I/O Riders: Post your setups
 

Starting up a new thread based on my thread from 4 years ago. Just want to see where people have gone with their I/O setups since then. Unfortunately I haven't gone far. A knee injury and a few years out of the game entirely pretty much stalled all progress. But last summer my girlfriend of many years asked completely out of the blue if I could teach her to wakeboard, she loved it, and now I'm back lookin' for ideas to improve my boat that don't involve a new boat. :)

I'll get it started:

Boat: 2001 Mariah 180 Diablo
Engine: 4.3L Mercruiser 2bbl carb
Prop: 3-blade 19P
Tow Point: Still using the "rear bumper" ski-eye. :-(
Ballast: 2x400lb fat sacs (one under the back seat, one in the locker), People
Accessories: SE Sport 300 hydrofoil

The wake was really improved by the hydrofoil, more size and a nicer transition, but it did get a little softer. The fat sacs fixed that right up, not as much of a size change as just firming it up and making it more predictable. And I'm once again dreaming of a tower (bottom of the boat doesn't lend itself to a pilon) and a 17p prop.

Sorry, no pics at the moment.

For reference, the original thread from 4 years ago:
http://www.wakeworld.com/forum/showthread.php?t=333850

Some before and after pics. This boat was a mess when we got it. I had to replace the motor mounts. Reconfigured the interior, paint, tower, 2k of ballast. 4.3 v6, out drive gears swapped out for a 4 cylindar gear set and a 19p 4 blade.

that interior looks real good bro.

Well, I don't have an I/O any more, but I just got rid of mine in April of 09. It was a 96 Mariah Shabbah 180 same engine as what you have. Installed the tower myself, usually had too many people for ballast bags but did have a 400lb sac for the rear when I didn't. At the point you're at, I think you're best bet is a tower. They are pretty easy to install yourself and I think I paid around 800-900 when I bought mine (2 days after I bought the Mariah), had the tower on before I even had it on the water once! Then of course added some new speakers and head unit, but that's all personal preference. Here's a pic before I sold her:

I have a 1999 232 Cobalt with a Volvo 7.4 and a dou-prop... Put a tower on it and with playing with the trim the wake is pretty sweet. I haven't ever put weight in it but the boat weighs around 4500lbs dry. I have had some pretty good riders behind it and have only gotten positive feedback... Maybe I got lucky, good wake, 50+mph, and you don't need a chiropractor after a trip across the bay..

19.5 foot Chaparral cuddy
Monster Tower
350 v8

Currently the motor is out of it as our flywheel has been getting worse and worse every year. Been riding with no ballast and minimal people, but plan on adding around 1k pounds of ballast before spring.

Also currently on a 21p 13.25 prop, looking to upgrade that too. Read on here that the Merc Hi-5 is the best.. we'll see what the wallet allows when it comes time.

http://i89.photobucket.com/albums/k2...d/DSC00285.jpg

the wake last year @ 22-23mph. pretty narrow. plus we only had a 60' rope. purchased a new 80+5 foot rope over the winter.. cant wait to try it out
http://i89.photobucket.com/albums/k2...d/DSC00295.jpg

Current state of the boat as of yesterday:
http://i89.photobucket.com/albums/k2...ead/001-10.jpg
http://i89.photobucket.com/albums/k238/cloead/002-7.jpg

2005 220 sea ray
bravo 3 outdrive with 19 pitch prop
we run about 1500 lbs plus people. in these pics, we had 1600 lbs and 6 people in the boat.
23 mph. 65 feet

I bought my dads 1996 21' wellcraft excell last summer. 302 fod/volvo penta witha a stainless 21" Its the boat I learned to ride behind. Wife and I put a Monster tower and cargo bimini at the same time. No stero, and no balast. It is a mod. vee hull, and puts a nicely shaped wake with a descent size. Thinking about 550 pounds this summer, and a small stero. It has a battery switch, but only one battery, so thats in her future soon. The trailer is going to get new wires and led lights as soon as I have some money.
I love this boat, she is light fast, and I know her well. But I wish I could surf behind her.

2005 Ebbtide Campione 210
Monster Tower
about 1000 lbs ballast

next project is prolly tower speakers

Where are you guys putting your ballast? Front, middle, back? I have a 97 Maxum and was thinking about getting a bag for the ski locker since my batteries are in the compartments on either side of the motor. Just trying to find out the best location to do it.

My number one suggestion to anyone with an I/O that they intend to wakeboard behind is to get hold of a high 5 prop. I have a maxum 1900 with the 190hp 4.3 v6. It originally came with a 23p alu 3 blade which was great for cruising but had crap holeshot. Then I fitted a 19p ss 3 blade and holeshot was a bit better but top speed was reduced by about 8mph. Finally after reading up on I/O wakeboarding I bought a high 5 and the difference is amazing!

Holeshot is fantastic, it feels like I have 50+ extra hp when boarding as there is no hesitation even when sacked out. Speed adjustment is a lot easier as the boat holds speed much better. I have just fitted perfect pass so the 2 should compliment each other well.

Anyone looking to improve their I/O the most important purchaces that will make the most difference are tower, high 5, perfect pass and ballast!

How does everyone like there monster towers?

