How much is to much ballast

[Travshearer]

I bought a 07 tige 24ve last year and love it this year I'm just getting into wake surfing and finally getting it tuned in for a great wake to surf on . I wanted to keep it as original as I can, it does have the factory ballast system . So I currently have the 2 -300 pound factory tanks in the back I also have 2 -750 pound sacs in the lockers and I have 2-370 pound sacks in the side seats and the 300 pound factory in the front . I actually took the sacks out of the side seats and placed one on the rear seat and 1 on middle of the floor and started using a wake shaper that i made that suctions on the side of the boat and I fill everything up on the boat I definitely get a lot more push and speed with this set up instead of loading one side of the boat ,so I roughly have about 3000 pounds of ballast and I run at 11.5 mph and taps at 5.5 . My question is do you think I could or should add more ballast to the boat to make the wake even better or just keep it where it is at I don't want to over do it and add to much ballast but if there is any room for improvement I definitely want to do it im addicted now .Any Advice you would have would be greatly appreciated . I attached a pic of me surfing last weekend and there was only 2 adults and 2 -50 pound kids in the boat at the time i was surfing.

[BJM]

You could try buying 400 lbs of the leadeake bags. Start by adding them to your set up now since they won't take up as much room as bags.

If it is too much weight for some reason, you can ditch one of the 370 lbs bags and use the leadeake bags and get some cabin space back and be where you were at.

[JohnnieMo]

This much



In all seriousness, the 24Ve is a massive boat and can handle a lot. I don't have numbers for you but most people want to keep the rub rail above the water line at rest. (in the back corner)

[Jetdriver]

Looks like you've got a pretty sweet wave as is! I do like the suggestion of lead weight to free up space that bags are using in the boat.

[Surf406]

That wave is sweet ! If you wanna clean it up a bit more pm me I can get you just what you need to make it perfect

[Travshearer]

Thanks for the info I definitely think I'm going to get some of the lead wake bags

[Travshearer]

Hey 18c racing I'm definitely interested in what you have to make the wave perfect I tried to pm you but it says you need to delete messages before you can except anymore

[chpthril]

I think we are definitely seeing cases of too much ballast. Not so much from a safety standpoint (yes we are certainly pushing the envelop on safety) but from a wave. I think a given hull and surf system can only produce a quality wave up to a point, then the quality begins to fall off. I think we are also beginning to see the limits mechanically. We can only put so big of a motor, so big do a prop, etc, and physics still wins.

The hard part is finding the right combo of weight, placement, speed, plate setting, apparatus settings and placement. Then, change riders, and can all change. One or two peeps different next trip out, and its all different.

[freeheel4life]

X2 on mikes post. Just today had a customer that has a 17 z3, surf xl package, raptor 400, 2419 prop. Complaint is it won't come out of the hole. Found out he was running a full crew of 11, and running throwovers on top of all that. Motor just couldn't handle it, which was not the answer he wanted(also filling ALL ballast to 100%). Didn't help that his taps3 actuators were acting up as well, but regardless at some point your wave isn't going to get any better.

Your wave looks great. If you really want a tweak would try a few 50# bags of lead and move them around and see if you can't get boat dialed to get your seating back instead of running bags on seats.

[Thegerman618]

I am labeling with a warning. Not recommended.

When I had my 24Ve I slammed it beyond what the boat should have in it. I ran 4000+ and No bow weight that was 4000lbs from the driver back. My REAR rub rail was at the water line and constantly had the activity center under water or water coming through the walk-through.

My acme 1235 could barely keep up with full ballast.

I ran 2000lbs a side with 1100 in steel bags split 550 per side under the rear Enzo Bags.

The wave with Go Surf Assist was crazy. I own a 16 Z3 w/Taps 3 now and I would put my old 24ve wave against it. That being said it was unsafe and stupid to run that much weight. A78B282D-8C96-4111-9ABE-D07D77622FFD.jpgIMG_0518.jpgIMG_0516.jpg

[Wakeman22]

I think you wave looks awesome. I have the same boat. Just do as said and get a little lead and clear up some space. I would say you have plenty of sacks.

[dj2]

I run 2000 lbs in the rear of my RZ4 and 400 up front coupled with a ronix wedge although I am sure any of the other similar products would give a similar result. I get a really good wave that is enough for my 250 pound a$$ to surf on the goofy side, and the boat feels very safe to drive.

[ajward]

I think we are definitely seeing cases of too much ballast. Not so much from a safety standpoint (yes we are certainly pushing the envelop on safety) but from a wave. I think a given hull and surf system can only produce a quality wave up to a point, then the quality begins to fall off. I think we are also beginning to see the limits mechanically. We can only put so big of a motor, so big do a prop, etc, and physics still wins.

The hard part is finding the right combo of weight, placement, speed, plate setting, apparatus settings and placement. Then, change riders, and can all change. One or two peeps different next trip out, and its all different.

This is where GSA technology (Go Surf Assist) will shine, as it makes those compensating adjustments automatically, keeping the wave consistent, lots more money though! sigh...

[chpthril]

Just to understand, GSA is now integrated into the speed control and has the ability to fill/dump ballast to maintain a desired yaw and attitude? Sounds a little like a system a guy I know developed and now Supra uses IIRC, GSA had some rider profile, but only to the degree of remembering the GSA plate setting.

[ragboy]

The thing is with the 24Ve, is that it has a beautiful wave and a great transition, but it lacks push. In order to get that push, you have to get a LOT of weight in that rear corner. It can be done with all water, but we had to modify our boat to do that, so lead in the right places would really help. The 24Ve if you are not using a shaper or system, also requires a lot of list. A lot of weight in the rear corner and a lot of list is a recipe for a great wake with good push for that boat but can definitely feel unsafe and it is most definitely uncomfortable, especially if you normally surf on the weekends or in more choppy conditions. If I still had the 24Ve and didn't want to upgrade to a different boat I would def look into a system like the GSA or at least use a manual shaper so that it didn't require as much list, which would make it more safe and more comfortable. That's a boat that is worth playing with, because you get the return.