Improving your I/O thread

DCdave56 · Posted: Apr 01, 2005 7:59 am Post subject: Improving your I/O thread

There are plenty of us out there riding behind I/O's that have made huge improvements on their boats. Let's start a thread dedicated to sharing the lessons learned while trying to get your I/O to perform as well as possible for wakeboarding purposes. Include:

Prop choices-
Weighting and Ballast-
Towers-
Stereo Improvements-
etc....

DCdave56 · Posted: Apr 01, 2005 8:00 am Post subject:

I'll start-

prop change to a 17 pitch, Monster Tower, 400lbs. of waterbed tubes in the ski locker, 600lbs. of fly high side seat in the bow

wakeskier · Addict Joined: 16 Mar 2004 Posts: 593 City: Leominster, MA

I've upgraded to an inboard, but previously has an I/O and have a lot of experience setting it up for wakeboarding:

New prop: 5 blade stainless prop (Mercury High-five)
Makes an unbelievable difference, I tried lower pitches &
4-blade props, the 5-blade is a whole other world!
quite pricey, but can usually be found used for ~$250
worth every penny!
better speed control
Better hole-shot
better turning (@ speed and @ idle speeds)

Speed Control: Ideally I would install Perfect Pass (pretty pricey though)
Would allow virtually anyone to drive with good results
I didn't spend the money, so we just learned to drive
really well (basically there was only one other person I
trusted to drive for me, so it was a bit limiting) But if you
have a good driver, the pull will be fine (the 5-blade prop
helps immensely)

Weight: Make sure you heavily weight the bow for an I/O
I'm sure it's different depending on boats, but after trying
various setup, I had the best luck with 550lbs in the back
825lbs up front (I kept 300lbs of sand permanently in the bow
as I found the boat to drive much nicer even for just cruising
around with it) the rest was fat sacs

Tower: Tower would be best (will save a lot of space in the boat)
I used an extended pylon positioned in the middle of the boat
It killed a lot of space in the boat, but was rock solid and as
functional as a tower (and a LOT cheaper, ~$300)

The boat was a 19ft Stingray 190LX w/4.3L V6 EFI :

Tmac1 · Posted: Apr 01, 2005 9:28 am Post subject:

sorry - my improvement is that I'm selling it and getting a WB boat... Laughing

charger500se · Newbie Joined: 03 Aug 2004 Posts: 12 City: Prior Lake

Current boat is a 2004 Glastron SX 195 w/ 220 hp 5.0 liter Volvo.

Added 700 lb fat sack in the bow last year. I am going to change prop (from a 3 blade 21 pitch to most likely a 4 blade 19 pitch) and add a Monster Tower this year. I am also planning on getting a pair of fat buddies. As finances allow, I will be adding Perfect Pass, a heater and maybe an extened swim platform.

gmarkham1 · Addict Joined: 10 Sep 2003 Posts: 505 City: janesville

I have a 18.5ft bayliner capri with a 4.3 l merc. I run with a 4 blade 18 pitch prop, monster tower, perfect pass, and last summer used a 750lb sac in between the driver and passenger up into the bow. and a pair of mako racks.

For this year I am adding an automatic ballast with 2 200lb sacs on either side of the engine compartment, the 750 sac alll the way forward in the bow, and possibly a 200lb sac in the ski locker. All three sacs will be on independent pumps so i can balance the boat left to right, and front to back.

Unfortunately it won't be to my benefit as I won't be able to ride because of ACL surgery yesterday, but will still take out my usual crew and just pretend I am riding!

Leggester · Posted: Apr 01, 2005 9:40 am Post subject:

Kind ofo hard to say how to improve an I/O when there are so many sizes and styles and motor combos isn't it?

What improves a 21' 5.8 won't necessarily do the same for a 19' 4.3

DCdave56 · Posted: Apr 01, 2005 10:14 am Post subject:

What got me thinking about this was that I ran my new sack up front for the first time the other day and couldn't believe how low the front end was sitting in the water and how fast it would plane. I run all 1,000lbs. from the middle to the front of the boat. I think if I keep the passengers towards the rear we'll be fine. I am surprised to hear so many people running waaaayyy more wieght than I am. The wake is quite larger now with the 1,000. I'm trying to figure out how much weight is too much. The other day I had me (215lbs.) and 3 girls at about 140 each and the wake was quite nice. But I know it can be bigger because I've ran more total weight in passengers alone before. I usually ride with only 3 or 4 people in the boat. I think I want to add another 250lbs. to the back near the rear seats.

charger500se · Newbie Joined: 03 Aug 2004 Posts: 12 City: Prior Lake

What boat and motor do you have DCdave

DCdave56 · Posted: Apr 01, 2005 10:31 am Post subject:

18ft. Searay, 4.3 liter Mercruiser

Ralph · Posted: Apr 01, 2005 11:22 am Post subject:

I had a 90 Bayliner I did the works on. That thing rocked. Here's the link: http://www.eurowake.com/index.php?p=64&c=1#comments

Leggester · Posted: Apr 01, 2005 2:48 pm Post subject:

DC, I know you're not going to like to hear this but...

