2014 Outback V Surf Ballast

[danraymond]

We recently received our 2014 Outback V and have had it in the water for nearly a month. We're upgrading from an outboard, so I'm in heaven to say the least. It's great for skiing, awesome for intermediate wakeboarders, such as myself, but the 1,200 lb stock ballast isn't getting the job done for surfing. I've heard about Wakemakers 750 lb upgrade, and I'm curious to know if any of you have gone this route. Also, has anyone used the Wakemakers custom ballast (around 1,200 extra lbs I believe)? My main question is what is the best way to upgrade the ballast for surfing.

Thank you.

[mikenehrkorn]

Get the 750s for the lockers and the IBS for the bow and you should be good to go. That setup works pretty good for my '13 OBV. Those custom bags would probably be a bit better but they are pretty spendy. Just do a search and you should find a few different how-tos on installing the IBS.

And welcome to the family and watch your checkbook as these guys can help you spend it pretty darn quick!! :)

Also let's see some pics if the new ride...

[danraymond]

Is the IBS a necessity when adding the 750s in the back? Also, does the IBS require a lot of extra hardware that would amp the price up more?

[slipperyrockTKE300]

I have a 2009 OBV.

All you need to create a great surf wave is the pair of 750's in the rear and the stock 400 up front.

Don't even think about the 1100's - been there done that and went back to the 750's.

And to be totally honest - with our boats... if you have the surfing skill, you don't even need to fill any bags. Ain't a big wave, but it is surfable.

[MJR63]

I have a 750 lbs fly high fat sac for sale in the classified section. Only used a few times. $110 shipped. A great deal! PM me if you are interested.

Mark

[mikenehrkorn]

Is the IBS a necessity when adding the 750s in the back? Also, does the IBS require a lot of extra hardware that would amp the price up more?

Ed is probably right, but I'm a large guy (6'2" / 230lbs) and very much a rookie surfer, so I need all the help I can get!! :) That extra bow weight in the IBS does help.

Actually the install is pretty simple -- just tie the IBS into the vent of the stock center bag. No new pumps needed, just a few fittings, a check valve and some extra hose and you'll be good to go. There are probably a few posts on the install if you search the forum, but here is the one I found:

https://forum.moomba.com/showthread.php?24149-check-valve-for-IBS-on-14-LSV&highlight=install

[slipperyrockTKE300]

Mike, I have a brother in law who is a little bigger than you and he does just fine with what I'm running.

He does prefer the "goofy" side (which does create the best wave) - and he is a pretty good lake and ocean surfer.

When it comes right down to it, IMHO....the more experience you get, the less ballast you need, but one should get what one feels comfortable with.

[gscharf]

I just took the 400s from the rear and put them under the bow seats and then ran them from the center bag vent instead of buying an ibs. I can check my wakemakers order for what the hardware cost but it ended up being 80 or 90 dollars extra. Make sure that you put a check valve after you vent the bags under the bow this helps get all the water out of them.

Sent from my VS890 4G using Tapatalk

[mikenehrkorn]

He does prefer the "goofy" side (which does create the best wave)

I wish I could ride the goofy side because that wave is awesome!!!

[slipperyrockTKE300]

You can do it.

Like everything, just takes practice.

Every time I go out, I put in time on both sides of the boat.

[danraymond]

That actually sounds like a good idea. Do you still have the center bag? And could I get a little more info as to how you did that and what hardware you needed? Thank you all, I appreciate the advice!

[gscharf]

I will try to explain the best I can without pics. My boat is 7 hrs away.
The hardest part of this mod was getting the damn cemented plugs out of the factory bags. Wakemakers has a video on how to do it. I will try to follow the waters path as I go through.

Starting with the center bag. Fill Drain lines remains the same. I moved the vent line from the current location on top to the hole towards the bow. (I did this to keep the connections hidden and so when the bag fills it does not push on them). I put a short hose going to a Tee. Off the tee one hose goes to the observer side up with the battery cables. (I had to remove the plastic thing on the floor around the hole to get the hose to fit) The other side of the tee I extended the factory vent hose using a hose barb union to make that hose long enough to reach the front. (2 reason for not messing with this hose 1. It looked like a challange to run a hose towards the driver side and 2. If it did not work i have the original vent line ready.) Both hose are then connected to the bags that I placed under the bow seats (using the holes towards the rear of the boat)

Bow sacs: Off the connections closest to the bow ran a vent hose from each to a Tee and then place a check valve on the line going to the side of the boat.

