Does anyone use any Ballast bags or fat sacs?

[JK Turtle]

My girlfriend and I are getting into wakeboarding pretty big now. It seems like the normal wake is OK, but I would like great. I have the fish and ski, so as of now I have been filling up the live well, and running a hose over to the "storage/cooler" and filling that up as well. It gives it a little bigger wake, just curious if anyone has one in the ski locker or up front.

 

[theBrownskull]

Re: Does anyone use any Ballast bags or fat sacs?

I don't use them, i use some guys I know that are 300+ pounds each. Much easier to have them move around. They were all linebackers.

 

[PrinceValium]

Re: Does anyone use any Ballast bags or fat sacs?

I don't use them, i use some guys I know that are 300+ pounds each. Much easier to have them move around. They were all linebackers.

Yeah but then you have to feed such linebackers with beer and food for the day....the bags would be cheaper...LOL

To the OP:

Here is a website that has a bunch of them to choose from...they have ones specific to certain hull shapes etc.

Wakeboard Ballast Bags | WakeMAKERS.com

They will definitely give you more wake...but IMO will not be the same kind of wake that a Malibu boat with the prop plate will produce. I am sure it will be much better than stock though. Just keep in mind with all that weight in the boat you will be burning a LOT more fuel AND be careful to not exceed the allowable weight limit for your boat!! Keep this in mind...a gallon of water weighs 8.34 pounds so each of these bags full they say are about 400 lbs. EACH. You will not be able to have a full boat of people and these bags filled as you will possibly be over your weight limit for your boat..just keep that in mind.

The other thing you would need to do is make sure you secure these bags to either side of the engine compartment so they do not shift or roll over when turning. They have the portable pumps needed to fill them on the website as well. Hope this helps!

 

[BoatDrinksQ5]

Re: Does anyone use any Ballast bags or fat sacs?

Depending on your desired speed while riding. Having some weight mid boat or up front can help with maintaining speed and planing.

So i would think using the skilocker area would be a good spot to put one. Would be held in place pretty well. Wouldn't effect ride to much, but still make boat sit lower in water slightly.

 

[JK Turtle]

Re: Does anyone use any Ballast bags or fat sacs?

I read somewhere on here that for an I/O, you can put most of the weight up front and trim up a little and this will cause a larger wake also. Usually when we go wakeboarding it is right after work (7 AM, yes that is AM) and it is usually only 3 of us, 4 at the most so I am still a ways from the max rating. I know I won't get a Malibu or Tige wake, just something a little more. This is my first boat so hopefully I can up grade in a few years. I can convince my girlfriend of the said upgrade because she went on a photoshoot with Tige and she fell in love with those boats. But then again they were on the top of the line models.

 

[PrinceValium]

Re: Does anyone use any Ballast bags or fat sacs?

Yep BoatDrinks is right they do also make the ski locker bladders and it is a good spot...they only thing with those is that you can only use one bag...and that means less weight in the boat for the wake. The one they sell on that site is only 380 lbs. It might be all you would need especially with 4 people on the boat.