Heavily Weighted (6500 lbs) Ballast - Engine Wear & Additional Maintenance

[Hayden]

I've finished installing some custom ballast and put on a new propeller to help with the extra weight. After talking to Indmar about engine wear, they suggested I try and get through to Aaron/Roger at Skier's choice service/warranty, but so far I haven't been able to talk to them, (left messages).

Aside from increasing the frequency of oil changes, and generally being more vigilant about all of the boat maintenance tasks, (fluids, etc.), I'm trying to get feedback on what other tasks or things I should be watching for when running a heavily weighted boat.

The goal is to get as close to nameplate (4000 + 2500 = 6500 lbs) as possible. I've put on a 15x12.5 Acme and we're at 2800' elevation with the Raptor 400 and running a 10 degree pitch for my wave (Wake9 settings). The boat is performing well, but with this lower pitched prop we're bumping up to 4800-5000 rpm to hold 11.2 mph.

Talking to Indmar, they didn't seem to think it was an issue at all but also noted that Skier's service/warranty would be the better people to discuss it with. Reading the Indmar manual it mentions that it has built-in rpm cutouts but I wanted to try and get a sense of where the "too much" line was from those who've gone this heavy (or more).

Anyone have some solid feedback to give on this?

[Bmac]

Just curious if you use cruise while surfing? If I have my cruise on I can’t get above 4,000 RPMs. I am assuming that it is built in that way to protect the motor from running any higher for long periods of time. For reference I have a 2020 max with a 400 at 5,000 ft. I have 5500lbs of ballast and only struggle getting to speed when surfing port side. 15.5x14 prop.


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[Holdmybeer]

I did not realize elevation was that bad of a performance killer for your '21 mojo.

I have a 2015 Mojo 400 with 1.5 trans and 15x13 prop.
Went surfing with full ballast plus lead at 4000#.
People, gear and fuel was right around 2000#
Boat weight on scales with no fuel, no gear, and no lead is 4148# (had to go through scales for trailer tag).
so 10K all the way in water.

I can run 11mph like this at 3200-3500rpm at 900 ft elevation. Is the starboard tab at 100% down, creating that much more drag surfing port? If you only go to 60-70% can you get the same wave and not have to run near 5000rpm?

I would think at a minimum you would be changing oil every 25hrs instead of 50hrs and maybe spark plugs every season (if not sooner). Same goes for v-drive and trans oil changes also.

And please don't take offense, just comparing my experience at no elevation to yours. Just surprised more than anything.

[jnr4817]

Interesting. My 2018 Mojo with 400 is loaded with 4780# ballast plus fuel and at least 2 adults every trip. I’ve got oj945 prop, 500 feet elevation. At 11.0 it’s 3600 and 11.6 it’s 4200, I aim for 10* pitch.

@hayden what custom ballast did you install?

[Holdmybeer]

I know there was a hull change and that is also something to take into consideration from my 2015 to 2018 to 2021.

I am wondering if this is part of the drag issue also.

[SONIC]

5000 does seem really high.
My SA is heavier than the Mojo by 1000 lbs and I surf 3500-3900 from full stock ballast +600lbs of lead and then depending on people from 500-1500 additional people weight. (16x15 prop)
You're about 1800 ft higher than me.

Can you come back up in pitch and go up in diameter to 16"? You may want a little plate on the bottom to avoid gel burn.

[Hayden]

Just curious if you use cruise while surfing?
I do use cruise, yep. 11-11.4 works pretty good for us so far.


Is the starboard tab at 100% down, creating that much more drag surfing port? If you only go to 60-70% can you get the same wave and not have to run near 5000rpm?
I’m running 10deg pitch and 60/70 port/stbd for the surf tabs. No offense taken! Looking for constructive feedback.


@hayden what custom ballast did you install?
I upgraded the stock rear 1400 lb bags with fatsac rear bags 1800 lb. I will post a video and a pdf explaining the measurements.


Can you come back up in pitch and go up in diameter to 16"? You may want a little plate on the bottom to avoid gel burn.
I measured the altitude/surf prop (OJ 930 15.5x15) before I put the new prop on and I barely have 1” clearance with 15.5. I also called Nettles and talked to them about it and they mentioned that whenever they’re doing their measurements on OJ props, the listed number is always ¼” over what it actually is. They said the RPM’s would go up for sure with the lower pitch but it would give me what I need to get the boat on plane, (the stock OJ 930 15.5x15 could not hit 11 mph).

