2019 Makai Surf Setting suggestions

Hi folks,

I have stock ballast and 650 lbs of lead to work with. When I surf with 5 adults on the boat, no problem to ride without the rope until the boat runs out of gas. Switch it up to having 1 adult and 4 kids on the boat I can’t seem to swing it with settings remaining the same.

I ride goofy and I’m not sure what my pitch and roll numbers are because 1. I don’t typically use autowake and 2. I’m not in the boat when I’m trying to ride. My wife pulls me, but is hesitant to pop through screens and wants to stay focused on driving.

I did try 11.5 and 12 mph. I am positive all the air is out of the bags as well.

I did try 1 run with autowake on and the “move passengers to port” warning came up. Only so much I can do with the 8 to 13 year olds. I could run a little less tab I suppose I think it’s set to about 70.

I didn’t monkey with it too much on the last outing. I was last up and we were on a bit of a time crunch.

The 13 year old girls on the other hand can ride effortlessly even before I added the lead.

Thanks in advance - I may just need another 300 lbs but thought I would ask first.

the first thing i would try is different speeds. 11.5-12 mph may be too fast. My mondo is at 9.6 for a good wave.

Second that on the speed. I have a Makai and run about 10.2-10.5 and have good waves with stock ballast and 4 people on the boat. Make sure your center plate is never above 20.

Sent from my SM-G781V using Tapatalk

Where do you currently have the lead placed? For a light crew I have found most of the time Autowake struggles a bit to get the optimal wake vs having a few more adults in there, then its pretty spot on. We generally run at 10.8 regular and goofy. 70 may be too much on your surf tab, I think my goofy plate is 60-65 with the center plate at 0 with a light crew. For manual ballast goofy, Id suggest trying 100% bow, 80% port and 100% starboard. Kids on the starboard and rear seat

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by RUGER761

Where do you currently have the lead placed? For a light crew I have found most of the time Autowake struggles a bit to get the optimal wake vs having a few more adults in there, then its pretty spot on. We generally run at 10.8 regular and goofy. 70 may be too much on your surf tab, I think my goofy plate is 60-65 with the center plate at 0 with a light crew. For manual ballast goofy, Id suggest trying 100% bow, 80% port and 100% starboard. Kids on the starboard and rear seat

---

This is almost my same scenario on our 21 Makai. I don't have any lead at all.

Sent from my SM-G781V using Tapatalk

You just need more weight on your lighter days. You can get more lead or replace your rear bags with the WakeMakers bags which will add 700#.

In this situation: "I did try 1 run with autowake on and the “move passengers to port” warning came up. Only so much I can do with the 8 to 13 year olds." to maximize your current setup try moving some of your lead to port.

Thanks for all of the responses everyone. I’ll try to slow it down a bit and see if that helps. Seems like when I go much below 11 the wave feels too soft. I have several things to try as the season comes to a close here in Ohio.

On the WakeMakers bag comment - I really can’t afford to loose the storage bins. I store a tube in each one and they barely fit…..darn kiddos and their tubing…lol.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by RUGER761

Where do you currently have the lead placed? For a light crew I have found most of the time Autowake struggles a bit to get the optimal wake vs having a few more adults in there, then its pretty spot on. We generally run at 10.8 regular and goofy. 70 may be too much on your surf tab, I think my goofy plate is 60-65 with the center plate at 0 with a light crew. For manual ballast goofy, Id suggest trying 100% bow, 80% port and 100% starboard. Kids on the starboard and rear seat

---

Trying to remember exactly I think I have 200 port under the bag, 300 starboard under the bag and 150 to move where necessary.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Max20

Thanks for all of the responses everyone. I’ll try to slow it down a bit and see if that helps. Seems like when I go much below 11 the wave feels too soft. I have several things to try as the season comes to a close here in Ohio.

On the WakeMakers bag comment - I really can’t afford to loose the storage bins. I store a tube in each one and they barely fit…..darn kiddos and their tubing…lol.