Purchase list:
3 Flow Rite W741 (straight)
2 W746
2 Plugs W731
2 1" Hose Barb Tee
1 1" Hose Barb Union
1 Check Valve
25 Ft 1" hose
16 Hose Clamps

I would suggest getting 2 check valves for the rear bags and a couple extra flow rite connectors when you are making this purchase.

PM my your email I have a picture of a drawn diagram if that would help.

[moombadaze]

.

And welcome to the family and watch your checkbook as these guys can help you spend it pretty darn quick!! :)

...

what, never, not here

[danraymond]

Thank you very much, I'll definitely consider it!

[danraymond]

Anyone know of someone selling an used IBS?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[mikenehrkorn]

Here's a decent one with the auction ending on ebay soon....

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Fly-High-Pro-X-Series-Integrated-Bow-Sac-/331244689002?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item4d1fb8d66a

[slipperyrockTKE300]

you don't need an IBS. You need a surfboard that fits you.

[slipperyrockTKE300]

Wish the edit function was available for a longer time.... anyhow.....

I have been surfing behind a Moomba since 2005. I have been thru every imaginable ballast set-up with a DD and the NG Outback V boat. I can tell you thru experience that bigger and more expensive ballast is not always the answer.

You can have a 6 foot tall wave, 20 feet behind the boat and still suck as a surfer.

Please, everyone with a NG OBV....don't rush out and buy things you do not need.

Learn to use the basics (750 in rear corners, stock 400 in front, and a passenger or two) and then as you improve your skills, you may want more and you may be totally satisfied with what works.

The NG OBV is a hell of a surf boat. I'm betting as good as anything in the present Moomba stable - at least what I have seen in pictures so far.

I'd welcome the challenge of going toe to toe with any other Moomba out there with equal ballast.

[mikenehrkorn]

Haven't seen that one before........what is NG?

[slipperyrockTKE300]

Ahhh, we coined that a few years ago.

NG OBV means "New Generation Outback V".

As opposed to the 2008 and earlier Outback V's, which were OG OBV's (Old Generation)

[moombadaze]

I'd welcome the challenge of going toe to toe with any other Moomba out there with equal ballast.

I'll take that challenge on, just because I don't think I ever got to surf your OBV

[slipperyrockTKE300]

You are welcome to surf Martha when ever you choose! I'm pretty sure she threw a wake over your transom at Lake Harris :)

[gscharf]

What speed and where is your wake plate?

I have been running 9.5-10.0 and 1/2.

[slipperyrockTKE300]

Ya know... I never know if it is up or down. I set it so the needle is all the way to the left on the gauge. Is that up or down?

My speed is 10 mph - I use the Perfect Pass Stargazer.

Most often there are just 2 people in the boat when someone is surfing.

My average water depth is only about 7 feet.

[danraymond]

Sorry for the delay, but here's a couple pics!
2051320514

[helucin8n21]

Question on ballast setup using a stock outback v. Are you guys filling all 3 stock ballasts full? I have a 2013 outback V with the 3 ballast stock setup and adjustable wake plate.

Thx!

[mikenehrkorn]

In the rear just fill the sac on the surf side.

[Birdman]

i have 750 rear lockers stock 400's surf side rear seat stock ski locker full and 1000 fly high open bow sack from wake makers. usually a driver and two more on boat 10.5mph wake plate in-between 3/4 and 1/2 up regular and all the way up to 3/4 up goofy since the wave seems to stay cleaner on that side. if you don't feel safe with all that weight fill your non surf till the list of the boat feels a lil comfortable (best wave is with non surf side empty i found)

[Birdman]

oh yeah your wake plate is all the way up when your nose goes up and all the way down when it does the opposite left up right down on the gauge

[kpanderson07]

So just trying my 2014 Outback V out surfing and trying to get it dialed. Wave seemed to be best with surf side (right since I am goofy) full, non surf 20% or less and front about 2/3 full and the wake plate between 1/2 and 3/4. Speed 10.5 or so. Just have factory bags which I think are 400 in each. Board is an O'Brien Nala. 4'6" Wake seems ok with a small sweet spot. I can ride with some slack in the line but typically drift out the back of the wave within 20 seconds or less. Trying to learn to pump to stay in the wave. My wake seems like it doesn't have enough push.

So reading through this thread, it seems like there are a few suggestions. 1. Get better! First boat and have only surfed three times behind another boat so this will happen over time. 2. Beef up the rear ballasts. Sounds like going to 750's would make a big difference. Anything else? Curious about the surf tabs that I can put on this boat. Are they work it? I thought the dealer said $750.

Lastly, what about the board I have? Guy at the shop said it was a good starter board for me and my kids (ages 9, 7 and 4 but mostly 9 and 7 for now). I think I should have researched this a little bit before buying based on one suggestion. I am just 145#. What would you recommend for a board for a new surfer who has wakeboarded a lot in the past? Should I have one board for the kids and one for me?

