VLX Wake...Wedge or No Wedge???

dabigkahuna 08-04-2007, 1:19 PM

I got the opportunity to ride behind a new VLX with stock ballast, no Wedge, and about 9 people on board, the wake was totally SICK! They put the Wedge down and it did seem to make the wake a bit bigger, but the wake seemed like it wasn't as smooth as without it (sorta like there was some turbulence caused by the Wedge that made the wake a little distorted).

How are you VLX owners weighting the boat, and are you using the Wedge? Have you noticed the turbulence thing when using the Wedge?

(jcv) · (jcv) **Join Date: Oct 2005** 08-04-2007, 2:50 PM

Stock ballast # only a few people = wedge

Lots of ballast and or lots of people = no wedge

I always found the wedge did far more good on a smaller wake.

(jetskiprosx) · (jetskiprosx) **Join Date: Aug 2004** 08-04-2007, 2:55 PM

What year VLX are we talking about here? I pretty much agree with Jeff. For surfing though, as much ballast as possible + the wedge!

(ord27) · (ord27) **Join Date: Oct 2005** 08-04-2007, 6:24 PM

Jeff and Patrick hit it dead on

funny thing....my 11 year old is always saying...ok dad...no ballast or wedge right?!

today I filled the bow and center half way and put the wedge all the way down

plus bumped her up to 20 from 19 mph

she loved it!

with only 1 kiddo and 3 adults in the boat

(lfshane132) · (lfshane132) **Join Date: Jan 2007** 08-04-2007, 6:31 PM

i like no wedge on my friends 05 VLX. i think the wedge doesnt make that bif of a difference. the power wedge is a different story..you can fine tune the wake with it to the riders preference.

(ord27) · (ord27) **Join Date: Oct 2005** 08-04-2007, 6:53 PM

I have found that the wedge mostly makes the wake firmer

our lake is 11 feet deep or less...in the smooth spots....and the wedge seems to be needed to firm the wake wake up more

in deeper water lakes, I have found that we can ride without the wedge

any one else agree with that?

(malibuboarder75)

The wedge definately adds some lip to the wake. I like the extra firmness/steepness.

(05mobiuslsv) · (05mobiuslsv) **Join Date: Apr 2006** 08-04-2007, 8:48 PM

The wedge does add a lip to the top of the wake. Also makes the wake a little more verticle, vs. the really nice transition without the wedge. I like riding without the wedge, full mls, + 10 peeps. Wake is ginormous.

dabigkahuna 08-05-2007, 12:59 AM

I rode behind an '07 VLX. I really liked the smooth transition with the wedge up, with the wedge down it seemed to make the wake a little washy, which is the "lip" I guess you guys are talking about.

(auto) · (auto) **Join Date: Aug 2002** 08-05-2007, 5:02 AM

I use the wedge (power) adds a nice lip, a little less ramp, more vertical.

(dadthedriver) · (dadthedriver) **Join Date: Jul 2004** 08-05-2007, 9:36 AM

Power Wedge always. We run 1200 lbs of lead all ballast filled and always use the wedge. The only thing that will change is that we run it all the way down when we have a lot of people in it the boat or we raise it just slightly when we have a few people in the boat. Tony prefers the lip that it gives when you raise it slightly.

(kickflip_mj) · (kickflip_mj) **Join Date: Apr 2007** 08-06-2007, 1:44 AM

i have an 07 vlx and i run full ballest just mid and rear plus a 250 sac in the front to keep nose down bc my damn dealer didnt tell me that i need the front balist tank to keep the boat from porpasing when the wendge is all the way dawn. thats bs. anyways full everything , run 80 ft line at 22.6/8 mph and that will be one big ass wake.

(sdub) · (sdub) **Join Date: Jan 2003** 08-06-2007, 9:21 AM

on my 03 VLX, I cant tell any difference at all in the wake with the wedge down.

I prefer more wieght and no wedge.