---

I hear you loud and clear. I have College age sons and daughter that even with all the surfing they and their friends do, the flicking tubes still end up having to be pulled! I end up pulling two 3-seaters at the time. People don't realize how much resistance a tube puts on a boat. Those things don't like to slide across the water easily. That's when my fuel gauge really takes a hit!

Sent from my SM-G781V using Tapatalk

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by HFarr

I hear you loud and clear. I have College age sons and daughter that even with all the surfing they and their friends do, the flicking tubes still end up having to be pulled! I end up pulling two 3-seaters at the time. People don't realize how much resistance a tube puts on a boat. Those things don't like to slide across the water easily. That's when my fuel gauge really takes a hit!

Sent from my SM-G781V using Tapatalk

---

I pull a 3 seater Warbird Chariot for my kids, nephews, and in-laws. I can watch the fuel change drop as the RPM's go up. It is worse than surfing slammed with a crew of 11 in the boat.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by HFarr

I hear you loud and clear. I have College age sons and daughter that even with all the surfing they and their friends do, the flicking tubes still end up having to be pulled! I end up pulling two 3-seaters at the time. People don't realize how much resistance a tube puts on a boat. Those things don't like to slide across the water easily. That's when my fuel gauge really takes a hit!

Sent from my SM-G781V using Tapatalk

---

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Holdmybeer

I pull a 3 seater Warbird Chariot for my kids, nephews, and in-laws. I can watch the fuel change drop as the RPM's go up. It is worse than surfing slammed with a crew of 11 in the boat.

---

Ya people definitely don't realize the amount of fuel tubing burns. Do either of you use a booster ball on your tow rope? I got one after the first time we tubed behind our Makai as the rope was just getting "stuck" in the rooster tail and wake.

And this thread is officially of the rails lol

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Tommy2slow

And this thread is officially of the rails lol

---

LOL! Yep. It doesn't take much sometimes![emoji1787] just have to hit that common nerve everybody seems to have. Which is " we all hate tubes, but still seem to somehow end up pulling them!"

Sent from my SM-G781V using Tapatalk

Ah hell I don’t mind it’s off the rails even 1 bit. I too pull 2 large tubes at the same time (4 kids) and yes, it really drinks the gas for sure! I have 1 of those ball things I used to use when I would pull them behind (yes) a large twin engine cruiser. I only have 1 ball though and I don’t think 2 tubes would work with it. I have enough crap to tote and blow up just with the tubes so I’m likely not getting a second one.

I set the cruise to 20 mph so I don’t accidentally wind up pulling them too fast.

I have also seen a lot of people hooking ropes to the tower but I think that’s a no no.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Max20

Ah hell I don’t mind it’s off the rails even 1 bit. I too pull 2 large tubes at the same time (4 kids) and yes, it really drinks the gas for sure! I have 1 of those ball things I used to use when I would pull them behind (yes) a large twin engine cruiser. I only have 1 ball though and I don’t think 2 tubes would work with it. I have enough crap to tote and blow up just with the tubes so I’m likely not getting a second one.

I set the cruise to 20 mph so I don’t accidentally wind up pulling them too fast.

I have also seen a lot of people hooking ropes to the tower but I think that’s a no no.

---

It is definitely a bad idea to tow an inflatable from the tower. Unsafe for the participants on the inflatable and the tower is not designed to handle the stresses a tube puts on them. Don’t even get me started about pulling two tubes from the tower.

When my kids were younger I would take them tubing only after they went skiing or wakeboarding. Wasn’t long before they weren’t interested in tubes and only wanted to ski/wakeboard. I have a large, commercial grade, banana boat like you see at resort islands that I bring out when we have large get togethers. It works well to get the guests that don’t do water sports out on the water for some fun. It seats 10 so it works really well for getting lots of people out tubing at once so we can get that out of the way and back surfing or other activities. But OMG, pulling 10 people at a time burns fuel at a ridiculous rate!!

I never pull the tube from the tower.
The ski pylon works better anyway because the plastic swivel helps swing the tube around. I do not use the rope ball, I try to only tube when the water is choppy. We only did it 4 times this year, and I don't even own the tube, its my in-laws from their old boat.

