Ballast placement

drknute3 · Criminal Joined: 15 Aug 2008 Posts: 50

Boarding behind a 2000 Cobalt 206 and considering adding some ballast to enhance the wake. How much ballast should I add and if I buy fat sacs to put under the bow seats and under the motor hatch, do they need to be secured in some way?

GuitsBoy · Posted: Aug 20, 2008 8:47 am Post subject:

You might start with a couple of ~500 pound sacks. Maybe one in the locker and one up in the walkthough (if your boat has one) then trim up a little bit to push teh ass end down. That should get you going pretty well.

drknute3 · Criminal Joined: 15 Aug 2008 Posts: 50

So I should start by adding weight to the bow area?

GuitsBoy · Posted: Aug 20, 2008 12:49 pm Post subject:

Yes, because trimming up already sinks the stern. You put the weight in the front to counteract the nose high pitch.

drknute3 · Criminal Joined: 15 Aug 2008 Posts: 50

Tell me more about trimming up. So you get up on plane, trim the drive up to sink the stern then readjust speed to compensate?

GuitsBoy · Posted: Aug 20, 2008 1:42 pm Post subject:

Yes. Its going to take some getting used to. The more you trim up the higher and peakier the wake will be. But trim up too much and the wake will start to curl over and the wake will trip you up as you punch through it. Start with one bag in the locker and test it out. Then when youre ready for a little bigger wake, throw a second bag up front and play with the trim to find teh sweet spot again.

As with any I/O youre constantly going to be adjusting teh throttle since I/Os sinply dont hold speed as well as inboards. Perfect pass will help greatly if its in your budget.

intotheflats · Posted: Aug 25, 2008 12:12 pm Post subject:

My old I/O I had a 500# sac right infront of the engine cover and another 500# sac up in the bow and it worked great.

drknute3 · Criminal Joined: 15 Aug 2008 Posts: 50

One thing I have noticed is my wake has alot of washout at the crest. I added some smart tabs to help with holeshot. Could these be causing some of this? I have tried trimming to different levels and it just doesnt seem to go away. Will adding ballast help with washout? I am currently riding at 55' and will try it at 75 or 80' next time out to see if its any better farther back. Thoughts?

drknute3 · Criminal Joined: 15 Aug 2008 Posts: 50

Cured the problem by removing the tabs. Wake is nice and rampy with no washout. Will try to adjust the tabs so they work out of the hole but are a non issue on plane. Wife doesnt mind me installing some sacs but doesnt want anything in the locker (its full of skis) or in the walkway (4 and 6 year old love going up there. The space under the bow cushions extends into the area in front of the cockpit and I can fit a couple 250-300 pound sacs in each of those. If I add, say, 500 pounds to the bow and use the trim, is there really any need to add sacs to the engine compartment? I have space on either side of the engine to add another 800 pounds or so. But what will the effect be of adding 500 to the front and 800 to the rear? Isnt the general rule adding more to the bow?

Thanks
Bill