Couple points I’ve found in my testing also:
1) I was seeing a shift of 500-600 rpm gain going from 10.8 to 11.4mph
2) The 10 deg pitch really makes the boat work, if moved weight to the front and pitched down to 9 deg or even 8.5 deg the rpm’s would come down as well

[SONIC]

I do use cruise, yep. 11-11.4 works pretty good for us so far.


I’m running 10deg pitch and 60/70 port/stbd for the surf tabs. No offense taken! Looking for constructive feedback.


I upgraded the stock rear 1400 lb bags with fatsac rear bags 1800 lb. I will post a video and a pdf explaining the measurements.


I measured the altitude/surf prop (OJ 930 15.5x15) before I put the new prop on and I barely have 1” clearance with 15.5. I also called Nettles and talked to them about it and they mentioned that whenever they’re doing their measurements on OJ props, the listed number is always ¼” over what it actually is. They said the RPM’s would go up for sure with the lower pitch but it would give me what I need to get the boat on plane, (the stock OJ 930 15.5x15 could not hit 11 mph).

Couple points I’ve found in my testing also:
1) I was seeing a shift of 500-600 rpm gain going from 10.8 to 11.4mph
2) The 10 deg pitch really makes the boat work, if moved weight to the front and pitched down to 9 deg or even 8.5 deg the rpm’s would come down as well

Gotcha.
Yes lower pitch will be higher RPMs but I don't know why you'd go down in diameter that gives less surface area, easier for the motor to turn it but less efficient overall.
Personally I'd go to a 15.5x13.5 or so and see how that does.

You're under warranty so running 5k doesn't really matter much at the moment but if you plan to keep it long term those numbers would bother me, that's running the engine near full load very near redline for long periods of time.

1" of clearance is plenty. 3/4 is fine 5/8 is pushing it but I ran my last boat with 1/2" clearance without issue. Long term it would probably pit the gelcoat without some protection though.

I only see 800 extra lbs of ballast, where's the other 1700? People?

[Hayden]

Here is a vid of the custom bag size difference:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XoNT9m2NQYU&ab_channel=HaydenBreeze

Here is a vid of the bag placement and piping/venting:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=STAFomJxfx0&ab_channel=HaydenBreeze


Hopefully get some wave footage when I go out tonight/tomorrow.

[Hayden]

Yes lower pitch will be higher RPMs but I don't know why you'd go down in diameter that gives less surface area, easier for the motor to turn it but less efficient overall.
Personally I'd go to a 15.5x13.5 or so and see how that does.

I only see 800 extra lbs of ballast, where's the other 1700? People?

The prop was cheap and available, so we grabbed it rather than waiting for something to be shipped across the border. Our water level is already dropping and with the heat we had at the end of June, many are worried the season won't go far into August. It was the quickest solution but I agree, not the most efficient.

Check those vids I posted, they show where all the other weight is going (2x 400 midships, 2x 150 bow, 500 leadwake).

[SONIC]

The prop was cheap and available, so we grabbed it rather than waiting for something to be shipped across the border. Our water level is already dropping and with the heat we had at the end of June, many are worried the season won't go far into August. It was the quickest solution but I agree, not the most efficient.

Check those vids I posted, they show where all the other weight is going (2x 400 midships, 2x 150 bow, 500 leadwake).

Gotcha, awesome project either way that wave is going to be a monster.
I'd experiment with less bowrise as well, wake9 didn't have nearly that much weight in the boat so you may not need 10 degrees.
Different hull but mine is about the same from 8.7-10 with very little noticeable difference

[sleek98]

Gotcha, awesome project either way that wave is going to be a monster.
I'd experiment with less bowrise as well, wake9 didn't have nearly that much weight in the boat so you may not need 10 degrees.
Different hull but mine is about the same from 8.7-10 with very little noticeable difference

He has quite a bit of weight, but it was more human weight. In his videos you can see he has 5-6 people in the boat plus his 1,000# of lead. I would say he is near 2k pounds all in.