Ya I only pull the tube from tow point on the stern of the boat as well and never from the tower. I just wasn't sure if anyone else with a Makai had an issue with the rope getting "caught" in the wake and/or rooster tail.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by TXSurf4

Ya I only pull the tube from tow point on the stern of the boat as well and never from the tower. I just wasn't sure if anyone else with a Makai had an issue with the rope getting "caught" in the wake and/or rooster tail.

---

I have the ball and always use. I had issues with the rope getting buried in the wake before too. The added benefit of the football is it acts like a pneumatic shock to absorb the stress if the rope get slack in it and the driver doesn’t back off the throttle. The football squeezes down instead of the anchor point or the tube/riders getting rocked.

You guys empty all the ballast weight for pulling a tube, right? (new to this stuff)

I do not empty all the ballast weight. I leave my front at 1/2 or better, because everyone is in the rear watching the kids. The force pulling on the back also creates bow rise, so the weight in the nose helps keep it down. I also have the middle plate (trim plate) all the way down to keep the transom out of the water and stay on plane.

I pull from the pylon at the rear, or my two hook points on either side of the stern when pulling both our big 3 seaters at the same time. I don't use a tow ball, and keep my front ballast full and empty rears. I generally keep my center Plate at 50 or so just to give them some wake to bounce over when I sling the piss out of them. Every now and then a rope will get hung in some of the wake, but only for a moment.

Sent from my SM-G781V using Tapatalk

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Max20

Thanks for all of the responses everyone. I’ll try to slow it down a bit and see if that helps. Seems like when I go much below 11 the wave feels too soft. I have several things to try as the season comes to a close here in Ohio.

On the WakeMakers bag comment - I really can’t afford to loose the storage bins. I store a tube in each one and they barely fit…..darn kiddos and their tubing…lol.

---

Hate to hijack and revive an old thread...but...

I've got the bag upgrade and still have the stock storage bins. Am I missing something? The dealer added 1.5min to the timers and they look "full" when I pop the seat up to look at them. Just wondering now if maybe they aren't filling all the way up since I can still fit the bins?

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by dyrmz134

Hate to hijack and revive an old thread...but...

I've got the bag upgrade and still have the stock storage bins. Am I missing something? The dealer added 1.5min to the timers and they look "full" when I pop the seat up to look at them. Just wondering now if maybe they aren't filling all the way up since I can still fit the bins?

---

Ya the bins should not fit when they are full unless they made the new bins way shorter and I mean like 4"-6" deep. Did he move your sensors up behind the rear wall as well? My bags come pretty close to filling the entire space. No way my bins would fit.

I have a post on the FB group where I talk about venting the rear bags from the top to get all the air out as you fill. That way you dont have a bunch of air in your bags. You can also manually burp your bags by cracking the top vent cap while you fill as well.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by cozilla

I have a post on the FB group where I talk about venting the rear bags from the top to get all the air out as you fill. That way you dont have a bunch of air in your bags. You can also manually burp your bags by cracking the top vent cap while you fill as well.

---

Good point! To me this is a must. I vented off the top of both of WM bags T'd them in to the factory overflow and I put check valves just before the fitting that goes out the side to help with draining. TBH I am going to find a way to also vent the bags under the bench seat and tie it into the same line. It is so nice to not have to burp the bags.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by TXSurf4

Ya the bins should not fit when they are full unless they made the new bins way shorter and I mean like 4"-6" deep. Did he move your sensors up behind the rear wall as well? My bags come pretty close to filling the entire space. No way my bins would fit.

---

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by cozilla

I have a post on the FB group where I talk about venting the rear bags from the top to get all the air out as you fill. That way you dont have a bunch of air in your bags. You can also manually burp your bags by cracking the top vent cap while you fill as well.

---

I'll measure the depth soon but 6" seems like what I have. It's odd because I asked the salesman about it and he said they'd fit and even had a story about another customer who put lead in the bins.

