Best Overall Setup

[OkStateWake]

Hey everybody, I am looking to invest into some extra weight for my 2006 VLX, and I'm looking for y'all's opinion on what the best setup is for both wakeboarding and wakesurfing. I was looking into WakeMakers piggy back system for my rear ballasts, but also at just independent fat sacs. What would you all recommend? I need weight throughout the boat, not just for the rear.

Thanks

[Stevo]

Start here

http://www.themalibucrew.com/forums/index.php?/forum/32-ballast-info-how-to/

and get get some ideas based on your budget , you could be looking at a prop change depending on what you have and what you want to do, so $$$ could impact what you end up doing

[t a]

There's a million threads on wakesurfing but not much on wakeboarding anymore. Mine isn't "slammed" but I like it a lot. For wakeboarding, all stock (4 tanks)full plus 550's in rear lockers, 400 in walkway, and wedge. I also have 100# in lead on passenger side to offset driver. So total about 2800# plus wedge. Usually ride at 70ft 22mph.

[05hammerhead]

If you want to surf, youll need something bigger than 450s in the rear. My setup is 450s on each locker and a 1000lb triangle up front all on reversible pumps. Works flawlessly for wakeboarding. Not near enough weight for surfing. If I did it again I would do 750s back there. I also throw a 350 tube sac under the seat when surfing.

[t a]

If you want to surf, youll need something bigger than 450s in the rear. My setup is 450s on each locker and a 1000lb triangle up front all on reversible pumps. Works flawlessly for wakeboarding. Not near enough weight for surfing. If I did it again I would do 750s back there. I also throw a 350 tube sac under the seat when surfing.

Are you running that triangle full? Just curious cause I was gonna go that route this year but tested it with 2 400's in bow and found it to be too much up there, the wake shrank and mellowed out considerably. I think with 750's it'd be fine but didn't want to buy all new sacks.

[05hammerhead]

Yup. I run it full. Its a super nice ramp vs a super steep kicker.

[OkStateWake]

So, I was looking at buying a pack of 2 x 400# sacs from fly high, a 750# and a 1000# bow sac.

For surfing, I was thinking that the 750 could go into the locker, with one of the 400s on the surf side close to the walkway, with the 1000 obviously in the bow.

For wake boarding, the 400s would go in the lockers, with the 750 in the middle.

Any thoughts or opinions on this setup?

Edited August 4, 2015 by OkStateWake

[t a]

So, I was looking at buying a pack of 2 x 400# sacs from fly high, a 750# and a 1000# bow sac.

For surfing, I was thinking that the 750 could go into the locker, with one of the 400s on the surf side close to the walkway, with the 1000 obviously in the bow.

For wake boarding, the 400s would go in the lockers, with the 750 in the middle.

Any thoughts or opinions on this setup?

Which prop do you have?

[OkStateWake]

Which prop do you have?

. Honestly, I have no idea. Probably whichever one came stock on the boat.

[t a]

. Honestly, I have no idea. Probably whichever one came stock on the boat.

If it says 537 on it you may be in trouble with any of these setups. You can look at the numbers stamped around the center. That is the usual one that comes stock on this era Bu. Before you toss all this weight in there you may want to budget another $600 or so for a larger prop. Hate for you to spend $$$ on all these sacs and not be able to get on plane with it. I have the acme 1235 and it can easily push the weight you are looking at but if you are going to upgrade anyway look at the acme 2315 and you'll never have too much weight for it.

[t a]

You may be ok with the 537, I forgot I ran that for a little while, I just got tired of it taking 30 to 40 secs to get on plane and burning through gas like crazy

[robbennett]

The 537 is no good for anything over stock ballast. It does burn a lot of gas like t a said and that long plane time is a lot of stress on your motor.

Edit:

For props I would look at the 1235 at minimum if not a 2315

Edited August 4, 2015 by robbennett

[NorrisMike]

1235 is a great prop for your boat.

fun fact - I have been running around without any ballast at all and logging 4gph or less

I'd do 750's in the rear and the triangle in the front. You don't have to fill it all the way if you don't want to. Better to have more for surfing. I swapped 750's for 1100's in the rear.

Edited August 4, 2015 by NorrisMike

[OkStateWake]

So, basically I can afford one or the other, sacs or a new prop. What would y'all suggest?

[t a]

U can run around on that prop for a little while but I would strongly consider budgeting for the upgrade on the prop very soon. I would go sacs first because you can probably go up to about 1000# over stock or run all the weight but no wedge and still get on plane. A new prop right now doesn't help you much at all. There are used 1235's in the classifieds all the time.

[kayakwv]

I have a very similar boat in the 2005 VLX. I purchased several things from Wakemakers to improve the wave and make it much easier to surf quickly. I got what Wakemakers called the modified Super Piggy Back option. Replaced my 800 pumps with Rule1100's and increased the hose to 1 1/8 diameter which splits to fill the underfloor tank and a 750 bag simultaneously. Then I moved that 800 pump I just took out to the drain side, so I have two pumps draining each side (which needed a bigger fuse as well). So quicker fill times, and two pumps per side draining, so no gravity draining, and it works great. I later bought some manual gates, but the wave is not worth the hassle of storing them and not being able to turn, so I rarely use them.

I also have two 400lb bags for the bow and cabin if we don't have enough people to move around. I don't like putting a lot of weight in the bow. It does improve the length of the wave, but not worth the stress of having someone else dipping the bow, when I am surfing. And if you are good at surfing, you really don't need a super long pocket anyway. We'll still put weight up there from time to time, but for me, it really depends on who I've got driving the boat.

Edited August 11, 2015 by kayakwv

[TC_2006_VLX]

How fast are you guys running when fulling sacked out? We have to run at 23.4 mph to get a good wake behind my VLX at 70 feet. My buddies 2006 LSV loaded down we only have to run at 22.4 mph with 75 feet which feels like your standing still. Any ideas on how we can get my VLX to run slower with longer rope?

[robbennett]

My guess is your speedometer is calibration is off. I have the same boat and running about 3k I get a great wake at 22.4.

Another thing to think of is his bow weight is 1.5 feet farther toward the front than your boat. That will have an effect on the planing speed as well. You will need slightly more bow weight in your boat. This weekend I ran the same ballast setup Saturday as I did on Sunday except I had about 200 extra pounds of people weight in the back of the boat and couldn't plane off at first. I moved the toolboxes to the front of the bow and everything was fixed.

[TC_2006_VLX]

robbennett what ballast setup do you have?

[robbennett]

I run factory hard tanks, 540 bag in the bow and 400 on each side of the engine minimum. I have an 1100 I sometimes put in the floor in the back if there's only a couple people on the boat. Also I have a couple of round 250 pound bags that I can roll from side to side to even out the wake or use for surfing.