Help with old RZ4 ballast setup

[EricU]

This last weekend we finally got our ’08 RZ4 out to Lake Oroville with the ballast (and new sound system) fully operational.

The ballast system consists of five reversibles: (2) front, (2) rear and (1) cross-over. Two front bags in the storage lockers, and two 1100 lb bags (not the Enzo style “L” shaped bags) shoved in the rear lockers. After our first outing a couple of weeks ago, we immediately blew a (very hard to find) fuse, so with the help of Mike’s Liquid Audio and others, I designed a complete independent power supply system for the ballast and now I can run all five pumps if I want to (I don’t!)

First I filled both front bags all the way until they popped the front cushions and they stayed that way the rest of the day, filled the goofy side bags up about 3/4s the way (pure eyeball) and filled the port side rear bag about half way.

At 11.6 mph (taps at 3) we had a decent wake, not too long though.

We only have one board, a 5’ Ronix Koal Fish. The first rider weighs about 140lbs and he was able to drop the handle pretty quick and ride. I weigh 205-210 (depending on how much liquids I have in me!) and I was never able to drop the handle.

Later we added more ballast to the goofy side and it seemed to mess up the wake, it made it so it was not clean at all, rather it was real “frothy (?)”

We didn’t mess with the ballast for surfing much after that as I wanted to go boarding. So I filled up the rear bags as much as I thought I could and that boat at about 70’ off made a nice big ramp of a wake at about 22.5 mph on the port side (heel side for me) but the goofy side (my toe side) wasn’t as clean.

So I need some help/suggestions as what to try next;

• According to my very limited research, the 5’ board should be big enough for me. What do I need to do to get enough push?
• How do I get a longer or bigger goofy side wake for surfing (11.6 mph)?
• How do I get a cleaner goofy side wake for wakeboarding (22.5 mph)?

The real good news is that we got my buddy’s 11 year old son and his 11 year old buddy up on a wakeboard!! Also the new sound system sounded AWESOME along with rolling in just at dusk running the RGB LEDs on the towers and in-boats got quite a few compliments at the dock.

[boardman74]

I rode behind a 2010 Rz4 while we were on vacation a few weeks back. It had the pro ballast. We filled the front and then the rear surf side. Seemed to surf pretty well. Had a ton of push. You may be a little fast. We ran at 10.6-10.8 with skim style boards.

For wakeboarding I will speak in general terms as i don't know your exact boat or weights. Generally you want about 60% rear/ 40% front with a V drive. 1100's in the back is way too much for wake boarding unless you are elete pro level and would also need like 1500-1800 in the bow. If one side is washy its weighted light. It will require more weight to clean up or less weight on the other side. How much weight do the front bags hold? Sounds like you were over weighted to the rear and then maybe off a bit side to side probably due to passenger load. If you see one side washing you want to be shifting heavy passengers to that side or the driver needs to be dumping the opposite side tank. Hope that makes sense and helps.

[EricU]

...You may be a little fast. We ran at 10.6-10.8 with skim style boards...

We did try the slower speeds, but that didn't seem to help. But maybe after we adjust the weights.

Generally you want about 60% rear/ 40% front with a V drive. 1100's in the back is way too much for wake boarding unless you are elete pro level and would also need like 1500-1800 in the bow.

Nowhere close to being a pro-boarder, but I loved that big heel side wake, the front bags are 400#s each I think. Just want to get the starboard side cleaned up for the toe side jumps. I have an extra long tube style bag that I may take with me next time and put up front in the walkway as a test.

If one side is washy its weighted light. It will require more weight to clean up or less weight on the other side. How much weight do the front bags hold? Sounds like you were over weighted to the rear and then maybe off a bit side to side probably due to passenger load. If you see one side washing you want to be shifting heavy passengers to that side or the driver needs to be dumping the opposite side tank. Hope that makes sense and helps.

Yeah, sounds like I just need to spend some more time out on the lake...problems to have!!

• But I should be able to get enough push with the 5' board from that boat - Correct?

[boardman74]

When i rode that Rz4 a couple weeks back it was all I could do to stay off the swim platform. It had that much push compared to what I was used to, which is an RZR which is no slouch. That boat can have a really nice wave. You just have to play with it.