2014 A Plate and a few other MODs to my 2013 230+

[WETSU Wakesurfer 56]

Been waiting awhile fore the new Asymmetric plate to become available so I have been adjusting little things here and there as they can up to get the boat the way we want it.

 

1. We had a hole in one of our QF ballast tanks due to a screw from where the battery box was mounted by the factory and our carpet in the clamshell was always wet and had started to mildew and smell by the time I figured out what the cause of the water was so first MOD was a MOD and repair. Pulled the carpet, filled the hole, glassed it over and relocated the battery box off the ballast tank. Since the carpet was already bad I pulled out the carpet in order to replace.

 

2. Decided not to put carpet back in so I went with Hydro Turf instead. Have had it in several Duck boats and it is awesome flooring. Doesn't retain water, dries out quickly and will not mold, mildew, smell, etc. Ordered enough to do the floor areas of the bow storage, clamshell storage, mid set storage, and the rear lockers. Basically everywhere that had a chance of contact with water through drainage, ballast sacks, wet ropes, etc. I pulled the carpet and installed the Hydro Turf.

 

3. The rear engine panels kept popping out even with just the 750lb bags in them so I knew it would be an issue with the 1100lb'ers. The swivel locks just wouldn't keep it closed and they kept sliding. So I put a single screw into each small panel near the front of the engine compartment and I put 2 x removable pins in each main panel. Haven't had a panel pop out now in over 65 hours even with the 1100lb bags maxing out the locker.

 

4. Re-ran drains for the 1100lb sacks to the opposite sides of the boat to prevent draining when loaded.

 

5. Re-routed the fill pumps for the Pro-ballast and the P-n-P ballast. My pro ballast bags are only about 260lbs under the mid seats and each had a dedicated pump while the P-n-P which was filling the 750lb bags only had 1 pump and a ball valve so I had to fill one and then drain the other. I moved the mid-seat pro ballast bags to the P-n-P pump with the switch and placed each of my new 1100lb sacks on the dedicated pro ballast pumps. So now I can fill and dump the big bags simultaneously and the small mid seat bags can be filled and dumped just as fast as before. Just have to remember that the pro ballast is now for the rear locker sacks on the touchscreen.

 

6. Installed a WS420 EQ. What a difference it made and the ability to control by zones has made riding much easier on the ears while the surfer or wakeboarder can hear the music clearly now.

 

7. Ordered and installed the exhaust silencer and the A Plate.

 

It was pretty amazing how much the A plate cleaned up the darkside wave and stretched it out. Before if we were lucky we had about 2 board lengths (IS Swallow) to ride on from the swimstep back and still had quite a bit of spray from the prop wash. We now have easily 4 board lengths and the face is clean.

 

[RVR-RAT 269]

Nice write up wetsu! What did the plate run you? I know the full wing plate was around $900

[WETSU Wakesurfer 56]

Nice write up wetsu! What did the plate run you? I know the full wing plate was around $900

It was just over $400 and about a 15 minute job to remove the original plate and install the new one. All the hinge plate holes matched up perfectly. It actually took me longer to put the exhaust silencer on since I had to drill holes for it and was taking my time to make sure I didn't mess it up or chip the gel coat.

[Bongo Fury 640]

Nice job! Thanks for posting it up!

[DarksideR 1,679]

Nice writeup. Lots of good mods there... where's the pics of the floors?? AND THE WAVE!!!??? LOL.

[RVR-RAT 269]

It was just over $400 and about a 15 minute job to remove the original plate and install the new one. All the hinge plate holes matched up perfectly. It actually took me longer to put the exhaust silencer on since I had to drill holes for it and was taking my time to make sure I didn't mess it up or chip the gel coat.

Thanks wetsu!!! I know what my next mod is gonna be !!!

[WETSU Wakesurfer 56]

Nice writeup. Lots of good mods there... where's the pics of the floors?? AND THE WAVE!!!??? LOL.

Was to busy enjoying the new wave and trying to get it dialed in to take any pic's. Will get some in the AM as we are out on Dawn Patrol to try and get some scarce glass in windswept Oklahoma. Will also get a few shot's of the Hydro Turf in as well.

 

Thanks wetsu!!! I know what my next mod is gonna be !!!

Only thing to be aware of is that the hinge mounts to the back of the Hull/Transom now not underneath (should be able to see what I mean in the photo I think). Not sure when they made the change but it was between 2012 and 2013 I think based on the photos I have seen of other boats and the way their tabs were mounted. Luckily my boat is a 13' and it was a straight bolt up. Otherwise I would have been pursuing the MOD where you bolt or weld the wing to the Port side of the plate. If anyone wants the exact dimensions of the Factory A plate let me know and I will post up with a couple different pic's.

[RVR-RAT 269]

Was to busy enjoying the new wave and trying to get it dialed in to take any pic's. Will get some in the AM as we are out on Dawn Patrol to try and get some scarce glass in windswept Oklahoma. Will also get a few shot's of the Hydro Turf in as well. Only thing to be aware of is that the hinge mounts to the back of the Hull/Transom now not underneath (should be able to see what I mean in the photo I think). Not sure when they made the change but it was between 2012 and 2013 I think based on the photos I have seen of other boats and the way their tabs were mounted. Luckily my boat is a 13' and it was a straight bolt up. Otherwise I would have been pursuing the MOD where you bolt or weld the wing to the Port side of the plate. If anyone wants the exact dimensions of the Factory A plate let me know and I will post up with a couple different pic's.

Right on!! I have 2013 as well should be a simple swap !!

[DarksideR 1,679]

I'm having a manual(no hinge) A Plate made for my Elite V by the fabricator at my work. It's only costing me a case of beer, but doesn't look like I'll have it till next year. That's gonna have to do for now. I may try the NO trim tab approach next time I head out. Today I'm hitting the lake with my whole extended family, and don't want to waste the time. I'll make sure to take some pics of my wave for the "before" pictures.

[E320 0]

I would like to know how the A plate affects the wake for wakeboarding. I put a wing plate on my 240 which did a great job cleaning up the wash on the wake when wakeboarding, but did not help with the darkside surfing. What have you noticed?

[WETSU Wakesurfer 56]

I would like to know how the A plate affects the wake for wakeboarding. I put a wing plate on my 240 which did a great job cleaning up the wash on the wake when wakeboarding, but did not help with the darkside surfing. What have you noticed?

I have young kids who have just started wakeboarding this year and I am getting to old to be getting after it wakeboarding which is why I have shifted primarily to Wakesurfing so I am not really sure how the A plate effects the wake for boarding. We really haven't tried to weight the boat to even see what the wakeboard wake will look like. I can't think it will effect it negatively though, if we have time tomorrow I will weight the boat and run it to see what the wakeboarding wake will look like.