MFaso

Bow weight never worked for me either. I actually stuffed life jackets and such on TOP of my bow bag under the seats.

Definitely post it so if anything people can see your wave. Cwazy helped me a lot by me showing him videos. These guys know their $hit.

I don't get wet at all. I love it compared to what I had before. I'm often with just my wife and kids and being able to grab the dock line as soon as I pull into my slip really helps me. I used to need to jump out of my seat quick. I've never gotten wet once... I like being able to pull up to the person in the water and seeing them right over the side. Lastly, I like different and it's definitely different. The tower looks different than anyone else's too. I love that curve in it compared to the normal straight up monster tower that every single boat has regardless of brand... The windshield wasn't something that would deter me from the boat, which is why I went with it.

XJ, I was super bummed too. My dealer also surfed the boat with no problem, showing me it works.(That was stock) My dealer is also 160 or so compared to me at 215 or so... You are my clone man! This was all within the past 2 months. I'm THAT new, just like you. My buddy who hasn't been out as many times as me is just starting to drop the rope as well but needs another time or two out to really get it. The board I'm riding most is the 4'10 NEO. Once I got it, I tried the other board I have (phase 5 X) and it also worked fine. Dropped the rope right away. I've ridden 3 boards and I'm dropping the rope no matter what at this point. Upload your video to YouTube and post a link here. That's the easiest way to post here. I upload right from my cell phone then just post the link...Very simple. I HAVE video from my first day trying to surf and video from my first day dropping the rope consistently and I can see the difference.

Went out last night. My buddy brought his 6'1 ocean surfboard. Ton of fun riding it. Then going back to a normal wakesurf board it felt so much easier to turn. It was like swinging a heavy bat before you get up to bat, then your REAL bat feels super light. I had to step up a bit to force nose pressure but you could ride this thing for ever. You'll see me rest sometimes. I was out of breath when I finally fell. So addicted to this sport...

I upload to youtube and then just post the link here. No need to resize or do anything else. I upload from my cell phone, then throw the link in a post. Super simple.

Listed with no bow weight didn't work for me either. Try filling rear port and starboard and QF port and starboard to 100 then test it, then drain some pnp starboard weight until you like the wave. It will list slightly but nothing major. I honestly don't even own a wakeboard anymore. lol If I'm getting towed, I have to be surfing. there was a thread here on wakeboard setup somewhere a week or two ago.

Nice! I have the same board and I love it. I pulled the rear two little fins and it got much better. What are you running with fin setup?

5'6 is really big. You shouldn't have an issue dropping the rope. I don't think it's the board. Once you get it, you will want a smaller board. I'm 215. Last night we went out and my friend who is also having some trouble dropping the rope for more than say 20 seconds at a time brought his ocean board. It was 6'1. He dropped the rope for his normal 20 seconds. I dropped it for ever.(Well, until I screwed around enough to lose the wave...lol) I think that bow weight is hurting you personally. I tried it and it kills my push. Last night I also tried draning the starboard QF to list harder and the push was gone. I had my friend stop the boat, fill it again(1 minute or so) and as soon as I got back up, it was back to normal with push. The boat NEEDS the back weight. I'll post a video of me riding the ocean surfboard for the first time in a bit...

She dropped the rope. That's all that matters to me at this point. I "think" the goal is a nice clean wave with little to no white wash on the top but again, she is rope less! I think if you add a little more trim tab that white wash on top should begin to disappear. I'm going out tonight to play with mine a bit more. I'll try and snap a picture.

I had a thread on this as well. I was in your shoes and had all the same questions. POP products are cheaper and I was using that as my deciding factor at first. But, in the end I bought lead wake bags. They seem to be made better, they are 50lbs instead of 40lbs per bag, and the shipping is free through USPS. Call him and talk to the owner(Jared). He will do it right over the phone and if you buy 9, the 10th is free, which brings the cost difference $60 closer. The pop products bags will only ship to a business with a lift of some sort. Apparently he owns a machine shop and the scrap metal is used for his bags(somehow). Then he has trucks that he uses to ship the lead. He won't deliver to a residence. This is not his primary business. I don't think you need more than 10 but that's an opinion.

Throw some hot glue on it and then the clamp. Should keep water out and if not hot glue is easy to peel off.

