Right size ballast for RZ4?

[2buoysandagirl]

Hi All,
Just got our RZ4 a few weeks ago and already having fun... It doesn't have factory ballast and so far I have not bought any sac's but it's obvious it's next on the list... My question is how big do I need to go to get a decent surf wake behind a boat this size? Not looking to compete witht he Wake9 guys or go pro, just want to surf without having to keep the nose of the board over the swim deck to stay in the pocket...

The boat is a 2008 if that matters, not sure if the locker config changed over the years...

Your recommendations are aprpeciated...

Thanks,

Randy

[skippabcool]

I would get the custom sac from Chpthril. If you go smaller you will just wish you had gone bigger. I was going to start small and then move up. I am glad that I just did it in one step. Plus being a 24 footer you are going to need some weight.

[ragboy]

If you put the custom sacs in and then no weight up front, you will have a good wake, and lots of fun.

[Timmy!]

Randy - I have the custom sac that these guys talk about and it's perfect!
Mike's (Chpthril) website is: http://www.mikesliquidaudio.com/
This is the way to go and you won't regret it. I put it off for a year and still kick myself for not doing it sooner.

[Gwyn]

I also have a 2008 RZ4, but with 900lb factory ballst, and need to get some extra weight, as its not enough to surf with but I am based in dubai no one here makes custom sacks

Ragboy, you said you think its best without weight in the front? Would that keep the wave shorter but bigger?

[ragboy]

Unless you get at least about 1800 lbs plus in the rear corner, the front weight just neuters the wake. It makes it less powerful, and smaller. It may be longer, but who cares if you can't surf it. So with less than that amount of weight, only do the rear corner.

Look at it like this, the RZ4 is just like the RZ2, just longer, its like the RZ2 with already a bunch of weight in it. The hulls are the same width, its not a scale up, it is STRETCHED. So think of the RZ4 as already having DEFAULT weight up front, and you have to add enough weight in the back to "catch up" to the right ratio. Does that make sense?

Feel free to try it, put 1000 in the rear corner, and then fill up 400 in front. Then do the same thing without the 400 up front, surf both.

[chpthril]

I also have a 2008 RZ4, but with 900lb factory ballst, and need to get some extra weight, as its not enough to surf with but I am based in dubai no one here makes custom sacks

Ragboy, you said you think its best without weight in the front? Would that keep the wave shorter but bigger?

We can do you a custom sac, but shipping would be pricey!

But, the downside to your 08 with factory ballast is the placement of the factory hard tanks. With the tanks across the transom, it forces the batteries on the port side, and the TAPS motor on the starboard side, out into the v-drive locker. This make putting a sac int there a tough fit. A "stair-step custom would be expensive and im not sure about placing the weight on top of the battery box.

One simple and cost effective solution, is to add a sac in front of the battery box, stretching out under the seats. The right sac can add about 600#, but its along the side and not in the back as its needed in that boat. Taking this a step further and building a false-floor above the battery box is a lot of work, but allows for another 300# to be placed in the rear locker. This gets you up to about 1150# on the port side, but its a lot of work and the plumbing gets complicated.

If surfing is your goal, then the best solution is to pull the hard tanks and go with an Enzo sac or a custom.

[chpthril]

Hi All,
Just got our RZ4 a few weeks ago and already having fun... It doesn't have factory ballast and so far I have not bought any sac's but it's obvious it's next on the list... My question is how big do I need to go to get a decent surf wake behind a boat this size? Not looking to compete witht he Wake9 guys or go pro, just want to surf without having to keep the nose of the board over the swim deck to stay in the pocket...

The boat is a 2008 if that matters, not sure if the locker config changed over the years...

Your recommendations are aprpeciated...

Thanks,

Randy

Since your 08 RZ4 doesnt have the factory ballast, I recommend the Fly High W712 Enzo. it can be manually filled with a W709 pump kit or plumbed-in for an automated system. Let me know if I can help in any way. Feel free to PM me if you want further details.