%20High&sku=FL_ttJqn

http://www.buywake.com/catalog/detail.lasso?cat=8&man=Fly%20High&sku=FL_Zgywr

[Griff]

phantom...i have a 99 Pro Air that is similar to your set up. I've got the stock 400 lb tanks in the rear, a 600 lb'er in the ski locker and a 540 in the bow. Add about 5 scantily clad, drunk college girls and you'll be good to go!!

[phantom268]

hey Griff, could you tell me what brand / model sac you fit in the locker for 600lbs?? that'd be about perfect. I would assume our boats should have the same size locker. How did you implement that weight up in the bow also?

[Griff]

phantom...i know that the ski locker sac is a fly high. the bow sac is another fly high 540 that just sits across the seats. I'll take some pics when she's sacked out and pm them to ya.

[phantom268]

Please do that itd be appreciated. Love to see what the wake looks like or in-boat shots of your arrangement.

[Liquidmx]

I used to ride behind a sport nautique pretty often. We ran the stock 400 in back, a 680ish in front of the back seat, one in the bow and one in the locker it was pretty big and meaty, just no room to walk around.