Adding Ballast to Z1

[Canyon Lake Tige]

About a month ago I just purchased my first Tige, a Z1, but it does not have any ballast. Any recomendations on what type of ballast I should add in order to make the biggest wake I can get for surfing and wakeboarding?

[SPBFAN]

Do you want an automated system? Are you concerned about pricing? Or do you want to try to find the best weight for your needs before you automate the system. Both CHP and I are FlyHigh dealers and have built a lot of systems for TO members and put packages together. Either he or I can help you with this and their is a ton of knowledge on this forum that can help you also by other members.

[chpthril]

I have found that that boat likes bow weight for surfing.

For the bow, Fly Highs W711 Integrated Bow Sac will fit, but will fill to maybe only 350lb's. I would recommend going with Tige's factory bow sac, as it will be a better fit as it's not a big. Remember, the volume of the storage dictates the amount of water the sac will hold, when the sac it larger then the compartment it's in.

For the back, the absolute best option is a custom sac built to your dimensions. They can be cubes, rectangle, wedge, or "L" shaped. This would allow you to get the most weight into a given locker. Out of the standard sacs, W707 (20x20x50) 750lb sac is a pretty good fit in the Z1 lockers. Another pretty good fit is the W705 Seat Bottom Sac, it holds 650lb's and measures 12x26x62. It's wider, but not as tall, but will extend up under the seat area more then the W707.

Now, for wakeboarding, that boat likes A LOT of bow weight. For a good wake, you will need to keep at least a 50/50, if not a 60/40 weight split ft/rr. In order to get this, you will need to either add something like lead or sand (i'm not a fan of either in large amounts) or add another sac in the walk-way. The W704 tube sac is probably the best fit for the walk-way of the Z1 and holds 370lb's.

Another good option, one that is also economical, it the W701 V-drive sac set. It's 2 400 lb sacs that measure 16x16x42. One in each rear locker, along with your bow weight, or stack both in one rear locker for surfing.

Pumps: Most people start out manual-filling, but by the end of the season, they are ready to plumb in an automated system. For the manual pumps, some peeps will go with just one W709 pump, some go with one for each sac as time is important to them so they want to fill/empty ASAP.

I'm 99% sure your boat is pre-wired for an 8 pump system using an aerator style live-well pump. If you went with the more expensive reversible impeller type pumps, you may still be able to utilize the wiring for the fill pumps, I think Tige pre-wires with 12ga, but not 100% sure.

This will prolly lead to more question, fire away

[Canyon Lake Tige]

I want to have something as integrated and automated as possible. I am looking more towards getting a good system rather than a in-expensive system, although if the best is also inexpensive, that’s OK.

I don’t mind taking up all the storage areas, but I have three kids on the boat and would rather not have sacs lying out around the boat.

SO based on your below email this is optimum:
Bow:
1) Tige Factory Bow Sac with a throw down W704 tube sac in the walk way for when I need the extra bow weight (How do I pump and drain this if I have an automated system?)


Stern:
1) W707 Rear Locker Sac (One on each side)

This gives me 1850lbs of weight with out the throw down W704...With the w704 I get 2220lbs.

Am I thinking correctly here? Can I partially fill the sacs to play with the weight distribution?

If it was your boat and you wanted to get the best, for years of usage and growth what would you do?

[SPBFAN]

I will start to work up a system for you. What do you prefer for through hull connectors above the watter line. You can get plastic Chrome which is cheaper for you can go with stainless steel. Long term stainless steel is the best.

[Canyon Lake Tige]

Stainless..Wont have to mess wiht them again.

[chpthril]

I want to have something as integrated and automated as possible. I am looking more towards getting a good system rather than a in-expensive system, although if the best is also inexpensive, that’s OK.

I don’t mind taking up all the storage areas, but I have three kids on the boat and would rather not have sacs lying out around the boat.

SO based on your below email this is optimum:
Bow:
1) Tige Factory Bow Sac with a throw down W704 tube sac in the walk way for when I need the extra bow weight (How do I pump and drain this if I have an automated system?)


Stern:
1) W707 Rear Locker Sac (One on each side)

This gives me 1850lbs of weight with out the throw down W704...With the w704 I get 2220lbs.

Am I thinking correctly here? Can I partially fill the sacs to play with the weight distribution?

If it was your boat and you wanted to get the best, for years of usage and growth what would you do?

To be honest, at this point, there is not really a "DIY kit" that one can order. There was a company doing one, but the have folded. There is a company in CA that has a single pump system, but you have to mount is where it's accessible because it has manual valves to divert the flow from one sac to another. What you will find that many are doing is putting a custom setup together using a combination of readily available marine and household/commercial plumbing supplies.

For manual filling a sac, Fly High makes the W709 pump kit that comes with a pump, hose, 10ft cord w/ACC plug, and the necessary quick-connects that will mate with the fittings that come standard on the sacs. It flows about 12 GPM's and will fill a typical sac in under 5 mins.

For the most hidden, out of sight weight, a couple of custom sacs would be the way to go but the cost is up there. For a large custom cube or rectangle sac, your looking at about $300 ea. For a large "L" shaped (like a mini Enzo) you are in the $400+ range. These sacs can be filled to full, for surfing, or partially filled for boarding. It's not hard to do some math, and calculate how long the pump(s) needs to run to fill the sac to X lb's. Then add or dump to fine-tune the wake.

There are tons of threads with the pros/cons of both types of pump systems used. It really comes down to personal preference.

The Ballast Puppies are more expensive (MSRP = $239 ea) and have less flow drop due to hose length and head pressure, but are prone to frequent impeller failures, but these can be cut down with the design/layout of the system.

The aerator type pumps are inexpensive (about $35 ea) so a 7 pump system (3 fill, 4 drain) can be had for the cost of 1 Ballast Puppy. These pumps draw less current and are nearly bullet proof and typically give years of trouble free service, but again, great care needs to go into designing and layout. The only to main con's are that they can vapor-lock is not laid out just right, and loose flow rate over long hose runs...just means there a little slower.

I've built both types, and will continue to do so.

[chpthril]

CLT,

I know I threw a ton of info at you, but I just want to fallow up with you here and make sure that if the info above lead to more questions, we get them answered for you.