im also thinking the 06 stock platform on the LSV is digging into the wave as well.. would like to make a custom platform in the off season.
Printable View
I am using a pool noodle from the dollar store.
This is before I cut it down to size to more match the dimensions of the 2014 Axis surfgates...
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-E...324_141407.jpg
Here's what it looks like now and I've got the noodle in my hands.
https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/Hz...syA=w1202-h641
Here's my "before" wave on the day that I tested it with my normal setup (playpen 1180 gravity bag full, surfside 1100 full, non-surfside 1100 half full, and 400 under surfside seat full. a pair of over 200 pound adults on the surfside. 10mph. typically it's wakeplate 1/4 of the way down.
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-5...904_174223.jpg
With the gate added to this setup, the wave felt shallower and was longer with more hook out to the surfside. It really felt more 'skim' than surf optimized.
Honestly for all the extra space it takes up and for the hassle of putting it on and off, it wasn't enough of a breathtaking wave difference to justify the hassle.
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/O8...wIQ=w1202-h641
The afternoon wasn't all that smooth, but it was an apples to apples comparison. we were able to decrease the speed of the boat with the gate, but again, with all the ballast variability I have with 5 different bags I can fill, I much prefer the experience of the listed boat without the extra hassle, fuel consumption, and strain on my engine that the gate makes.
Also, I did test my gate and it's "neutrally buoyant". Like a wakeboard when it's attached to your feet. it floats, but just enough to not sink. it don't float on TOP of the water like an EPS Foam surfboard.
Compare the above to just changing my setup with people weight:
- Wife driving = subtract 100 pounds from above pictures driver weight
- Added 300 - 350 pounds by adding 2 more people to the boat.
And now look at the weight with no gate:
https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/_W...BeA=w1202-h641
Trayson, is your blade sticking out or going straight back
from what I have gathered the straight back style works better for the Moomba's--you might want to mod your mod a little and see what the results are
Has anyone been able to evenly weight the boat with a ghetto gate and have a clean wake? We still have to weight ours pretty heavily to the surf side to get it clean. We are trying to figure out how the malibu we were in was evenly weighted and had a perfect wave on both sides and we can't come close to this with the gate.
Trayson, I tried three different angles on the xlv and and they all lose push . Straight back extension works the best.
Derrick, I have not been able to weight the xlv evenly, but with the gate it is definitely more towards level. I need about 500 lbs in the opposite locker offsetting roughly 1200 lbs. without the gate I add zero weight in opposite locker.