You have one of the better ski wakes out there. At 32 you can barely notice crossing the wake and the boat is extremely resistant to skier pull.

At 36, it's a dream!

Just thought you'd like to know. Cool

Powaman · Outlaw Joined: 04 Jul 2004 Posts: 170 City: escanaba

My "Pimpin" is coming pretty soon. Snows almost all melted. I'm welding up my own pylon and putting a ball on top and gonna have those trailer pads to hide the front ratchet strap. I'm gonna be tinting the windows 20 percent, and remove the vinyl graphics and put "air" graphics on the side. Also part of the plan is to add 2- or 4 more speakers to the pioneer headunit already in it. Also gonna make a custom boardrack for my pylon. The back to back seating is also getting out of there and gonna make wrap aroudn seating, as the back to back seating is quite inconvenient.

fergie23 · Posted: Apr 04, 2005 1:51 pm Post subject:

I have a 19' Maxum with a V-8...we added a custom tower and a 200# fat sac to the locker (second to the bow if no one is riding there). Wake is pretty good when we use the trim but takes some work.

WakeBoarder44 · Wakeboarder.Commie Joined: 21 Apr 2004 Posts: 1107

revelation · Outlaw Joined: 06 Apr 2005 Posts: 213 City: Annapolis

Great idea for a link DCDave. I have a 04 18' searay that I'm about to throw a tower on in a few weeks. As soon as I drop the boat in, I'm gonna load it up with 6 or 7 people, then have them move to different area's of the boat so that I can see what the best way is to distribute the weight for a decent wake. Then go out and buy some fat sacks. My engine is only 130hp so I can't weight it down too much, but I can add a little weight.

Rich

revelation · Outlaw Joined: 06 Apr 2005 Posts: 213 City: Annapolis

Any other idea's to help us I/O'ers out?

gmarkham1 · Addict Joined: 10 Sep 2003 Posts: 505 City: janesville

here is a good discussion on ww
http://www.wakeworld.com/MB/Discus/messages/1/222810.html?1113965737

jjcard41 · Newbie Joined: 23 Mar 2005 Posts: 34 City: Bourbonnais

Wakeskier
What pitch is your high five prop?

chavez · RIP MHL 04/25/1958 - 01/11/2006

Ralph, that link is killer. The wake off that Babeliner is excellent considering most would just dismiss it as a floating POS.

GOOD WORK!

PS: Tmac1, GO AWAY, you are useless.

wakeskier · Addict Joined: 16 Mar 2004 Posts: 593 City: Leominster, MA

jjcard41: I was actually able to use a 21p high five
I found it to be the best for all around (only lost a few mph top end and still handled the weight no problem -we've actually had up to 3000lbs in the boat at one point, and it did ok)
If I was purely using it for wakeboarding I would probably drop down to a 19p...
Here are the top end speeds I got with different props on my boat:
25p high five: 57mph
21p 3 blade aluminum: 49mph
21p high five: 44mph
19p 4 blade aluminum: 41mph
19 high five: 40mph

If I remember correctly, the high five is a smaller diameter prop, so that's why you can still use a higher pitch.

For reference, a buddy of mine was using a 15p aluminum 3 blade on his I/O and mine with the 21p high five still had more pulling power (I did have the 4.3L EFI, and he had the 4.3L carb though...)
it's really tough comparing different boats, but the high five prop is by far the BEST I/O prop I have tried (well worth the price, and a steal if you can find one used for ~$250)

DCdave56 · Posted: Apr 21, 2005 7:40 am Post subject:

7 people in the boat and 1,000 lbs of water. Wake is much improved. The picture doesn't do it justice. Still struggling with washout on one side. Any ideas for improvement? Must be the prop.

