Surfing Behind a Super Air?

[Luke]

How does everyone weight their Super Airs for surfing? We have tried a ton of different setups, but we are still looking for the perfect configuration.

Here is the best setup we have found so far: (I have a ’03 210 Team)
-Port Ballast Tank full
-Starboard and Center tanks empty
-550 lb fat sack filled as much as possible sitting on top of the ballast tank on the port side. (I’d estimate about 300-400 lbs)
-250 lb sac on the rear seat, shifted to the port side.
-4 people sitting along the port side of the boat on the seats
We run at about 9.5 on Perfect Pass.
Wake seems to be the best with a full tank of gas. (

Even this seems to change quite a bit, seems really hard to get a consistent wake to surf and often the wake washes out a lot. I recently looked through the LevelX Surfer magazine and noticed that they recommend riding around13-15 mph and also a little different weight configuration, so I’m really interested to hear what everyone else is doing.

[SprintCar39]

Here is what we found to work the best for us. This was behind a '03 Super Air. We were very happy with it and it was also very consistent.

->Port Ballast Full
->Starboard Empty
->Center/Belly FULL
->600 lb Fat sac on top of Port Ballast...est 500 lbs.
->400 lb Fat Sac on floor along port side
->400 lb Fat Sac on floor in bow area
->3 people would sit on port gunnel
->10 MPH used a GPS to make 100% sure

We tried many different configurations and this was the best. We also used a Hyperlite Landlock and BroadCast.

[Luke]

Thanks for the info, we'll give that a try.

What do you think of the Broadcast? I think the Landlock is a decent board to learn on, but seems to be pretty limiting after you know what you are doing.

[holmes]

Its not easy to get a good wake for a Regular footer riding frontside. I was at Gators house during Surf Expo week and we surfed only with the Starboard wake.

Boat Fully weighted
+ 2 sacs in front
+ 2 sacs in back
+all internal ballast full
and 5 people!

Loaded, I'll post some pics!
Landlock boards

[wakeborder5]

I usually fill the starboard balast tank full and center balast tank full and then sometimes throw 600lbs on top of the tank and usually 9.5

[RAB]

Is it at all possible to surf without any extra weight besides the Team 210 with full ballast?

[BIGMAC]

RichardBrowne, Yes. My friend does it all the time. If you have people just have them to get to one side.

[Luke]

MAC, how many people are usually in the boat? I'm assuming they must ride on the starboard side?

I tried no additional weight and about 4 people on the port side, but didn't care for the wake much.

[BIGMAC]

It was the port side. I think port. Isn't port the left side? Anyways we filled the center and left tank then moved 4-5 people to one side. I think since most Nautiques props spin opposite then the starboard side would produce a better wake. Also I don't know if it was a good wake or not but my friend was able to ride it around pretty easy.

[Hollywood]

I think since most Nautiques props spin opposite then the starboard side would produce a better wake.

No, since they spin opposite that is why the port side is better. The starboard side is going to be pushed up to make up for the driver's weight and port pushed down incase there is no spotter. I don't known if that was the reasoning behind it, but it seems to be the most logical explanation I can come up with.

[ag4ever]

Nope, it is so that when you pull up next to a skier, and kick it into reverse the back kicks out away from them, and won't run them over. That is if you pickup the skier on the driver's side.

BTW,
Port = four letters & Left = four letters
Starboard > four letters & Right > 4 letters

This is assuming you are facing the bow, not the stern, and not with your keel in the air, but the deck facing up.

[carb02san]

We could never get near as nice a wave on the port side as we can on the starboard. I just decided to learn how to surf switch and it did not take as long as you would think. The difference in the wave is huge!

All tanks full, fat sack on floor starboard side, side sack on rear seat to starboard, side sack on top of starboard tank, people on starboard side.
The wave is about waist high. I'll post a pic as soon as I can.

[Bezerko]

We have a 2004 210 team and this is how we load it:

Factory tanks full
175kg lead on the drivers side rear tank
150L Fatty as full as we can get on the drivers side rear tank
250L Fatty on the floor behind the drivers seat

Sometimes a 150L fatty on the back seat.

Usually 2 people on the sun deck on the drivers side, driver, 1 in observers seat and 1 in the bowrider.

[Laptom]

That's a surf wake Yellow_Flash_Colorz: !!!

[imported_pjdave]

[quote="ag4ever"]Nope, it is so that when you pull up next to a skier, and kick it into reverse the back kicks out away from them, and won't run them over. That is if you pickup the skier on the driver's side.

