Turning a bayliner into a wake machine. Help

(sean7791) · (sean7791) **Join Date: Sep 2008** 12-08-2008, 4:20 PM

I usually ride off a Mastercraft X1 but only on the weekends since my spot is 2 hours down the road. We have a 2007 Bayliner 175 with no tower or ballast. We want to give it a decent wake. Nothing amazing but ridable enough so we can practice during the week.

What will I need to do with it. I don't know have weight I should put in it and i'm guessing i'll need a tower on it. It'll be used in saltwater if that helps. Any suggestions?

(jtnz) · (jtnz) **Join Date: Sep 2007** 12-08-2008, 4:48 PM

Some guys I rode with on a similar boat run a full sack in the ski locker and a Launch Pad in the walk through, not certain on the weight but they said about 1000 lbs all up. Throws a pretty nice wake, I think they have a v6 but I'm not sure.

They had a tower on it. Nice salt water ride.

(sean7791) · (sean7791) **Join Date: Sep 2008** 12-08-2008, 6:42 PM

Sounds good. Does anybody know a company that makes a tower for a Bayliner 175, preferably one that has connections with the UK.

I've never done anything like this. Never even added fat sacs to a boat so i have no idea what I'm doing

(jay_g) · (jay_g) **Join Date: Apr 2006** 12-08-2008, 7:10 PM

When I had a 175 I put a monster tower on it. Also trim it up an re-prop it

(phenom_1819) · (phenom_1819) **Join Date: Jan 2008** 12-08-2008, 7:14 PM

Sean, as to sacks, I strongly recommend the Fly High gear. the attachments are very nice and the bags are very durable. Just take some measurements, buy yourself whichever bags you think will work (if you don't know, the V-drive set would be a good place to start), buy the Tsunami pump to fill/drain over the side, and you should be good.

Start with 500-800 lbs or so, and one pump, and go from there.

Don't know if wakeside ships to Ireland, but here's what you should be looking for:

Bags:
http://www.wakeside.com/category/boat/ballast/ballast_bags.do?sortby=bestSellers&filterby1=Brand-Fly%20High&filterby2=&filterby3=&size=

Pump:
http://www.wakeside.com/product/boat/ballast/ballast_pumps/fly+high+tsunami+pump.do

Good luck!

(Message edited by phenom_1819 on December 08, 2008)

(jtnz) · (jtnz) **Join Date: Sep 2007** 12-08-2008, 7:51 PM

A high pole might be the way to go, cheaper and easier to get hold of, or make one yourself, far less work to install or remove too.

Stainless is the way to go for salt water riding.

Oh yeah, get that walk through weight as far forward as you can. If you have trouble finding ballast bags you could try sand bags, or milk bottles filled with sand and then topped off with water, about 5 kg each and basically free...

(Message edited by jtnz on December 08, 2008)

(reachjims) · (reachjims) **Join Date: Aug 2007** 12-09-2008, 5:03 AM

I have the same boat here is my set up. 600# bag in locker. 250# fly high side sac in walkway. 100# of lead under front seats. another 250# side sac against the engine cover. and then a couple people. a 19 pitch mercury high five prop. and a joystick tower. it works well for what it is.

(lovin_the_wake)

When I had an i/o I stuffed a 350lb sac in the ski locker, 2-150lb sacs in the bow and 2-150lb sacs in the rear on either side of the engine and the wake was pretty good for an i/o and never re-propped it though and I should have

(benjaminp) · (benjaminp) **Join Date: Nov 2008** 12-09-2008, 8:09 AM

I have that exact boat, but it came with a tower. I find putting about 1000 lbs (people, sacks, whatever) in it gives me a nice enough wake, but I have been riding for a year, so you may be looking for more. Right now we use two 350 lbs sacks, one across the back, and one in the bow, and its a nice wake when you are riding two in the boat. Talk to your dealer about a tower, because it is an option with the boat.

(sean7791) · (sean7791) **Join Date: Sep 2008** 12-09-2008, 11:47 AM

I will give the dealer a call. Any other ideas?