I'll try the venting next time out after I get the bins out. Is the vent cap obviously just on top?

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by TXSurf4

Ya the bins should not fit when they are full unless they made the new bins way shorter and I mean like 4"-6" deep. Did he move your sensors up behind the rear wall as well? My bags come pretty close to filling the entire space. No way my bins would fit.

---

the bins are pretty shallow (about 6-8"). i think the 22 models have "upgraded" bags, as mine fill under the seats all the way, and appear to fill the lockers up to the shallow storage bins.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by vdubnick

the bins are pretty shallow (about 6-8"). i think the 22 models have "upgraded" bags, as mine fill under the seats all the way, and appear to fill the lockers up to the shallow storage bins.

---

I bought wake makers and had the dealer install before I ever picked it up. I've got the unused stock bags sitting in my garage. I wonder if they changed the bins , or if I'm not getting all the way full.

The 2021 Makai storage bins are 11" deep. Plus or minus thickness of the plastic. https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/202...5acbf47dd9.jpg

Sent from my SM-G781V using Tapatalk

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by HFarr

The 2021 Makai storage bins are 11" deep. Plus or minus thickness of the plastic.

Sent from my SM-G781V using Tapatalk

---

interesting , i will measure mine tonight, they dont seem as deep, but maybe they are.

side note, do yours catch the vinyl/cover? i had to round off the sharp edge on mine because it was snagging the vinyl seam every time you opened it.


also, i thought the WM bag upgrades didnt add much to the top and more added to the front/under seat. the WM bags are listed as only 1345x2, stock 2022 is 4k total, and i dont see the front bag being more than 1310LB

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by vdubnick

interesting , i will measure mine tonight, they dont seem as deep, but maybe they are.

side note, do yours catch the vinyl/cover? i had to round off the sharp edge on mine because it was snagging the vinyl seam every time you opened it.


also, i thought the WM bag upgrades didnt add much to the top and more added to the front/under seat. the WM bags are listed as only 1345x2, stock 2022 is 4k total, and i dont see the front bag being more than 1310LB

---

The Makai bags are different from the new Mojo set up. The Mojo has an L shaped bag for lack of better terms where the makai has 2 bags for the port rear and 2 for the Starboard rear. It is the same concept as the Mojo but the bag under the seat is piggy backed off of the rear locker bag. So the WM Upgrade takes the rear locker 1,000# bag and replaces it with a 1,350# bag which is much taller and you still have a 400# bag under the floor beneath the bench seat. So when your flip the switch for the port or starboard side you are filling each with 1,750#. All that being said the new Mojo's set up with the L shaped bag is much more elegant and simple.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by HFarr

The 2021 Makai storage bins are 11" deep. Plus or minus thickness of the plastic. https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/202...5acbf47dd9.jpg

Sent from my SM-G781V using Tapatalk

---

Ya my '19 bins for the exact same measurement are 13.5" deep. Do you have the WM Upgrade?

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by dyrmz134

I bought wake makers and had the dealer install before I ever picked it up. I've got the unused stock bags sitting in my garage. I wonder if they changed the bins , or if I'm not getting all the way full.

---

My guess is that you are not getting all the way full. When my bags are full they are at most 3" under the edge of the fiberglass that the struts are mounted to. Does your screen show full? Meaning doe the 100 get a little red dot next to it?

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by TXSurf4

My guess is that you are not getting all the way full. When my bags are full they are at most 3" under the edge of the fiberglass that the struts are mounted to. Does your screen show full? Meaning doe the 100 get a little red dot next to it?

---

Yep , they are showing 100%. But would they if air was trapped?

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by dyrmz134

Yep , they are showing 100%. But would they if air was trapped?

