how to set up 1998 Ski Ray tournament inboard for wakeboarding

Rugglesworth

Petty Officer 3rd Class
Joined
Jul 6, 2023
Messages
90
I bought a 98 Ski Ray tournament boat. 21' Bow rider. The motor has been swapped to a zz4 crate motor with marine cam and marine goodies on the outside. It has a tower for boarding. I know it's set up for skiing but my son's also like to wakeboard and possibly surf. Just get a couple 400lb ballast bags in the back? This boat is rare at least where I'm from so not much info online. Hoping someone on here has some experience with this boat.

Thanks
 

Scott06

Admiral
Joined
Apr 20, 2014
Messages
6,666
I bought a 98 Ski Ray tournament boat. 21' Bow rider. The motor has been swapped to a zz4 crate motor with marine cam and marine goodies on the outside. It has a tower for boarding. I know it's set up for skiing but my son's also like to wakeboard and possibly surf. Just get a couple 400lb ballast bags in the back? This boat is rare at least where I'm from so not much info online. Hoping someone on here has some experience with this boat.

Thanks
We must be thinking alike ….

if you search direct drive wake surf boat or similar on you tube there will be some videos of how to set up a ski boat for wake boarding or surfing.

if I recall there were 4-5 videos on thee done by legit folks of how to make it work. I was looking at it as buying and older ski or wakeboard boat and trying to affordably surf.
 

rallyart

Lieutenant Junior Grade
Joined
Jun 7, 2008
Messages
1,182
My boat is 2006 direct drive wake boat by Sanger. I use it for skiing, some, wake boarding, less in recent years, foiling, most often, and surfing.
The first thing you need is a very low pitch prop. If you surf you need to get the RPM up so you have high torque when only travelling 12 MPH. Mine with a 1:1 drive has an 11" pitch but a 10.5" would also ve fine. I only lost 1 MPH top speed going from a 12.5" stock prop to the 11 as inboards hull speed out, unlike a boat you can trim up high.
First weight bag you need is in the ski locker. put the biggest you can in there. Next would be one or two big bags in the rear. If you can fill the space to seat height behind the engine box you are left with a good lounge area. The more weight you have, the bigger the wake. (and the more likely you are to swamp the nose or have wake slop over the transom.

I'd recommend getting a wake shaper that stick on the side of the hull to get the best surf wake. I use a Nautical brand but others also are good.

An adjustable trim tap is a help, like a Bennet surf tab but that is starting to change your hull. You probably have a flat fixed plate now. That's great for skiing and fast starts but it stops the stern from sinking as much which makes it harder to get the right shape for wake sports.

I will not give up the handling of my D-drive so I've played a lot with different things to keep my kids (now in there 20s) happy with their sports.
 
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