How to increase the size of the wake?

B

bighorse

New Member
Apr 30, 2009
26
Western Arkansas
Boat Info
200BR
Engines
5.0 MPI Alpha
I have a 2003 200BR 5.0 MPI with factory tower and Smart Tabs. My son has some friends who go wakeboarding with us, but they say the wake is too small. As my son improves, he is also wanting a bigger wake. I've tried to trim the drive out to push the stern further into the water, but I'm afraid I'm just fighting the Smart Tabs. I put them on the boat right after I got it and I never paid attention to the wake before I installed them. My plan is to zip tie them up to see how that does, but what would be some other suggestions on improving the wake? Is there a ballast system available for this boat?
 
as to the tabs , tabs down push bow down , therefore would /should make the boat plow thru the water ,creating a bigger wake
 
Trying to recall back to my 225WE. As I remember, I had the best luck with larger wake by putting the tabs all the way up and trying to seat people toward the aft. Sometimes trimming up a bit too. I would try to keep it just off plane for the best wake. With the tabs up, the stern digs in to the water more, displacing more water and creating a better wake. The more the boat is leveled off (tabs assist of course) the less water is being displaced. I am sure your 200 planes off alot sooner than my 225 did so it may not work for you.
 
Easiest solution... time for an upgrade to a bigger boat:thumbsup:
 
Bighorse, Your son and his buddy's need to invite along some girls for extra ballast. (Picture courtesy of Four Suns)
 

Attachments

  • ballast.jpg
    ballast.jpg
    67 KB · Views: 492
Come on Bridog... that ain't right... why take one of them when you could take several of these?
babe660.jpg
 
Correct, the use of tabs ("deployed" - which smart tabs always are) will decrease your wake size. Tabs control what the stern does - the bow simply responds accordingly (opposite). Although, when using tabs, in reality, we tend to only think of what the bow is doing.

In addition to the ebay link above, plenty of online catalogs like Overton's will carry fillable water sacks - often called "fat sacs", although I think that is actually a brand name.

If you can fasten it down securely in the engine compartment (on either side of your engine), you could experiment with anything you can get your hands on that can add at least a few hundred pounds - maybe 500, maybe more - trial and error.

Jason - the purpose of the OP's question is to add ballast, not add flotation.
 
Jason -the purpose of the OP's question is to add ballast, not add flotation.
Click to expand...
LoL never thought of them that way... haha bet they are USCG approved?
 
I'm with Jason on this one. I'll take the "floatation" option any day, when you have that kind of safety equipment on board who cares how big the wake is:lol:
 
Bridog said:
Bighorse, Your son and his buddy's need to invite along some girls for extra ballast. (Picture courtesy of Four Suns)
Click to expand...

Now I know how you fit 16 people in one small snapshot.
 
I just got a scolding from my wife. I was checking E-mails this morning and this is what it looks like from the in box..."Reply to thread 'How to increase the size of..." She said... "What the hell are you guys talking about now on that stupid forum?" :smt043
 
Bridog said:
I just got a scolding from my wife. I was checking E-mails this morning and this is what it looks like from the in box..."Reply to thread 'How to increase the size of..." She said... "What the hell are you guys talking about now on that stupid forum?" :smt043
Click to expand...
I get those emails every day :lol:
 
I have a 205 Sport and use a Fat Sac (Part#W704) in the ski locker. That, plus trimming the drive up about 1/4 produces a pretty good wake. It will never match up with one of the competition wake boarding boats (mostly a weight factor), but it's good enough to do most tricks on a wakeboard. I don't have tabs though....

I got mine here: http://fat-sack.com/
 
If you are going to add ballast bags, you will have the best luck by adding the weight to the bow. Adding weight to the bow will make the wake less abrupt and more "rampy".

You can add weight to the ski locker too, but I would add it to the bow first. I have a ballast bag like the one below.

http://www.wakemakers.com/fly-high-integrated-bow-sac.html
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Forum statistics

Threads
113,253
Messages
1,429,324
Members
61,128
Latest member
greenworld
Back
Top