Hayden and myself usually only have 1 or 2 people with us at a time (last time out it was just my wife and I). So we took the measurements to add in the rear bags as well as midship bags to offset not having many or any people in the boat. I run less than Hayden with only 1,600# of added ballast plus wife and kids of 250#. The elevation and the extra 800# must really be hurting him, I run the 15.5x16.5 prop and only had one time I couldn't get up to surf speed, that was when I had an extra 600# of people over normal (I was pushing the 2,500# max). I am at 850' of elevation though. I typically run 3,700 rpms when at surf speed with 1,850# of people/gear/lead/bags.

I would like to get that down to 3,200 if I can. But I am not sure I can even going to a 16" prop. I need to measure putting a 16" prop on the boat to see how much room it really will have, and likely will put a piece of SS as a guard on there. I am leaning towards the 16x15 prop for me.

[mjb929rr]

I don’t think changing the prop is going to help. I have an sl450. 900 lbs lead and no ballast is what the kids surf at. Rpms are 2850 @11.2. With ballast full that goes up to 41-4200rpms. Same prop. More weight is going to require more rpms. This is a 16x13.9 prop 1.76 ratio

[sleek98]

I don’t think changing the prop is going to help. I have an sl450. 900 lbs lead and no ballast is what the kids surf at. Rpms are 2850 @11.2. With ballast full that goes up to 41-4200rpms. Same prop. More weight is going to require more rpms. This is a 16x13.9 prop 1.76 ratio

I think your right with it making it higher. I was thinking with the bigger diameter it would drop it some, but its more dependent on the pitch.

You are sitting at 10k pounds fully loaded no people, 5,600 + 3500 + 900. I am sitting at 10,400 with no people. Maybe I would be better off just leaving my prop as is and get rid of lead or dont fill my extra midship bags if I get an additional 4-5 people in the boat. The wave I have with just my wife in the boat is amazing so I dont need any additional weight, but I can easily take weight out by not filling full or chucking some lead on the dock.

[mjb929rr]

I feel like added weight is great to a certain extent. A lot of times it’s just the wife and I and 2 small children. That is why we run the lead. We have surfed with 16 people before and 12 were adults. At this weight the lead isn’t needed and almost makes the wave harder to dial as the extra weight really makes the 450 struggle. We find our best wave is with 6-8 people and the lead.

[Hayden]

Finished up some telephone conversations with both Skiers and Indmar on this: bottom line is that so long as you remain as per the nameplate rating of the boat, which in my case for the 2021 Mojo is 4000+2500 = 6500 lbs of people/gear/water/leadwake, the engine is tested and capable of handling the load, Indmar confirmed that 5000 rpm was within tolerances..albeit right at the edge.

I'm going to try and mess around more with the bringing the pitch and maybe speed down to lose some rpm's but I've never had the wave as long or as pushy as I have with where it's currently weighted. You get addicted to having that much wave to work with.

[sleek98]

I'm going to try and mess around more with the bringing the pitch and maybe speed down to lose some rpm's but I've never had the wave as long or as pushy as I have with where it's currently weighted. You get addicted to having that much wave to work with.

Yep right at 10* with around 6k pounds of ballast you can surf back in another zip code. Easy 15' back off the boat and still able to recover. At 10.5* I couldnt stay off the back of the boat when hammering on the brake 100% of the time.

[Holdmybeer]

Makes sense now why you at 5k rpms. Pitch at 10* is a lot of drag with tabs and that much weight. I run 9* with a 2015 hull. I bet the surf wake is awesome with your setup, but like Sonic said, long term I would be worried about engine wear after warranty.

[Bmac]

Sorry I don’t want to hijack this thread but you all have me questioning myself. If I have my cruise on my boat will not go above 4,000 RPMs. There are often times I just need to rev to 4200 to get up to speed but my boat won’t do it. Am I up in the night? I just figured it was a safety feature.


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[Hayden]

Just curious if you use cruise while surfing? If I have my cruise on I can’t get above 4,000 RPMs. I am assuming that it is built in that way to protect the motor from running any higher for long periods of time. For reference I have a 2020 max with a 400 at 5,000 ft. I have 5500lbs of ballast and only struggle getting to speed when surfing port side. 15.5x14 prop.


This sounds like you're hitting the limit of engine/elevation/ballast/propeller, no? There shouldn't be an rpm limiter at 4000 rpm.

