Why?

[FargoDawg]

I hope this is short answer and maybe not more than 3 replies and makes it's way off page one before I get toasted....
I Am now my first boat and want to wake board and surf...
Why ballast in the front of the boat or ski locker?

[E4NASH]

I hope this is short answer and maybe not more than 3 replies and makes it's way off page one before I get toasted....
I Am now my first boat and want to wake board and surf...
Why ballast in the front of the boat or ski locker?

More weight = Bigger wake

[brain_rinse]

Because riding bow high (as you would with weight only in the back) makes a big wake that's soft and not clean. You need to weight spread across the whole hull to make a big wake that stays firm and crisp.

[Razzman]

Not all hulls are created equal. Some boats will create a nice wave without bow weight, some won't. A lot depends on how many peeps are in the boat. Bow weight also helps extend the wave back farther, again depending on the hull.

I don't because I run a 750lb in the rear plus i always have 8-10 peeps when surfing and I place 2-3 in the bow. That way i can shift weight when needed. I also don't like riding nose down as my lakes are big and get windy, creating some good chop which comes over the bow.

Easiest way to tell what you like is to get some sealable plastic tubs or buckets and when ready to surf fill them with water and place them around to see what happens.

[brain_rinse]

I see you said "wakeboard AND surf." I answered for wakeboarding, Razz for surfing.

[JesseC]

For my model, if I do not fill the front bag the following happens:

Surfing:
The pocket is really close to the back of the boat, wave is high and squishy. If i fill the front bag, the wave gets a little lower but firmer and move further back away from the boat.

Wakeboarding:
The sweet spot move to around 55' and is really steep and squishy. If I fill the front bag the wake becomes firmer and has more of a rounded/ramp feel and move to the 70-80' spot.

I use the wakeplate to fine tune both the wave and wake.

[Razzman]

And that concludes Wake/Wave 101 ... class is over :p

[FargoDawg]

Thank you for the responses. Now I'll have to find a bag for the bow