Should I retrofit or get a new boat for wake surfing

[IDBoating]

But our unmodified 2009 platform has been fine with the addition of a surf flap.

For what it's worth, our unmodified one on our 24Ve is also fine - even without a surf flap. Indeed, our platform is deep in the water when surfing and actually helps give the wave a smooth shape.

[Captainkurk72]

Lets see pictures of your gate wave!!

Sorry for the quality of pics but at work and quickest method. The first pic is with ballast, 10mph and taps 3.5. Second pic is same but with surf gate. Last pic is a buddy 2nd day wake surfing. We are using a ronix cortez which is very buoyant and I have found great for learning on. Later that day we went to 10.5 and wave got longer and liked this speed better than 10
ImageUploadedByTapatalk1410914032.109295.jpgImageUploadedByTapatalk1410914065.420510.jpgImageUploadedByTapatalk1410914081.610939.jpg


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[jslayde1]

For what it's worth, our unmodified one on our 24Ve is also fine - even without a surf flap. Indeed, our platform is deep in the water when surfing and actually helps give the wave a smooth shape.

@WABoating - ours is also deep in the water when surfing. Do you think the integrity of the hull/transom/brackets could be damaged from this?

[IDBoating]

Not that I've noticed. I check those brackets once in a while. After the separate thread about problems with them, though, I'm considering having some new ones made from billet stainless steel.

[Duncan]

Not that I've noticed. I check those brackets once in a while. After the separate thread about problems with them, though, I'm considering having some new ones made from billet stainless steel.

I wonder if we could set up a group buy from some shop (assuming brackets are the same for a given year). I am in if so.

[IDBoating]

That would be three of us so far. I think Ewok would be good for a set as well. I wonder if Tige would share the drawings with us, so the machine shop could work from original specs?

[duffymahoney]

@wa, cut that deck down

[IDBoating]

@wa, cut that deck down

I don't think I need to! The wave has nice shape and plenty of "push". No problem to solve that I'm aware of.

I have been tempted, though, to experiment with using the swim deck to shape the wave face. Varying the trailing edge should have some effect on the wave shape. I've thought about making a swim deck sort of like a profile gauge, or cutting board, with multiple strips of (to start with) wood held in place with allthread running through them. Back off on the allthread and you could slide the pieces back and forth to change the trailing edge profile while out on the water, then tighten the allthread to lock them in. Obviously the prototype would have a "stepped" trailing edge due to the strips but you'd get a good idea if the concept has any merit.

So many ideas, so little time....

[Duncan]

I don't think I need to! The wave has nice shape and plenty of "push". No problem to solve that I'm aware of.

I have been tempted, though, to experiment with using the swim deck to shape the wave face.

Assume your shaping experiment would be after strengthening those brackets.

I agree with WAB -- 2009 platform is fine, even heavily listed. I do think it needs a flap to counter the rear 1" lip on the platform but that is for cosmetic foaming. Main reason for flap on a 2009 platform imhop is to knock down spray from center.

[Stingreye]

I don't think I need to! The wave has nice shape and plenty of "push". No problem to solve that I'm aware of.

I have been tempted, though, to experiment with using the swim deck to shape the wave face. Varying the trailing edge should have some effect on the wave shape. I've thought about making a swim deck sort of like a profile gauge, or cutting board, with multiple strips of (to start with) wood held in place with allthread running through them. Back off on the allthread and you could slide the pieces back and forth to change the trailing edge profile while out on the water, then tighten the allthread to lock them in. Obviously the prototype would have a "stepped" trailing edge due to the strips but you'd get a good idea if the concept has any merit.

So many ideas, so little time....

Re cutting the deck:
The part that I noticed was that it was easier to dial in the wave and I could run opposite weight.

When I upgrade to custom sacs, the opposite side of the surf side would skim the water and ruin the wave if any counter weight or people weight sat on the that side. Its made it so I don't have to worry about where people sit as much. It also made it a little better in rough water (in rough water the platform would hit the chop hurting the wave).

If you want to test it out WA, next time you are out surfing, have them hit the fill pump while you are out there, watch the opposite side platform, as soon as it hits the water, your wave will get messed up. So basically, you can run with a little less list and more weight in the back with a trimmed platform. When I am tandem surfing with my daughters, I notice the extra weight (less long) and push with the wave. The teak platform was the width of my boat though. Not sure if the glass ones are more narrow.

That being said, the shape and everything was great combo of length and size (an awesome wave really) when that opposite side was just out of the water before I cut the deck.

[IDBoating]

If you want to test it out WA, next time you are out surfing, have them hit the fill pump while you are out there, watch the opposite side platform, as soon as it hits the water, your wave will get messed up.

I'll definitely pay attention to that next time. But I can say that we already run a fair bit of offside ballast. We didn't start out that way, but an expert surfer who was on our boat early on said "Add some water to the offside right now." We did that, and the wave lengthened way out without getting less tall, and it stayed really clean. The expert's reaction was "Wow, that thing is a MONSTER!" so we've run in "monster mode" ever since.

To be honest, I've spent way more time studying the ballasted side's interaction with the swim platform. Next time I'll focus on the high side and see what is happening there!

[Duncan]

I'll definitely pay attention to that next time. But I can say that we already run a fair bit of offside ballast. We didn't start out that way, but an expert surfer who was on our boat early on said "Add some water to the offside right now." We did that, and the wave lengthened way out without getting less tall, and it stayed really clean. The expert's reaction was "Wow, that thing is a MONSTER!" so we've run in "monster mode" ever since.

To be honest, I've spent way more time studying the ballasted side's interaction with the swim platform. Next time I'll focus on the high side and see what is happening there!

Using my "butt clinometer", once I reach sufficient list, I will add off side rear weight (I ought to use my phone for a real angle). But without a few people in our RZ2, I cannot get sufficient lean with just the custom sack to be able to add the off side weight.

How much is a "fair bit" of offside? I usually do no more than the internal 250 offside.

[IDBoating]

How much is a "fair bit" of offside?

If I'm doing it by eye while at rest, I ballast the onside and then adjust the offside until that side of the swim platform is several inches below the waterline. In other words, the entire swim platform is submerged.

[Duncan]

If I'm doing it by eye while at rest, I ballast the onside and then adjust the offside until that side of the swim platform is several inches below the waterline. In other words, the entire swim platform is submerged.

Nice technique. Something to try next season. I wonder if I have been under-weighting off side?

[Wickedcummins]

keep the boat my setup is coming soon.. I have one more boat to try it on.. Then I will setup for mass producing. Should be able to order just after the first of the year!