---

Yes the % is based on time the pumps have been running vs the timer on that switch. So if you have the timer for your Port Fill at 8 minutes and it has run for 8 mins then it will show 100% regardless of the level of the bag. This is why getting your fill and times correct is important. That being said there is a little dot next to each % when the dot is RED it means that the sensor is seeing water and that the bag is actually full that is unless you have the upgraded bags and your sensor has not been relocated to a higher location. Unless thing have changed the sensor for each rear bags is located on a pipe that is mounted vertically behind the rear wall in each locker. The height of the sensor is located right at the top of the factory bag so when your bag is full there is a column of water in the tube at the same height and the sensor see it and shuts your pumps off and turn the little dot on your screen red. This is why I ask if your dealer relocated your sensors. If they didn't and just added 1.5 min, the the sensor will see water at the old full level and shut the pumps off and show 100% but upgraded bags wont be full. My guess is if you still have your rear bins then they are not filling all the way, the only real storage you can get out of the rear locker with the upgraded bags is by hanging a net in them to hold a life jacket or 2.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by TXSurf4

Ya my '19 bins for the exact same measurement are 13.5" deep. Do you have the WM Upgrade?

---

I don't have WM upgrade. I do see FatSac written on one end of them. Not sure if that's who Moomba used that year or not. I didn't order the boat. I got lucky and came along just after someone that did order it had their deal fall through when it came in. My build sheet doesn't indicate anything special about a ballast upgrade.

Sent from my SM-G781V using Tapatalk

I promise you that they are ballooning up with air if you don't bleed them. Just check next time.

Sent from my SM-G781V using Tapatalk

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by TXSurf4

Yes the % is based on time the pumps have been running vs the timer on that switch. So if you have the timer for your Port Fill at 8 minutes and it has run for 8 mins then it will show 100% regardless of the level of the bag. This is why getting your fill and times correct is important. That being said there is a little dot next to each % when the dot is RED it means that the sensor is seeing water and that the bag is actually full that is unless you have the upgraded bags and your sensor has not been relocated to a higher location. Unless thing have changed the sensor for each rear bags is located on a pipe that is mounted vertically behind the rear wall in each locker. The height of the sensor is located right at the top of the factory bag so when your bag is full there is a column of water in the tube at the same height and the sensor see it and shuts your pumps off and turn the little dot on your screen red. This is why I ask if your dealer relocated your sensors. If they didn't and just added 1.5 min, the the sensor will see water at the old full level and shut the pumps off and show 100% but upgraded bags wont be full. My guess is if you still have your rear bins then they are not filling all the way, the only real storage you can get out of the rear locker with the upgraded bags is by hanging a net in them to hold a life jacket or 2.

---

Ah-good info. I have seen the red dot, not sure if they relocated the sensors. Any idea how hard it is to relocate them? Is it just a slide it up thing or a full modification to the tube?

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by HFarr

I promise you that they are ballooning up with air if you don't bleed them. Just check next time.

Sent from my SM-G781V using Tapatalk

---

Will do. Thanks!

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by HFarr

I don't have WM upgrade. I do see FatSac written on one end of them. Not sure if that's who Moomba used that year or not. I didn't order the boat. I got lucky and came along just after someone that did order it had their deal fall through when it came in. My build sheet doesn't indicate anything special about a ballast upgrade.

Sent from my SM-G781V using Tapatalk

---

FatSacs are the OEM 1,000# bags.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by dyrmz134

Ah-good info. I have seen the red dot, not sure if they relocated the sensors. Any idea how hard it is to relocate them? Is it just a slide it up thing or a full modification to the tube?

---

First thing I would do is get in there and remove the rear wall to see if they relocated the sensor or not. If they didn’t it is actually pretty easy just need some parts from Wakemakers. You just add 10”-12” between the tube and the hose that connects to the bag and then zip tie the sensor as high as possible in the corner of the boat. Toughest part is just working in the smaller space.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by TXSurf4

FatSacs are the OEM 1,000# bags.



First thing I would do is get in there and remove the rear wall to see if they relocated the sensor or not. If they didn’t it is actually pretty easy just need some parts from Wakemakers. You just add 10”-12” between the tube and the hose that connects to the bag and then zip tie the sensor as high as possible in the corner of the boat. Toughest part is just working in the smaller space.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

---

Thanks. I've got the 20 hour service coming up and I think it's reasonable to ask them to do this if they didn't.