[jnr4817]

Interesting. My 2018 Mojo with 400 is loaded with 4780# ballast plus fuel and at least 2 adults every trip. I’ve got oj945 prop, 500 feet elevation. At 11.0 it’s 3600 and 11.6 it’s 4200, I aim for 10* pitch.

@hayden what custom ballast did you install?

I just got home from lake. I over estimated my rpms.
11.0 is 3200 and 11.6 is 3600.

[Hayden]

Partial crosspost here but it's related to safety/durability so I believe it's worthwhile:

I missed this in the user manual (is it in there??) but from this point on, I will always have engine at 2k rpm when filling or draining G6 ballast. When running heavily weighted, your fill times bump up to almost double, you need the alternator to be 100% assisting with this. (I would occasionally, just run the boat to middle of lake and fill while at only 700 rpm (idle). I don't think you can do it like that, has to be higher ie. 2000 rpm.)

[HFarr]

Partial crosspost here but it's related to safety/durability so I believe it's worthwhile:

I missed this in the user manual (is it in there??) but from this point on, I will always have engine at 2k rpm when filling or draining G6 ballast. When running heavily weighted, your fill times bump up to almost double, you need the alternator to be 100% assisting with this. (I would occasionally, just run the boat to middle of lake and fill while at only 700 rpm (idle). I don't think you can do it like that, has to be higher ie. 2000 rpm.)I have G6 pumps and fill mine floating at idle all the time. Have not had any issues. Does it say not to do that somewhere?

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[SONIC]

I have G6 pumps and fill mine floating at idle all the time. Have not had any issues. Does it say not to do that somewhere?

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Same I never rev it up to fill or drain

[larry_arizona]

I fill at idle no problem, but normally cruise slowly to drain.

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[Ralphy]

I also do it at idle only because I'm a bit weird about carbon monoxide. I noticed that if we only fill/Drain once and stay on the water longer the batteries are almost fully charged, but if we go out 2 3 times for an hour or so, the batteries are at 60% in the evening. These pumps drain a lot of juice, so it may make sense to rev it a bit depending on a situation. We typically blast music which probably doesn't help much.
Fo what's it worth, just my 2 cents

[Hayden]

I didn't see it in the user manual but when I took the alternator in to my dealer, (who also sells other boat brands), he mentioned that the 2k rpm filling was standard practice for the MasterCraft dual battery boats. I don't know if that means it's in the MasterCraft manual or if it's just what my dealer is telling their MasterCraft buyers.

Another situation that occasionally happens for me personally; fill boat, 1 surfer (me) 20-30min session, drain boat. If I'm doing that consecutive times a week, I'm thinking it might not be getting enough recharge time in between.

[SONIC]

The alternators in these boats are 200 or 240a. 6 ballast puppies pull about 75 amps or less so it's really not that big of a draw on the alternator. They should be producing 100a at idle easily enough.
SC just wants the engine running because 75a for 10 min is a pretty hefty draw on the batteries if no alternator to recharge.

At 2k you'll be getting the full 200a output so there will be no draw on the battery at all so technically it's better but it's not necessary IMO.

[Hayden]

Gotcha, if that's the case then I don't need to be as vigilant with it.

[Jason1975]

Agree with above, but its ALWAYS a good idea to fill and drain while the motor is running. The pumps draw power and why chance it.

[vdubnick]

@hayden, so what RPM are you running now while surfing? I was wondering the same thing when i was fully loaded (4k, +1k lead, +700 people) the other day and it was 3900-4100 rpm at 11.2-11.3 mph at 2500' same boat as yours

i have the oj 15.5x15 altitude prop from the factory.

And according to Drew Tinker, the lower pitch props are more for hole shot speed while wakeboarding and having a higher pitch prop pushes more water for surfing, hence why the moomba website has the higher speed/pitch prop listed a surf prop.

yet everything i read/research says lower pitch is needed for surfing.

[HFarr]

@hayden, so what RPM are you running now while surfing? I was wondering the same thing when i was fully loaded (4k, +1k lead, +700 people) the other day and it was 3900-4100 rpm at 11.2-11.3 mph at 2500' same boat as yours

i have the oj 15.5x15 altitude prop from the factory.

