Help Setting up a Supra Launch SSV for Wake Surfin

My buddy has a 2002 Launch SSV and we need some help getting it set up for wake surfing. I bought a Phase 5 Prop board and we gave it a try this past weekend with only a little success. We had to surf off the driver's side because it gave the cleanest wake (prop rotation?). He has a ballast system with 2- 300 lb bag in each corner of the back of the boat and a 1500 or 1800lb bag in the center of the boat (at ski locker). We tried various combinations and could never get a very strong wave. We could let go for short periods of time but would lose the wave. I know some of this was inexperience but the wave did not seem as large as most posted in the pictures on this site. We were literally on the back platform most of the time when we were actually surfing the wave. He does have two fat saks that we did not have with us on the lake this past weekend. It is usually just me and him in the boat so I am sure we need the fat saks with us. Anybody have any experience with this boat that can give us some pointers. We just feel like there are to many variables at the moment, figuring out the right weight/speed combo and learning to wake surf. Thanks for any help.

(Message edited by whitlecj on April 26, 2004)

Start with this:
Fill all ballast on the side you ride on
Fill all center ballast
Put everyone in the boat on the side you ride on
Drive at 10 to 11 mph
Drive in a circle such that you have a nice powerful face on the wave.

Adjust

We've got a 2002 SSV. First, I don't think that there's any way he's got two 300# sacks in the rear and then an 1800# sack in the center. It's possible but I doubt it. That would be getting the smallest bags in the rear, but the biggest aftermarket bag you can buy for the front - it doesn't make sense.

Bottom line is this: You need more weight in the rear corner on the side you're riding on. Filling the front sack full of 1500# with only 300# in the rear corner is almost counter-productive.

Once you get that back corner loaded, whether it's with bigger ballast bags, additional fat sacks, sand, lead whatever, you'll have a surfing wake to smile about.

I like to ride at 10.7 on PP and do not require the boat to maintain a constant turn to keep a great shape. Just my .02 worth of experience.

I own the boat and just verified on paperwork before posting this. It has a Bertha Ballast System, which I ordered,(not Supra factory standard system or option) before taking delivery of the boat. It has a 1500# sack in middle floor locker and one sack in each side lockers capable of sustaining almost 350#. Each sack in rear holds 37.5 gallons and at 8# per gallon, that equals 300#. So what's our option now? I do have two large 400+# Launch pads we can add, so the question still remains, how would you set it up? We toyed with all permanent in-place ballast but felt we were just spitting in the wind and should get some input from you guys. As previously stated, it's generally just the two of us. Most of our friends are freeloaders and just want to ride around and I have no time for sightseeing when I'm out playing and could care less for that kind of company riding their lazy a$$e$ in my boat. Especially when they don't bring beer, food or gas money. I grew up surfing and felt slower speeds were more accomodating to ride due to feeling boat was outrunning me. But that might be due to the smaller wake and it felt mushy, not firm when manuevering up and down the face of the wave.
Do you (supraman) keep the platform on or off and if on, is it because your wake is larger and longer to ride. We roughly had a 3-5' area of good wake we felt was suitable for "surfing" but once again, could not maintain speed and keep up even "pumping" the board to do so.

With the Supra you need to surf on the left side or opposite from the driver because the rotation of the prop. You will need a lot more weight in the back left corner to create a big enough wake for that smaller board. The Phase 5 is a small board, so it will not be as fast and will be difficult to keep enough speed to stay in a smaller wake. With that boat try keeping all of the sacks full then adding to 350lb twin sacks. One on top of the trunk in the back left corner and one on the left side bench seat. Then put everyone in the back left corner of the boat. Go 9.5 and 11 mph with a constant turn to the left. Also play with the position of the wakeplate to find the best shape for the wake. If you try to surf the drivers side of the wake it is going to be white washed because of the rotation of the prop. After many hours of testing wakesurfers this best wake we have found on that boat.

"With the Supra you need to surf on the left side"

I have an 02' SSV and although the left side may be slightly better.. I promise you can still ride a nice wake on the drivers side.

This pic of me is behind an 04' SSV. My friend had the Gravity games bags ~1500# in the belly + 800# in the locker of the side we were surfing. No need to drive in circles. The SSV is the best wakesurf wake I've been behind, doesn't mattter what side you ride behind. Oh yeah, I'm 6'3" and 190lbs so it may look kinda small.

jay - You're getting a nice looking wave going there. By driving straight you're achieving a bigger sweet spot but a slightly less powerful wave. However, the fact that you're 190lbs and can stay with it without a rope does say that you've certainly got a respectable wave.

My buddy got a CWB so I tried it out and had blast once I actually threw the rope on the boat. That got me interested in checking out the wakesurfing posts and I noticed that Jay is further back than I am from the boat without all the whitewash hitting him in the legs. I have the standard 04 SSV bags and with six people @10-11 mph and am able to do OK in the wash and slop (which I thought was normal). I'm looking at Jay's wake thinking I'm missing the weighting issue. I'd love to be in the clean like that.

Here's the wake we're getting on my Enzo 23ft Centurion). We're running full ballast on both sides (250 per side) adding 400lb sac in the locker and about 350lbs of lead under the side seats. Adding some weight to the opposide side tends to "clean up" the wake and remove any white water from falling on the the nice clean wave. It's hard to tell from the pic, but this one is hip hign on me. I'm 5'10. Lighter riders can ride 15 to 20 ft from the boat, right in front of the white water curl.

Don't fill the center (or only fill it halfway)

We have spent days and the best we found was with no center ballast. Shift all weight to the corner you want to surf on

That's a huge wake! What type of boat, how much weight?

2004 LSV
2000 pounds in corner and side with the wedge.

Hey Mark looks familar and almost as good as my enzo's surf wake (when we have it fully dialed).

What's up Mark? This is Clint.

Where you guys been?

oh my god, i got to get another fat sac for the back corner, im running 700lbs in the one corner, i need more weight!! that wake w/ 2000lbs is freaking awesome!!!

We ran full ballast on both sides, 200lb cement blocks in one locker with a 600lb fat sac on top, about another 200lbs of cement blocks under the seats up the side, 300lb fat sac on the floor and another almost full 300lb fat sac in the walkthru to the bow. We found adding the weight to the bow made the wake longer and cleaner.