Wieghting a 06 VLX

I have a 06 VLX and i want to add some more ballast to it for wakeboarding. im just looking for some opions on what size sacs i should get and where to put them.

I think most people say 450 to 750# sacks in the rear lockers and 250-300 up front.

I run stock+wedge at 450+350 in each locker and another 550 up front and the wake is sweeeeet!!

Do you need a different Prop for all that weight?

Johnny

do you have bow ballast in your boat stock and then add weight up front or is the 550 all?

I have the stock center tank (400) and then a 550 bag in the bow, no stock tank in the bow. The boat does good with 3 or 4 people but more than that it is a dog out the hole. I just odered the acme 1235 to solve that prob

Johnny, what engine do you have? I've got the Hammerhead and you had to put weight and about 8 people in there before you had problems getting out of the hole. That was with the stock prop. Now that I have the 1235, nothing can hold it down!

David....IT has 340 horses. How much does the Hammerhead have? When I say more than 4 people I am talking about 4 guys that are 230 plus! I can't wait to get my new prop!!!!!!!

I believe the Hammerhead has 400 hp, so I guess that explains the difference.

500 up front...would you do this on 06 vride/04 vlx?

I run 2 x fly high pro 750s (1 in each trunk) and about 400ish of lead up front.

We switched from the 537 stock prop to the acme 1235 and it does fantastic!

Full stock 1250 + another 1600ish in sacs/lead.

How much weight do you guys think is to much for the drivetrain on a VLX?

Brook what speed do you board at? Do you use the wedge? What engine do you have?

monsoon

no wedge

usually somewhere around 23.6 - 24. Last summer we were riding in the low 24s, trying to slow down this summer.

usually 80' back, we bump that to 85' when we ride faster

Has anyone tried doubling the stock ballast? (200 in each locker, 500 in middle, 350 upfront)

You can't really put that much in the front or you'll be dipping the nose all day. I put a few Pop bags up front and two sacs in the lockers and you've got a pro-quality wake. I can't think of another boat out there that will give you that much wake with that little effort.

Here are the details...
http://www.wakeworld.com/getarticle.asp?articleid=408

Usually when we are riding the vlx we are using the wedge. I never used to like the wedge until the 21.5 ft vlx came out and the 23 lsv. The other day we were riding 600 lbs of lead in the walkway right behind the stock bow ballast. Then just filled the stock ballast all the way up and dropped the wedge. 5 people in the boat. Wake is SICK like that. If you are ever using the wedge, you need to make sure to have the bow of the boat sitting alittle bit lower in the water because the wedge is going to suck the tail of the boat down anyway. Use lead or steal weight if you can also. Water bags become boyant when they sink down to the water level and too much water weight can just wash the wake out. Kinda wierd but just drop a 500 lb fat sac out the side of the boat and it will float. lol. Malibu definately is pushing the biggest cleanest wake out there. Ever wonder why you see alot of the pros riding behind them even when they ride for other companies.

I will agree that Malibu has got a great wake without having to add much, but lead, steel or water will all sink your boat the same amount. 200 lbs. worth of beach balls will sink your boat as much as 200 lbs. worth of lead. The density of your weight doesn't make a difference in how much it sinks the boat.

P.S. Good to have you back, Chris!

"Water bags become boyant when they sink down to the water level"

Yes if they are in the water. Inside a boat there isn't a difference.

Nu Bu the reason I was saying that is because my good friends nautique 210, we have to run 4 full size fat sacks(2000 lbs)plus stock ballast but now we have 1500 lbs in lead plus ballast and the wake is the same size if not alittle bigger. Might be a good topic starter? Thanx Dave too I'm stoked to be back riding!

So how much faster do you burn through gas with all that additional weight? I have four ballast tanks and the wedge but haven't tried the addtional fat sacs yet.

I like the water weight cause you can drain it and cruise the lake without draining your gas tank as bad. If you're friend had a malibu he wouldn't need all that lead

In the v-drive compartments it says to not excede 75 pounds. is it cool to throw sacs back there?

make sure your stock tanks are full in the rear lockers, before you put anything back there.

I have 4 stock tanks full plus:
400lbs in each rear compartment
300lbs in the walk through area
no wedge and the wake is sick
If I lower the wedge its like hitting a wall but it will pop you straight up. IMO wedge is to much if additional weight is added.