06' Searay 175 Sport
4 blade 17p
500lbs

hey ethan, Monster tower is about the most affordable tower out there....we have had three on three separate boats....all have lasted and are very tough....

Tom, how much ballast you running in your boat? got any pics of the wake?

and Steve, I run a 540 in the ski locker and 2 250s on each side in middle....thats what works for me bc most times ppl sit in the back so no worries about weight there....they say do a 60/40 ratio front/back.....just work with the trim till the wake gets no white-wash and you are good to go

we run 750 lbs under the rear bench, and then 650 in the bow. plus people of course, and we have a 150 lb sac we use from time to time, if the bow is running a little high, or to help counter any white wash we might have. we bring the trim up a little as well. ours is rated from 1-25 on a digital display. 1-10 you can run the boat, and 11-25 is trailer mode. we run it at 4 while wakeboarding, adds some lip, cleans it up, and makes it noticeably steeper. pics are in my previous post up above if you want to see what the weight does to the wake.

David, how long does it take for your boat to plane off with all that weight? seems like with our 1000 lbs it takes forever!!

ehh... it takes a while. haha. we only have 230 hp. and our boat weighs over 5000 lbs before gear, water, or even fuel. we had 22 pitch props the last time i rode behind it, and it would get you up and out of the water pretty quick, but took a little time for the wake to form and for the boat to plane out. the best part about that though, is you have plenty of time to set up and get a great edge for an ollie off the start up wake trick.
we just had our props re pitched (we have a bravo 3 outdrive, so it costs about 1600$ to get 2 new props for it) but we had it re pitched down to 19, and i havnt rode with it since, but my dad said it gets you up and on plane WAY faster.

yo, i just started a group. I/O love. post these pics there, or not

Hey guys, I just picked up a 1997 Sea Ray 175 with a V6 4.3L Mercruiser for myself for a pretty decent price. I plan to wakeskate behind it soon, but first it needs some work. I took it out for its first ride today and it seems to take awhile to get on plain and is hard to hold a consistent speed. Do you have a recommendation for an ideal prop? I plan to install a monster tower and perfect pass by the end of the summer. :) Anyways, here are some pictures!

If you have any questions just let me know.

http://i143.photobucket.com/albums/r...DSC_0087-2.jpg
http://i143.photobucket.com/albums/r...3/DSC_0088.jpg
http://i143.photobucket.com/albums/r...3/DSC_0091.jpg
http://i143.photobucket.com/albums/r...3/DSC_0092.jpg
http://i143.photobucket.com/albums/r...3/DSC_0093.jpg

Supposedly the fat sacs I have are 400 lbs each but I think they're closer to 300-350 tops. I don't have any photos of my wake. I was going to get some shots this past weekend but there was some ice damage to my boathouse/rail system and I couldn't get her out yet.

I'm definitely going to look into a monster tower for my rig though.

Nice find man, check out my setup (very first post of the thread). My boat used to have a problem getting on plane. Very similar size/weight to yours. A hydrofoil made a MASSIVE difference. I'm running a 19p prop, but it revs a little low at wakeboarding speeds, so the throttle is tough to modulate. It'll burn more gas with a 17p, but I think that'll put it more in the sweet spot.

Sweet boat dude, let us know how it works out.

Just ordered a Quicksilver QST 5 19p prop for $415 shipped. Apparently it is the same prop (or close to the same) as the Merc High Five. Can't wait to try it out this year!

Ive got a 97 18ft crownline, 4.3L, 4blade 18 pitch on it, no ballast the boat is usually full when we go out.. I have a set of Kicker KMT6s on it powered by a Kicker 350.2, pioneer deck, 4 Kicker 6.5s in the cabin, XM satelite radio, JL 500/1 pushing one 10W6 under the helm. No pics though :( net is too slow over here in Iraq to load them.. But this will be replaced by next summer by a 06-08 Moomba LSV... But I love the I/O crew!!! Just hope I was on mine this summer!!!

Here's mine.. 21ft Glastron w/ Tower and as many friends as we can get for ballast!!!

Rider is 6'5"

I'll Play:

1998 Sea Ray 180 w/ DIY Tower, Home made Board Racks, and 500 pounds of sand

2002 Cobalt 226 with 8.1l and VP DP drive.

Samson tower

http://hphotos-snc3.fbcdn.net/hs076...._3961569_n.jpg

2006 Ebbtide Extreme 2000
5.0 liter volvo
Loud Liquid tower
Sting Ray Hydrofoil
4 blade 17 pitch prop

I put 120lbs sand way up under the front seats, and another 120lbs in each of the back corners against the transom. I plumbed in an automatic ballast system to fill a pair of 350lb sacs in the ski locker. It gets narrow toward the front so I'm sure the front bag isn't filling all the way, I'd guess I'm getting 600lbs between both bags. Finally I fill a pair of 85lb bags on the front left seat, which counter balances the dual batteries in the back right. Total ballast is about 1150lbs

Final key to cleaning up the wake is to trim up just a tiny bit. In my case, its less than 1/8 and barely shows up in the gauge. I just watch the wake and go until the foam disappears and I get a tiny lip.

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Im about to start boarding off my 180, where in the boat did you place all the sand and what was the cost of tower? What did you change besides adding to it, like prop blade or trim tabs?