I asked Scott Mohr ( former engineer and wakeboard team manager at nautiques) why the props spin opposite in nautiques, and he said is was to counter act the weight of the driver. He said its not a problem with an observer but some pro skiers/wakeboarders train with no observer so it spins opposite to keep a consistant wake. ( saying that, this was all before ballast was an option) ,

[jhiestand]

MidOhioWaterSports, do you find with that much of a weight bias the boat won't even turn to the right? I load mine similar although prolly not as much weight and it's darn near impossible to turn except to the left. :/

[goodfoot00]

I have a '95 SS, we load it with a 450# sac starboard of the engine, another 450# sac behind the driver on the seat, and a 750# locker sac on the floor behind the driver. The spotter sits in the rear middle. This throws a decent wave with no fear swamping the boat. I would love to load the boat to the rub rails, but are you guys afraid of a roller swamping the boat?

On another note, we've been riding the Landlock for 2 years. I just bought the Inland Surfer Blue Lake and it's worth every penny. None of my friends ride the Landlock anymore. The Blue Lake is a lot faster, doesn't nose dive or pearl, and loose when you need it to be. I'm 6'3", 210lbs.

[Alan-S]

Nautiques surf Starboard side the best. I thought that this was well understood. I luckily am goofy footed so it is great for me. Surfing regular/left foot forward/backside is fun too, and every surfer needs to learn how to do it anyway, what better place than in a controlled environment like behind a boat.

My setup,2001 SAN shoulder high w/ a curl.
Factory Rear Tanks full
600 In the locker
400 Starboard locker
400 behind driver's seat.
people can sit anywhere, but best if they are on the rear bench.

[Alan-S]

Oh yea....10.5 on perfect pass, dead straight or a slight turn to starboard.

[carb02san]

Alan-s-
when you say "600 in the locker" are you talking about the belly locker?

[Alan-S]

Nope, this http://www.buywake.com/catalog/detail.lasso?cat=8&man=Fly%20High&sku=FL_ttJqn

looks like its 680lbs, sorry. I got this about a month ago and totally forgot to post on the site about it. 12x26x62 fits perfectly in the ski locker of a SAN, i can fill it all the way up with no pressure on the latch.

[Alan-S]

When i was shopping for a new sack i measured my locker and got, 14x26x72. If you want the ablility to have the biggest wake possible on a SAN without lead buy this setup, I have it and never fill the bow or V-Drives all the way.


Pro X Series V-Drive Sac (Set) 400# each
Pro X Series Rear Seat Bottom (But put in the ski locker) 680#
Pro X Series Open Bow Triangle 1000#

All of these sacks fill their areas perfectly, its like a custom job.

[fyerfytr]

Sweeet wave Bezerko - That's unreal!

[Deuce]

Here is a photo.... I don't know exactly how we had it weighted, just 7-8 people in the boat, 2 of those being girls sitting in the front and 1 bottle of wine with them.... Everyone port with me sitting on the very back w/feet on the swimplatform.

[OldFart]

where did scott go? stayed in Orlando? met him years ago.

[Bezerko]

We find that if you want a high very steep wave you load the boat like Alan-S has suggested. If your chasing a longer section to ride on then add weight to the front of the boat.

[Bezerko]

Here is a Pic of what I mean buy a longer section to ride on. You will sacrifice some wave height for the longer section. I think it is more fun to ride allows you to do more on the wave.

[wilcar]

Nice picces, massive wave. you boys from bli bli really got it sussed out. Well done berserko.

[Alan-S]

Yea, you are right berserko, it is def. really tall and steep. I like it like that because when I do top slides and spins the wave just pics you right back up on the Broadcast. I have that longer skimskate like the one in your picture too, I bet the longer wave is a lot better for that, I am going to have to try it this weekend. Moral of the story is.....SAN's through a sick surfing wake!

[Bezerko]

Amen to that!!!

[AirNautique211]

Bezerko looks to be making a killer wake, but it all looks very extreme compared to the way we set up - the wake also looks to be going more parralel to the boat and less perpendicular to the boat. With a wake like that the surfer must keep climbing the wake to stay in the pocket and do spins.

We have a 211, run 8-9 MPH, starboard and belly tanks full, and everyone in the boat behind the driver's seat. No fatties or people on the gunnells. The wake is about 4' and rides easy. We surf righthand-regular on the driver's side of the boat - no way on the port side without a rope - the wake is washed out. It seems like the edge is easier to control on the heal side.

What I want to know is how to truly "hang ten" while inland surfing?

[OldFart]

Backup a minute Deuce. The wine & women in the front, he's surfing & you are on the platform. You got the raw end of that one!

[Bezerko]

Spinning is still easy to do on a longer section, I'm using the Obrien Atlas here it is alot looser and faster than the Liquid Force Skimskate. I personally much prefer the faster looser feel. As a matter of fact I find it harder to stop spinning on the Obrien Atlas than to start the spin. Here a few pics.

[Deuce]

You are correct Old Fart....but the real party was back at the houseboats that night. Bringing back memories like that, sometimes I wonder why everyone doesn't own a boat or quickly make friends with someone who does.