And according to Drew Tinker, the lower pitch props are more for hole shot speed while wakeboarding and having a higher pitch prop pushes more water for surfing, hence why the moomba website has the higher speed/pitch prop listed a surf prop.

yet everything i read/research says lower pitch is needed for surfing.Does the water the prop pushes make any difference on a wave? I thought the wave was all dependent on the hull and tab shapes, speed, and weight displacement.

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[sandm]

Not as much as what you mention but yes.
One brand ran reverse rotation years ago and cleaned up the goofy side better.

[vdubnick]

Not as much as what you mention but yes.
One brand ran reverse rotation years ago and cleaned up the goofy side better.

yeah im aware of that... i think it was the pre 2008 nautiques.

also, i think mastercraft had a dual prop (XC80?) that had simultaneously surfable waves.

[sandm]

yeah im aware of that... i think it was the pre 2008 nautiques.

also, i think mastercraft had a dual prop (XC80?) that had simultaneously surfable waves.

centurion had reverse rotation from the factory back in the day and I would bet $1 that every boat builder tried it at some point. not sure on nautty but wouldn't surprise me. reverse cleans up the goofy side better but does show that props do impact the wave for the purpose of hfarr's question.

I wonder if anyone ever really bought an x80 to surf :) beast of a barge but never heard of anyone saying the surf wake was worth a poo. gotta love a bathroom on board tho for the cfo on those cold days.....

where ya boat in idaho? I spent most of my life in boise and do miss lucky peak. one treasure of a lake.......

[Hayden]

@hayden, so what RPM are you running now while surfing? I was wondering the same thing when i was fully loaded (4k, +1k lead, +700 people) the other day and it was 3900-4100 rpm at 11.2-11.3 mph at 2500' same boat as yours

In my opinion, this depends; from best case, A) 100 lbs kid on a medium or long board, I would say 8-9deg pitch and 3600-4100 rpm, to worst case, B) +220 lbs man on a small skim board, I would say 10deg pitch and 4400-4600 rpm, both cases at 3000' altitude, 11mph.



i have the oj 15.5x15 altitude prop from the factory.

And according to Drew Tinker, the lower pitch props are more for hole shot speed while wakeboarding and having a higher pitch prop pushes more water for surfing, hence why the moomba website has the higher speed/pitch prop listed a surf prop.

yet everything i read/research says lower pitch is needed for surfing.

The lower pitch props, especially those with higher cup, can get you up to speed when you're running heavily weighted/10deg pitch/higher altitude or any combination of the three. I've experienced this first hand on two different boats and via multiple different propellers. I called ACME and told them how my Mojo was setup and they got back and said the ACME 3407, (15.5x13x0.150") would be the best. So far that has proven true.

I would agree that if SC is advertising, "surf prop", they could assume that you are going to do a mix of surfing/wakeboarding, and in that case 15.5x15 is decent and covers all their bases. However, if you are only surfing and you fall into one or more of the, heavily weighted/10deg pitch/higher altitude categories, then you'll need lower pitch/higher cup. How much depends on how much of each of the attributes listed and, in my opinion, is part of learning how to "dial in" your boat.

I have never tested or been on a boat that does reverse rotation so I can't speak to that.

[vdubnick]

In my opinion, this depends; from best case, A) 100 lbs kid on a medium or long board, I would say 8-9deg pitch and 3600-4100 rpm, to worst case, B) +220 lbs man on a small skim board, I would say 10deg pitch and 4400-4600 rpm, both cases at 3000' altitude, 11mph.



The lower pitch props, especially those with higher cup, can get you up to speed when you're running heavily weighted/10deg pitch/higher altitude or any combination of the three. I've experienced this first hand on two different boats and via multiple different propellers. I called ACME and told them how my Mojo was setup and they got back and said the ACME 3407, (15.5x13x0.150") would be the best. So far that has proven true.

I would agree that if SC is advertising, "surf prop", they could assume that you are going to do a mix of surfing/wakeboarding, and in that case 15.5x15 is decent and covers all their bases. However, if you are only surfing and you fall into one or more of the, heavily weighted/10deg pitch/higher altitude categories, then you'll need lower pitch/higher cup. How much depends on how much of each of the attributes listed and, in my opinion, is part of learning how to "dial in" your boat.

