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97 Sunsetter VLX


Dash

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I bought a 97 Sunsetter VLX this last summer. The wake I get with 3 people in the boat is quite impressive compared to the I/O we started with. I'm wanting to make it better though. Get a little more air, go a little faster (currently around 22mph). I know I need a 1235 prop. How much ballast should I run in this boat for wakeboarding and what's the best places to position it?

Boards we're using:

Liquid Force Trip

CWB Mode

Byerly Monarch

Thank you!

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22 hours ago, Dash said:

I bought a 97 Sunsetter VLX this last summer. The wake I get with 3 people in the boat is quite impressive compared to the I/O we started with. I'm wanting to make it better though. Get a little more air, go a little faster (currently around 22mph). I know I need a 1235 prop. How much ballast should I run in this boat for wakeboarding and what's the best places to position it?

Boards we're using:

Liquid Force Trip

CWB Mode

Byerly Monarch

Thank you!

I don't know if you need a 1235 prop for wake boarding, I think that's more for surfing unless you are high altitude. I have the Acme 537 on mine and like the hole shot with a good top speed for cruising around. I have had mine full of ~ 1500 lbs of ballast and several people in it while we surfed with no issues.  A little ballast goes a long way, at least in mine when we wake board.

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We ran 540's in each locker about 50% full and no bow weight for wakeboarding.  It was plenty for us but we didn't have anyone looking to go as big as possible.  Maybe a baby bag (150-200lbs) in the bow?  We loved our 98 sunsetter vlx just the way it came from the factory.  No prop change or anything.  That was a great boat.  If surfing wasn't so damn much fun, I'd still have it....

Dave

 

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Best just to go big 750/1100   you don't have to fill them  and then the room is there if you need more or want to surf

i have some old 400's that i would sell..

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  • 2 weeks later...

1235 is pretty generic and certainly the best option many years ago but that's not the case today. Get yourself a 15" prop (yes it will fit...Malibu has never sold a V drive that can't handle a 15").  

Go 1100's in the rear. They won't fill all the way but best way to max the space. Then do a ski locker bag and a bow under seat bag plus a couple hundred pounds of lead near the nose under the bow filler cushion. You will get a big wake and all ballast is hidden. 

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Probably too late, I have 98 sunsetter. I run 750 in each corner, the stock bag in belly, 450 or so, and run 675 in bow, I removed the seats, and cut a piece of wood to go over all the openings. I think the wave is great, can run 20 mph at 55 ft for learning new tricks, and it gets better down the line. I usually run 65ft, 21.5mph. seems like my liquid force trip board likes that transition better than my Hyperlite B-Side. I have noticed since these hulls are only 93" wide, they are very sensitive. So keep your crew evenly seated. Wake with crumbling top needs more weight. I even have a bag to offset drivers weight, its that sensitive. I think you might need weight in bow, I use to run 400lbs in rear corners and just the belly bag, and I planed off good. But I think you might be too heavy rear now. I also went 1235 prop, at 2500 lbs of ballast, 21.5 mph, my RPM's are only 3200.

Edited by Choiceind
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