Thanks!

Karl

[mikenehrkorn]

I'm now getting a pretty decent wave for my '13 OBV with the following config:

- 900# ballast in rear lockers (though 750s also work fine)
- stock 400# bag in center
- 650# IBS
- all filled 100%
- wake plate at 1/2
- 10.5 mph
- ghetto gate on non-surf side (see other threads for all kind of ideas how to build these)

My guess is those surf tabs you mention would be the manual Flow, but the cost on that is probably more like $1400 (and as much as $2500 depending on your needs and dealer). My take would be to go with the DIY gate which is much cheaper and just as effective (if not more so).

[wolfeman131]

Should I have one board for the kids and one for me?


Yes. Just like most sports, the right equipment will make a difference in learning curve and enjoyment. You wouldn't share golf clubs with your kids, would you?

Upgrade the bags, keep working on finding the sweet spot and learning how to stay in the pocket and get the kids their own board. Try to get out with some other folks to try different boards so you get an idea of what you like (surf vs skim, etc) and upgrade your board next season.

[ehaser]

Wish the edit function was available for a longer time.... anyhow.....

I have been surfing behind a Moomba since 2005. I have been thru every imaginable ballast set-up with a DD and the NG Outback V boat. I can tell you thru experience that bigger and more expensive ballast is not always the answer.

You can have a 6 foot tall wave, 20 feet behind the boat and still suck as a surfer.

Please, everyone with a NG OBV....don't rush out and buy things you do not need.

Learn to use the basics (750 in rear corners, stock 400 in front, and a passenger or two) and then as you improve your skills, you may want more and you may be totally satisfied with what works.

The NG OBV is a hell of a surf boat. I'm betting as good as anything in the present Moomba stable - at least what I have seen in pictures so far.

I'd welcome the challenge of going toe to toe with any other Moomba out there with equal ballast.

I hate to ask this but I just purchased a 2010 outback V.. I'm waiting for it to arrive. Do they all come with ballasts or is that an option? I assumed that they all had the plumbing for rear ballasts. What confuses me is the fact that everyone keeps referring to the "stock front".. Do they all come with a ballast up front??!? I didnt think the one that i just purchased had one.

[kaneboats]

Almost all of them would have come with stock ballast. On my boat that was a 400 lb. sac in each rear locker and a 400 lb. sac under the floor in the center ski locker. Yours was probably something similar. So, stock would have been around 1200 lbs. total with all full. Usually the first thing folks do is upgrade the rear ones to a pair of 750's or 900's or even 1100's, although I don't know if the 1100's will fit or fill completely in your boat. Sometimes they will then add the IBS up front under the seats. This can add up to around 750 more lbs. Generally, the center bag up front cannot be upgraded because there is just no more room down there. From there you can add extra weight with more bags you fill manually, Or, you can make a cheap surf gate-- or install a more expensive surf system. You can read about every kind of option available on here with a little digging. If you have specific questions, just post them up. These guys have seen or tried everything you can think of. Congrats on the boat. Let's see some pics!

[ehaser]

Almost all of them would have come with stock ballast. On my boat that was a 400 lb. sac in each rear locker and a 400 lb. sac under the floor in the center ski locker. Yours was probably something similar. So, stock would have been around 1200 lbs. total with all full. Usually the first thing folks do is upgrade the rear ones to a pair of 750's or 900's or even 1100's, although I don't know if the 1100's will fit or fill completely in your boat. Sometimes they will then add the IBS up front under the seats. This can add up to around 750 more lbs. Generally, the center bag up front cannot be upgraded because there is just no more room down there. From there you can add extra weight with more bags you fill manually, Or, you can make a cheap surf gate-- or install a more expensive surf system. You can read about every kind of option available on here with a little digging. If you have specific questions, just post them up. These guys have seen or tried everything you can think of. Congrats on the boat. Let's see some pics!

Thank you for the advice! I think i probably paid too much for mine. It's a 2010 outback V that was on the boat trader for a few weeks. It only has 50 hours because the people that owned it never had time to use it. I ended up paying 36k but they are having it shipped to my lake so that offsets some of the cost. I was worried that i purchased the wrong boat and that I should have purchased the moomba mondo 14' that i found in Alabama for 46k.. either way I can upgrade next year. This was my first boat so I'm sure that I have a lot more to learn before i spend 80k on a ski boat.

[kaneboats]

Sounds a little high but with the low hours and shipping included it's not too far off. You are also at the beginning of the season still when the boats are generally highest. Don't look back. Enjoy your new boat!