SANTE 230 ballast advice needed

[briany]

I'm looking at a 2009 SANTE 230 and would like to plumb in an aftermarket ballast system on top of the factory equipment. Obviously I'm going with locker sacks and the underseat nose sack. What I want to know is what has worked best for you guys in both surfing and wakeboarding configurations, as we will do a lot of both.

I know there are a few older posts out there that address this question, but I was hoping to compile some thoughts here for myself and for others who might have the same question. Do any of you use a combination of water and lead ballast? If so, how has that worked out for you. I'd love to see pics of wakes with your setup if at all possible. I'm just trying to save myself some time and headache and hit the water with the right setup out of the box.

Thanks so much for your thoughts!

[dh0125]

Our experience

I bought a 2008 230 late last summer. In addition to the factory ballast, I added a 750 lb fat sac (W707) in each locker and 725 lb integrated bow sac (W711). Though Fly High recommends the 400 lb bags for the lockers in their Nautique bundle, these sacs were from my old Mastercraft and I figured the additional weight could be used for surfing. One self-imposed constraint is that I will not have exposed sacs in the seating area.


Right now, I run the timed fill pumps twice, which fills the factory ballast, approx. 50% of the rear sacs, and almost 75% of the bow sac. The hydro gate is usually set to 1 (furthest away from the dash, plate is up) to clean up the wake. We typically have 3-5 people in the main cabin and an empty bow. With this configuration, the wake is very large, but very rampy without much of a lip (see attached pictures). If I try adding additional weight to the rear sacs to increase the vert of the ramp, the boat will porpoise. Moving the hydro gate to 3 (plate is down creating lift under the transom), eliminates the porpoising, but the wake is still very rampy.


One option I've consider is simply buying 200-400 lb of pop bags (or comparable) to add to the bow, than fill the rear bags completely. Another config I plan to try soon is not filling the bow sac, and filling the factory ballast plus 25% of the rear bags. Last option, which my marina recommended, is a new prop.


Have only had the boat out one time this year....will try to find a picture, but everyone was real happy with the wake, my preference is just to have a slightly more vertical wake at times.

Couple notes on the pictures. I am 6' 4" and the water depth in these pictures is anywhere from 4-10 feet, which obviously has a large impact on the wake. Just the sacrifice we make for good water Plan to use this great March-April weather to dial in the wake.

[lion90]

Regarding your porpoising problem. Have you updated your ZeroOff software and installed the new GPS receiver. I actually got my 2009 230 SAN upgraded to the new receiver and software under warranty since the porpoising was so bad.

It may not seem like that could correct the problem but it fixed the issue for me as well as many other 230 owners. I can now weight the back more with minimal to no porpoising.

Like you, I plumbed in the integrated bow sac as well as some 750s in the trunk. I also have an extra 400lbs of lead that I spread amoung the walkthrough and to balance the boat left and right. I usually only run the rear sacs at 1/2 to 3/4 but I like the bigger sacs to help with surfing.

[briany]

Great advice. Thanks

This is exactly the kind of real world advice I was looking for. I already have two 400# fat sacs that I thought I might start with in the lockers, but I'm skeptical that will be at all sufficient for surfing. One option I'm considering is getting some Pop sacks to move around for additional weight in the back and the center ski locker, but dragging around 400 pounds of solid ballast everywhere I go is not the most desirable solution if gas is 5 bucks a gallon.

So, the most popular solution seems to be putting the 750s in back and I could run my 400 down the side in surf mode. Have any of you had problems with running the 750s on top of the hard tanks? I know you have to a little mod on the instructions to prevent vapor locking and bending the sender, but has the weight itself ever caused a problem?

I'm happy to hear any other setups that have given you great wakes as well!

[dh0125]

appreciate the advice on zero off. i did update the software, but was ignorant to any required receiver updates. dumb question, but how does zero off have anything to do with porpoising? definitely not arguing with you, but curious. everything seems to affect everything on a boat

as for the installation of the sacs over the factory installed ballast, i've had no problem and installed them according to the instructions from fly high (http://www.fatsac.com/PDFs/SuperAirBallastDiagram.pdf). there are some considerations as you mentioned, but again, i looked to my marina for help.

i'll also try to get some pics of our surf wake. don't surf much (i personally find it incredibly boring) and the depth of our water makes it difficult to get a great wake. to date, we've found the best port side surf wake to be 100% port ballast, 75% belly/bow, 0% on starboard with the hydrogate on "1", and zero off set around 10 mph (give or take depending on how fast the water is moving).

i'm with you on the lead, hate to do that to my trailer and why haul add'l weight around. to balance the boat, we make our fat friend move to one side or the other.

[lion90]

Regarding Zero Off causing porpoising - there was a huge conversation on here and that's how many of us learned about the fix.

http://www.planetnautique.com/vb3/sh...light=porpoise

It is a very real problem as Zero Off controls throttle to keep a speed. Something to do with when the boat does start bouncing, the zero off surges which causes the boat to bounce more and continually. Over simplified explanation but I and many others are proof that it does correct the problem. I was as skeptical as any.

[dh0125]

thanks so much!

[louismblais]

We've added two 400s in the rear lockers and the 650 or 700 arrow bag in the bow. Wakeboarding is spectacular with everything full and even just two onboard. Surfing is excellent with the starboard locker empty and sensationnal with everything full plus a 750 bag on top of the port seats behind the removable seatback. The later is actually to much for beginner surfers

Have fun!

[louismblais]

We've added two 400s in the rear lockers and the 650 or 700 arrow bag in the bow. Wakeboarding is spectacular with everything full and even just two onboard. Surfing is excellent with the starboard locker empty and sensationnal with everything full plus a 750 bag on top of the port seats behind the removable seatback. The later is actually to much for beginner surfers

Have fun!

... oh yeah, we also have 150 pounds of 25 pounds lead bags to use to help balance everything. As it turns out I personally prefer to leave that evenly distributed and trim balance at the touch of any of the fill/empty buttons.