I have never tested or been on a boat that does reverse rotation so I can't speak to that.

thanks for the reply. i feel like i am dialing it in still. last year was the first for my boat, and half of it was dealing with a faulty lenco actuator. then i added lead towards the end of the year and had a few head scratchers which i think were related to improper calibration of the pitch/roll sensor. figured that out when the go home setting was making the boat lean. i manually adjusted things to get the wave right, so i think im good on the prop. only time it struggles is fully loaded above 12mph... but that isnt needed because i dont run full load for wakeboarding at 18+

i do wish they had manual override for the surf tabs, like the go home preset does.


for sanity check, my neighbors malibu 23 LSV runs about 41-4200 rpm with full ballast/wedge.

[vdubnick]

centurion had reverse rotation from the factory back in the day and I would bet $1 that every boat builder tried it at some point. not sure on nautty but wouldn't surprise me. reverse cleans up the goofy side better but does show that props do impact the wave for the purpose of hfarr's question.

I wonder if anyone ever really bought an x80 to surf :) beast of a barge but never heard of anyone saying the surf wake was worth a poo. gotta love a bathroom on board tho for the cfo on those cold days.....

where ya boat in idaho? I spent most of my life in boise and do miss lucky peak. one treasure of a lake.......

grew up in eastern idaho, so a lot of boating in ririe res. similar to lucky, but about 1/4 the size. also a lot of time at palisades, right on the wyoming border.

now im in the boise area, spend about 50/50 between lucky and lake lowell. sometimes make it to lake cascade, but i would like to try anderson ranch or lake owyhee in oregon this year. but lowell and lucky are the closest and easiest to get to.


i guess it was the X80, sounds cool on paper, but as you can see in the vid, yeah it has 2 waves, but they both look like garbage.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kn6OBQG93aY

[HFarr]

Yeah, I would guess if the twosided surf wave was really a good thing, then you would see more boats doing it today. On the comment about being able to control your suf tabs independently as you cruise. That would be a nice feature that I think would be easy for SC to do with some software additions. I can think of several times when it would be super easy to bump a tab up or down to level out the boat with an unbalanced crew of adults. I mean, why not give you the option of using them like an old fashioned trim tab on a big cabin cruiser.

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[Hayden]

i guess it was the X80, sounds cool on paper, but as you can see in the vid, yeah it has 2 waves, but they both look like garbage.


I'm ashamed to admit that I have never seen this done with wake surfing, only wakeboarding. I hadn't considered it at all. You would need a boat/hull/tabs all designed for it specifically, (for a cleaner wave on each side), but assuming you had at least one goofy and one reg rider, you could save so much gas and get more out of good lake conditions. (You have to get up pretty damn early to beat the crowds and get glass where I'm at.)

I've plumbed in my extra bow bags and plan to redo a couple of my videos that show where I've got to with weight/settings/venting/etc. I'll post it up here with all the schematics and part numbers if people want to try it out.

[sandm]

grew up in eastern idaho, so a lot of boating in ririe res. similar to lucky, but about 1/4 the size. also a lot of time at palisades, right on the wyoming border.

now im in the boise area, spend about 50/50 between lucky and lake lowell. sometimes make it to lake cascade, but i would like to try anderson ranch or lake owyhee in oregon this year. but lowell and lucky are the closest and easiest to get to.


i guess it was the X80, sounds cool on paper, but as you can see in the vid, yeah it has 2 waves, but they both look like garbage.

they are all riding big boards as I bet the boat has zero push.
miss lucky peak a lot. spent a TON of days camping up there and if not camping, 7am launch to get a dock for the day. sure it's a LOT worse as I left the valley in '13 and my cousin said it's a mess. they have a house on payette- lucky sob... friends used to boat in emmett but we got tired of the clockwise thing.
lowell is nice until the 4th of july when the bugs become unbearable but water is warm.
we boated at mead here and it's nice to have a no-wetsuit/heater top season that starts in march and runs until mid-november but you never know when the next body is going to float up :)

[Mxmark4]

grew up in eastern idaho, so a lot of boating in ririe res. similar to lucky, but about 1/4 the size. also a lot of time at palisades, right on the wyoming border.

now im in the boise area, spend about 50/50 between lucky and lake lowell. sometimes make it to lake cascade, but i would like to try anderson ranch or lake owyhee in oregon this year. but lowell and lucky are the closest and easiest to get to.


i guess it was the X80, sounds cool on paper, but as you can see in the vid, yeah it has 2 waves, but they both look like garbage.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kn6OBQG93aY

My buddy bought an X80 when we got our Malibu. Had to have it. Best boat Mastercraft ever made Yada Yada. Dropped big money on stereo and then traded it in. Never surfed behind it ballast tanks were busted. Ton of space but honestly his se feels bigger.