(nvboarder) · (nvboarder) **Join Date: Nov 2005** 08-06-2007, 10:45 AM

04 VLX hull and older, wedge up with good ballast. 05 VLX and newer, everything ballast and wedge. There is a hull change between those two years the 04 is smaller than the 05 and the wedge changes things dramaticly between the two. If you like lippy get the power wedge 06 and newer and go about 1/4 of the way up with some extra weight in the boat.

(bop_96) · (bop_96) **Join Date: Jul 2007** 08-06-2007, 1:07 PM

I have a 2005 VLX and I leave the wedge down and always have the tanks full regardless of the number of people on the boat. The wedge adds a nice lip no doubt. It never washes out. You may have to increase the speed a bit but nothing way crazy.

(dizzyg) · (dizzyg) **Join Date: May 2005** 08-06-2007, 3:10 PM

'06 VLX without the wedge most of the time.

full MLS 1250lbs
500 in each trunk
500 in lead up front
no wedge

Sometimes if we have beginners out we'll drain the MLS for them, when we switch back to full ballast we'll only fill the rear extra ballast 1/3 to 1/2 (so about 500 total in the rear instead of closer to 1000) and then we use the wedge. It's nice but not as beefy as without the wedge. The boat handles a little better without the wedge, feels like the rider pulls the tail around sometimes with that wedge down.

(truebeachbum) · (truebeachbum) **Join Date: Oct 2006** 08-06-2007, 6:08 PM

07 lsv i run with 3000 pounds with the wedge half way down

(dadthedriver) · (dadthedriver) **Join Date: Jul 2004** 08-06-2007, 6:15 PM

Chase, are you sure about 1/2 way down. the only thing that the wedge does at 1/2 way is slow the boat way down and wash out the wake. Tony rides 87ft at 23.5 mph. love the power wedge

(raftisland) · (raftisland) **Join Date: Aug 2006** 08-06-2007, 8:20 PM

could someone post pics of the VLX with the wedge and without the wedge?

(truebeachbum) · (truebeachbum) **Join Date: Oct 2006** 08-07-2007, 10:48 AM

its not like halfway i have the o7 and the right side of the guage is red and the other side says wake size and i run it between wake and size so it dosent curl over and catch my binding but its still steep

(wakeletter75) · (wakeletter75) **Join Date: Jul 2007** 08-10-2007, 11:21 AM

I had mine for almost a year with no wedge,added the wedge and the "lip" we're talking about can't be seen directly but you can definitely feel the difference in the buck you get when you hit it.

(dizzyg) · (dizzyg) **Join Date: May 2005** 08-13-2007, 9:01 AM

I don't like the way it drives either with the wedge down. Seems to pull the back end of the boat around, you have to fight it a little to keep it going perfectly straight down the lake.

(brunnin13) · (brunnin13) **Join Date: Jun 2006** 08-31-2007, 7:23 AM

With just the stock ballast (1000), we always use the wedge. when we load it up (stock plus extra 120 in way rear, 500 in mid-rear, 500 in mid-front, and 120 in front), my brother still likes the wedge, I dont. too much of a kick for me. wake is awesome with all that weight tho (about 2250 plus 6-8 homies)!!! Oh, ours is a floating wedge (which is the best one, in my opinion).

(eubanks01) · (eubanks01) **Join Date: Jun 2001** 08-31-2007, 8:25 AM

No wedge here unless there are only a couple of people in the boat and we don't have all the ballast filled. The wedge definitely does help when you have less ballast. If you are loaded down, then I don't like it as much. I think the opposite of some...yes the wedge adds a lip but I think it makes the wake softer.

We usually run stock (1250) in our LSV with 750's in the trunks (not quite filled all the way) and a 400 in the bow. Add a few peeps and the wake is awesome.

(mastercraft1995)

04 VLX we don't use the wedge. If we don't have many people I'll put some sacks on the floor. The only time I use the wedge is when we are surfing.

If you do use the wedge the wake gets allot steeper .