Z3 custom ballast sac. Worth the $$$?

[383ws6]

So I've finally been able to add enough sacs to go wireless (230# rider). Sadly, it was on a weekend when it was only my wife & 4 yr old daughter with me. Yesterday, we set everything up the same except had 3 more passengers in the boat (maybe 250 lbs). For whatever reason, we couldn't get enough push for me to go wireless again. Here's the setup:
Speed at 11.2, taps at 5, 750# fat sac at 100% under the factory "fold out" 600# sac at 100%, 400# sac at 100% under the seat just in front of the other two, & a 400# sac at 100% sitting in the seat in the back corner, stock front 400# sac anywhere from 0%-100%. Only way I could get enough push was to empty the front, & slow down to 10.2mph. This was only enough push to keep me in the pocket for a little bit.

My question is, would a custom 1325# sac from wakemakers be worth the $$$? From my understanding, I would have to remove my 600# factory sac to install this. Therefore, my 750# sac + the stock 600# sac would be better (& cheaper)???

Another question would be, should I keep the setup the same except add a W718 1000# L-shaped sac in the seat instead of the 400#'er?

So far, I've never added any weight to the starboard side. Don't know if it would help or hurt. Showing about 7.7* of list, which is close to ragboy's magical #, but still not enough push.

[383ws6]

Actually, I just looked at wakemakers page a little closer & see that the Enzo Pro X sac is 125# heavier, & $145 cheaper. Would it even fit in the Z3's locker?

[chpthril]

Actually, I just looked at wakemakers page a little closer & see that the Enzo Pro X sac is 125# heavier, & $145 cheaper. Would it even fit in the Z3's locker?

The size of the compartment is not changing, so it will hold no more volume, regardless of what sac you put in it. As an example, your 30 gallon kitchen trashcan is still a 30G can, even if you put a 55G trash bag in it. Knowing the size of the compartment and both the Enzo and the custom sac, I would base my decision on that 125lbs. Also, the Enzo does not have the ports in the proper location to be a plug-n-play upgrade for the 350# OEM surf sac, The Enzo is a standard Fly High sac, thats why is less expensive then the custom sacs. You would have to manually fill the W712 Enzo or plumb it in.

The W718 is about 60" each direction, so I do not see it fitting under the seats. Plus, you need the weight as far back as possible for the best effect.

If you are struggling with riding rope-less, I would evaluate your board and stance. A minor adjustment in foot placement usually makes a huge difference. The quality of the board can also have a huge impact on speed.

[Timmy!]

Slow it down to 10.2-10.4. My brother is 220 and no problems with the stock ballast at those speeds and the push is ridiculous!

[383ws6]

We've got 3 boards, a hyperlite, a liquid force 5-3, & a shredd stixx thruster. I could've gone wireless all day last weekend on the stixx, but it wouldn't hold me with 2 more kids & 1 adult. Is more weight always better?

[ragboy]

I am having a hard time reading your setup, but if I am reading it right you are only weighting one side? The stock setup with taps at 5 could easily push my friend Dennis weighing 285 all day long. More weight is def not better on the Z3 if its in the wrong place. Can you help me understand your setup a bit better and than I would be glad to help. We have about 160 hours non stop surfing on our Z3 so far.

[383ws6]

I was hoping you read this ragboy. Unfortunately, I didn't do quite enough research into this boat when we got it. I don't have the competition ballast setup, only the "surf ballast" one. Anyhow, you are correct, only weighting the surf/port side. The only thing I changed this weekend was I put the 750# bag under the stock fold out 600# bag because it's a little shorter than the 400# bags. Last time, it was under the seat, just in front of the 400# & 600#.
Really wanted to play with it to get it dialed in, but I was the only one that it wouldn't push. That, & we had a 9 yr old dying to give it a try for the first time ever. This kid had only been on a boat a few times in his life, & hasn't even tried to ski or anything else water sports related (parents & grandparents were too scared). This kid, behind this boat, was surfing with complete slack in the rope within 30 minutes.

[ragboy]

IMHO the Z3 has the best wake stock out there, try filling up the surf side 100% and the opposite rear 50% and then the front all the way. You may need to add a couple hundred lbs in front with that setup.

Then move people around to get the list around 8 or 9 degrees and see how that works, this boat needs weight on both sides and in the front. If you start adding weight to rear, you must also add weight to the front, but I wouldn't go more than 1000, same as pro stock.

Dial the weight in stock first, with taps at like 3 or 4 the face should be solid and clean, nice lip. We go 11.2 or so, and sometimes to 10.8 but never slower than that. Slower can take the length away and even Dennis at Frank at 285 and 330 can surf all day at 11.2, but 10.8 will give a bit more push, soften the wake a bit and still have a nice long pocket.

If you weight just one side the wake will be steep, short and have a nasty double lip, and less push.

[383ws6]

I posted a video of my frien's son surfing in the video section with the weight setup above. I've followed everything you've done to your z3 as closely as I can, & just assumed the comp ballast was just that much better. With the 2 400# sacs, the 750# sac, & the stock sac in the port rear, & the front @ 100%, I was seeing right about 7.7-8 degrees of list. If I added any weight to the starboard side, that 8 degrees would go away.

[ragboy]

Cool, link to the video?

[383ws6]

9 yr old surfing in the video section

[383ws6]

Ok, so what is the ideal way to get a good amount of ballast into this boat without it being exposed? What sacs can be added or removed and still utilize the touch screen to fill & empty?

[chpthril]

Ok, so what is the ideal way to get a good amount of ballast into this boat without it being exposed? What sacs can be added or removed and still utilize the touch screen to fill & empty?

To get the most stowed ballast, you will need to go with an "L" shaped sac.

If you want a Plug-n-Play upgrade to the OEM surf sac that will integrate into the factory ballast with little modification, then you will need to go with a custom sac like we designed just for that purpose.

If you want to manually fill a sac, or give it its own plumbing for faster fill and drain times, then you can use the W712 Enzo or W719 Jumbo Surf. If you wanted to add extra plumbing to the Plug-n-Play for faster fill and drain times, no problem, ours has extra ports just for this.

[Bruizza]

You need more weight up front. You are way too biased to the rear.

[Ewok]