Leggester · Posted: Apr 21, 2005 8:18 am Post subject:

Another searay, joystick roll cage:

skitz · Newbie Joined: 06 Sep 2003 Posts: 17

Here's My '98 190. A local shop custom built the tower.

gmarkham1 · Addict Joined: 10 Sep 2003 Posts: 505 City: janesville

here is my ballast lay out...The auto ballast system worked great, fill time on the big sac was about 10 minutes
and a few pics of the wake

2000 bayliner 1850 capri 4.3l, monster tower, mako racks, perfect pass, auto ballast approx1200 lbs, 18 pitch 4 blade prop, doel fin

gmarkham1 · Addict Joined: 10 Sep 2003 Posts: 505 City: janesville

few more

alafiaboarder · Posted: Apr 23, 2005 7:44 pm Post subject:

ill try and get some pics of mine but right now ive got:
2003 20' sea ray select w/ wakeboard tower, 5 liter v-8, 305 horse or around there, Bravo III dual counter-rotating prop system(huge difference and its awesome, barely any washout, great wholeshot)
-700 lbs. in 2 fat sacks, 350 front, 350 back with middle ski compartment full of water, usually have 4-5 people in boat. most we've ever had was both sacks, ski compartment, all equipment(5 boards, 3 skates, various camera equipment) and 14 including rider....wake was unbelievable, workin on my parents to break down for the wakeboard boat but you never know... best thing=bravo 3 prop system, different pitch

revelation · Outlaw Joined: 06 Apr 2005 Posts: 213 City: Annapolis

Decided to bring this post back from the dead to see what other I/O ers are doing to get ready for the season. I installed a bigair H2O tower last year and that was the extent of my mods. This year I'm installing board racks, putting in a straight line bow launch pad, Sting Ray hydrofoil, and upgrading the stock speakers to kicker 6 1/2's. That's about it for the plans to get me started. What is everyone else doing?

By the way, the boat is a 18ft. Mariah with the 3.0 135hp Mercruiser. I know that the engine is not much but I bought the boat before I got into wakeboarding.

Rich

BobL · Newbie Joined: 15 Mar 2006 Posts: 33

Cannot offer any advice but would love to hear about suggested trim settings (for pulling up, then adjustments for wake). My wife/kids talked me into a 19.4 Monterrey with a 4.3L Bravo 3 and factory tower. It has two props. Puts out a pretty good wake but I am 6'1 and 220 and with it trimmed all the way down, it felt like it struggled a bit pulling me up on 1 ski. Am going to experiment with trim settings the weekend but would love to hear from others.

Kids are just learning to wakeboard and the wife wanted a "family friendly" boat. Decided to wait on a a Master Craft until the kids improved their skills.

BigMace255 · Soul Rider Joined: 07 Mar 2006 Posts: 271

Are you still selling that bad boy qmarkham?

brath5 · Outlaw Joined: 06 Jul 2004 Posts: 222 City: Winnipeg

My Buddy had an 05 Glastron sx175 with tower from the factory with tower speakers n the wake was pretty decent for me as a beginner doing 1's and 3's with grabs all around...this year he's gonna have an 06 glastron 19 footer with 4.3 liter V8 with stock tower,tower speakers, perfect pass, extended swim platform..(needless to say i'm pretty stoked) with that much power i'm not worried about planing...is a couple 250's gonna make a big difference?...n if i were to go with anything do i shove it by the rear seast or just mid boat? (the pic is his red 05 glastron..the new boat should be a bit bigger but same layout)

gmarkham1 · Addict Joined: 10 Sep 2003 Posts: 505 City: janesville

BigMace255, yeah... I thought you moved onto other things.... mobius or launch???

BigMace255 · Soul Rider Joined: 07 Mar 2006 Posts: 271

Still looking all around.

The main problem was the distance.

LoudonTN · Posted: Apr 07, 2006 9:14 pm Post subject:

Ok, I've got an 17' 1986 Glassport 165RX I/O with a DIY tower (took most of last summer). RufioSwashBuckle picked up 700lbs of ballast today that we're splitting (cost wise), so now we'll be running 700lbs of ballast in it. Probably going to put one sac of 350lbs in the ski locker, and 350lbs in the bow walkway.

Wake picture below is with one person (myself) and no ballast.

I paid $1000 bucks for the boat, it was repossesed (you can see what it looked like then below). Cleaned it up, fixed all the stuff that the previous owner stole/broke in it, fixed the cracked block, replaced the gears, sanded and painted the trailer...all for no more than $100 bucks.

$200 for the parts to make the tower.

So I have $1300 in this boat, not including registration, gas, etc. Not too shabby Wink

revelation · Outlaw Joined: 06 Apr 2005 Posts: 213 City: Annapolis

LoudonTN, Looks like a pretty sweet set up for only putting out $1,300. Post up once you have had a chance to put that ballast system to work and what you think of it. The bow pad that I'm getting only has 440 lbs so I was thinking about putting some weight in the ski locker too. Also, what size enging do you have?

Rich