[mmmkay]

now im in the boise area, spend about 50/50 between lucky and lake lowell. sometimes make it to lake cascade, but i would like to try anderson ranch or lake owyhee in oregon this year. but lowell and lucky are the closest and easiest to get to.

I'm also in Boise. You should definitely check out Owyhee, it's my favorite lake in the area that's day-tripable! The scenery is spectacular, the water is usually up to 10 degrees warmer than Lucky Peak, and because it's MASSIVE and more remote you don't have to worry about it being crowded with other boats (even when the parking lots are overflowing). Just make sure you get an Oregon AIS Permit and complete a Boating Education Course. I have been stopped and checked for both those items (which I had). The only drawback to Owyhee is the water is pretty hard so you'll want to give your boat a good clean afterwards.

[HFarr]

On the X80 two surf topic. I could see one surfer getting peeved that he/she might have to keep dropping because a less skilled surfer keeps falling, or other surfer keeps trying tricks and losing the wave. Notce in that video that one surfer falls out and the boat kept going for a pretty good ways! "HEY SORRY DUDE! JUST HOLD YOUR BOARD UP IN THE AIR SO PEOPLE CAN SEE YOU! WE WILL BE BACK TO GET YOU AFTER JUSTIN FALLS!" LOL!

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[HFarr]

But I guess the same can be said about double kneeboarding and wakeboarding etc...

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[vdubnick]

I'm also in Boise. You should definitely check out Owyhee, it's my favorite lake in the area that's day-tripable! The scenery is spectacular, the water is usually up to 10 degrees warmer than Lucky Peak, and because it's MASSIVE and more remote you don't have to worry about it being crowded with other boats (even when the parking lots are overflowing). Just make sure you get an Oregon AIS Permit and complete a Boating Education Course. I have been stopped and checked for both those items (which I had). The only drawback to Owyhee is the water is pretty hard so you'll want to give your boat a good clean afterwards.

thanks for the info. i knew about the permit thing, but didnt know they required a boating course. been to hells canyon a bunch on a friends jet boat, and stopped by oregon cops, other than the border inspection, they seemed to only worry about fishing licenses.

i have driven up by owyhee dam, but never checked out the ramp. is it paved? how much parking do they have?

[vdubnick]

But I guess the same can be said about double kneeboarding and wakeboarding etc...

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we have the same luck with multiple kids on towables... its one kid that falls off, then as we start circling back, another jumps off, either in pannic, or to be funny... only happens once tho or they dont get to ride again.

[vdubnick]

I'm ashamed to admit that I have never seen this done with wake surfing, only wakeboarding. I hadn't considered it at all. You would need a boat/hull/tabs all designed for it specifically, (for a cleaner wave on each side), but assuming you had at least one goofy and one reg rider, you could save so much gas and get more out of good lake conditions. (You have to get up pretty damn early to beat the crowds and get glass where I'm at.)

I've plumbed in my extra bow bags and plan to redo a couple of my videos that show where I've got to with weight/settings/venting/etc. I'll post it up here with all the schematics and part numbers if people want to try it out.

so is that extra bow bag on top of the 6.5k you have already? :eek:

[mmmkay]

thanks for the info. i knew about the permit thing, but didnt know they required a boating course. been to hells canyon a bunch on a friends jet boat, and stopped by oregon cops, other than the border inspection, they seemed to only worry about fishing licenses.

i have driven up by owyhee dam, but never checked out the ramp. is it paved? how much parking do they have?

There are 2 main ramps, both are paved and have a dock. But if the water is low (will not be an issue this year) the dock can be out of the water and the tow vehicle driver will have to swim to and from the boat. Both ramps have a decent amount of parking but not nearly as much as Lucky Peak.

[Hayden]

so is that extra bow bag on top of the 6.5k you have already? :eek:

Nope, just plumbed in the two extra bow bags that I was filling with an over-the-side tsunami pump. Makes transitioning from surfing to tubing faster/easier. We host a lot of friends with small kids that still love tubing.