How to build a wake

[houstonshark]

This may be boat specific but I suspect it is more hull specific. After this weekend we now have 34 hours on the RZR. Since the first time we took the boat out (stock weight) I keep getting comments from friends (3 fairly advanced riders with no Tige experience) that the wake is 'peaky' or 'rampy'.

Since adding the stereo and battery weight and Pop bags the wake is huge but is still very 'peaky'. I was told yesterday that generally speaking adding weight to the rear makes the wake big and weight in the front makes the transition taller and more straight up. I added 320lbs in Pop Bags to the bow to help the boat to plane out.

Here's the setup:

Speed: 22mph
Rear Weight (ballast 25%, additional weight including people): ~900lbs
Front Weight (ballast 100% & additional weight): ~750lbs
TAPS: 2-3 (although anything higher than 1 really just seems to make it peakier.

I realize it's tough to tell without pics. I'll look at the GoPro tonight and try to capture a couple images.

Again, the wake is pretty big even without adding more than 25% to the rear ballasts. I'm just wondering how to keep it big without it being so rampy. It's also quite difficult to get it clean but that may be more a function of the water conditions.

My buddy's 04 XSTAR has a good size wake but the top of it is more rounded off and smooth. It doesn't want to pop you straight up. A friend on the boat yesterday said the same about his last 3 Malibu's wake vs mine.

Suggestions? Comments?

[Bruizza]

If you want less ramp and more vert add rear weight.

Edit: didn't see the lastpartof your post at first. A deep v hull is always goung to have more of a straight up pop than a flatter bottom hull. A Tige wake is always going to be steeper than a Bu or MC wake. Just the nature of the beast. I still say add some more rear weight.

[JreisRZR]

Houston refer to rzr vs x2 wake to see pics of my wake. The boat is 100% stock in those photos, I'll be back to post more later...

[robert theisen]

Only suggestion is to speed up to 22.5 and set taps on 1 for a longer ramp on the wake.60% rear weight and 40% front weight works best as far as water or other ballast weight.What line length are you riding?

[houstonshark]

Only suggestion is to speed up to 22.5 and set taps on 1 for a longer ramp on the wake.60% rear weight and 40% front weight works best as far as water or other ballast weight.What line length are you riding?

I normally ride at 70' or 75'. I'm still a bit of a newb when it comes to wakeboarding. I'm working on consistently clearing wake to wake. Yesterday I shortened the rope to 65' and cleared it several times. The approach is so rushed at that length but it feels better than landing on top of the wake!

[JreisRZR]

The rzr makes a rather wide wake as well, which is something to consider. At that speed I would run full ballast, 70ish feet and taps at 4, you're wake should be bang on if you set it up like that

[houstonshark]

The rzr makes a rather wide wake as well, which is something to consider. At that speed I would run full ballast, 70ish feet and taps at 4, you're wake should be bang on if you set it up like that

Come on...you're joking right? Full ballast in the rear? It's huge already. Are you hoping I'll post a video of me trying to jump it and nearly killing myself?

The first day we went out the boat would take a long time to plane out without someone in the bow and the rear ballast more than 50%. I haven't tried since adding the weight in the bow. I guess I should have yesterday. It just looked big already at 25% in the rear.

[Bruizza]

Okay if you want a better shape but less intimidation lose some front weight but add rear weight. Honestly if you are still working on w2w jumps just leave the ballast empty and use TAPS. The start adding weight as you get more and more comfortable. Also I wish someone had given me the following advice when I started wakeboarding. Clear the w2w topside before you ever jump heel side.

[JreisRZR]

i didnt know the level of your riding! if not then loose all ballast and run taps at6-8 and 65-70 feet, that will be your sweetspot

yes the wake will get huge. i run the full ballast and even with just 2 passengers and it gets freakin big for a 20 footer, stock its bigger than my buddy's x-25...

[robert theisen]

I normally ride at 70' or 75'. I'm still a bit of a newb when it comes to wakeboarding. I'm working on consistently clearing wake to wake. Yesterday I shortened the rope to 65' and cleared it several times. The approach is so rushed at that length but it feels better than landing on top of the wake!

That's the right approach.Shorter rope until your technique is solid then lengthen rope 5' at a time.Once you get to 75' you probably will be satisfied with your time in the air and line tension.Edging Drills are a must and can be found on Learnwake.com..Most of wake boarding comes down to edging and body/handle position.

[robert theisen]

Come on...you're joking right? Full ballast in the rear? It's huge already. Are you hoping I'll post a video of me trying to jump it and nearly killing myself?

The first day we went out the boat would take a long time to plane out without someone in the bow and the rear ballast more than 50%. I haven't tried since adding the weight in the bow. I guess I should have yesterday. It just looked big already at 25% in the rear.

This is a picture of a old man on a RZ2 with NO ballast on a 75' rope at 22.5 mph.

[rensink]

I skimmed this however I see a couple things that could be issues... speed 22mph yes it is a 20ft boat so less speed is required to build the wake however speed it up my Rz2 running 3400lbs we're running 24ish. Second problem don't base your wake off ballast percentages... those are on a timer they aren't accurate unless 0% and 100% in my opinion. Second add bow weight to get up on plane easier/quicker and bow weight lengthens the wake and also mellows it out.
edit: your speedo could be off my Rz2 came from the factory registering 2mph slower then the actual speed so read 23mph but was actually traveling 25mph..
My rz2 we are running 400lbs extra on in the bow on top of the 800lbs already there, for some reasons these boats love bow weight whether its ballast or people up front some afternoon add 2 people to the bow and the rest in the rear. Try and keep the 40% in the bow 60% in the rear and keep the taps at 3 or so when running a lot of ballast (2k+) I would try and figure out what you added in the rear for stereo weight and then find a solution to keep the correct weight distribution in ballast form.

Do you have basic or surf in the boat?

[Johnnymac]

i didnt know the level of your riding! if not then loose all ballast and run taps at6-8 and 65-70 feet, that will be your sweetspot

yes the wake will get huge. i run the full ballast and even with just 2 passengers and it gets freakin big for a 20 footer, stock its bigger than my buddy's x-25...

JreisRZR- what weight, speed, taps & length you run at? You sound like you have put a few hours on the RZR and I would value your input from an experienced rider w same boat/set up point of view. Our RZR is on route to Ontario Canada this month! Can't wait. I have 2-400lbs v drive sacs for bow... Hopefully they fit!

[JreisRZR]

i'm a pretty intermediate rider skill wise but i have the thing dialed in pretty good, i ride 65' at 22, taps at 4. the wake is wide, i ride 5-10 feet longer on MC's. (pics in the other thread). are you plumbing those sacs in to replace the single U shaped sack? ive considered that...

id be happy to help you figure it out, it took almost the whole summer to get it dialed in perfectly