Well, with the help of my dealer and following you all and most helpful cwazy, I was able to drop the rope easily last night and really ride for the first time. Even tried my first 360. I know day 1 I shouldn't have been thinking of 360s but it felt good. Here is a video. Felt like I was on top of the world driving home from the lake last night. The feeling was just insane and exactly what I wanted. I know that the wave can be cleaner and nicer but once it worked I left it alone. I'm sure my qs setting was too high and my trim tab was off a bit too crushing the wave.. But, it worked... Any critique is welcome. Thanks to everyone who has helped me out!

I have the wakemakers upgrade which bumps the rear bags to around 700lbs, and adds midship bags under the bench seats. I think the midship bags are another 350lbs each. I also have 400lbs of lead under the port side(my surf side) bag and 100 under mt starboard side. port pnp is 100%, port QF is 100% Starboard pnp is 40%. Starboard QF 50% In the video my speed was 11.1, my quick surf was 50 and my trim tab was 44(or 40 something) 0% in my bow pnp, 0% in my bow QF tank. I don't think this is considered listing the boat but it does list a little on the surf side based on the weight. The swim platform is probably a good foot under water on the surf side and the rail is maybe an inch off the water when idle. Keep in mind this was JUST 1 person in the boat(the driver). If I added people I would keep the same ballast setup and maybe just play with the QS and trim tab setting.(I had more people Sunday and that's what I did and it still worked perfectly in choppy and windy conditions) Forget leaning forward. Just move your hips over your front foot and press on your toes. I also took a step up with my front foot. It's like snowboarding on your toe edge most of the time with wide stance. ...and I'm really NEW but I hope this helps as it's what I did to make it work. Many of the guys here aren't focusing much on the little details because once you get the "feel" and see where the push is and comes from, it just works.

Regardless of the ballast...I'm the same weight as you. I also have a 17 S238. I'm riding a 4'10 surf style and a 4'10 skim style with no problem NOW, after feeling the exact same way you are right now. I was bummed that it wasn't working perfectly out of the box. I found it wasn't the boat, it was me. How many times have you been out and are you getting up and riding the board no problem? Meaning, are you able to hold the rope and ride? Carve a bit? I'm a total newbie too but I can say it took me about 5-6 days out to really get it. I literally just got it this past Friday night. If you post a video here of you riding these guys can really help you. They can see your wave and how you are riding and throw you a ton of tips. Have someone video you the next time out. You'll see a bunch of posts from me here that you will relate to with the frustration of not being able to drop the rope...

I put my lead under the cup holder Friday night and now the bag doesn't fill in that spot, and the cup holder doesn't get pushed up. Just stack your lead bags in that spot and the bag fills more forward.

Thanks. Definitely gets better with more people/weight. Only the driver was in the boat, which was essentially non surf side weight. He was videoing while driving so he wasn't up close to me. The wave was nice. Hard to see from his angle while driving.

Well, first, looks aren't everything(when it comes to your wave.....lol) My settings were 100% pnp port, 100% QF port, 50% QF Starboard, 40% pnp Starboard. Set your speed to 11.1. Set your QS on and start at 30. Start going and increment the QS(Starboard number) until the face of the wave is clean. Mine was at 50 in the video.(conditions, speed and ballast will make it change a little) Then play with the trim tab until the lip gets clean and doesn't throw water over. In the video mine was 44.(and not clean but I didn't care because it worked) I went out yesterday and it was REALLY windy and choppy. Also a ton of boats and rollers. I used the exact same method and even got the wave a little cleaner by putting the tab to about 54 or so. Dropped the rope every single time with no problems at all. Trust me, I feel your pain. I was super bummed at first and my dealer South Shore kept telling giving me tips and surfed the boat no problem to test it for himself. My buddy whom I grew up wakeboarding, Ocean surfing, snowboarding with is getting up fine but not dropping the rope like me on the same exact day the video was taken. He is dropping it but for maybe 10 seconds at a time and then losing it. Follow the steps I said above and you will have a good wave. From there it's definitely a "feel". I tried to tell my buddy what I'm doing and it's so hard to really explain. I will say this....Everyone says weight on your front foot but I started to REALLY get it when I don't focus on that. Instead of pressing on your front foot, just move your hips forward so they are over your front foot. Put your hand on your knee like I did in the video when I dropped back a little. That forces weight in the right place. I find myself having to put weight on my back foot a bit more now because the wave will easily shoot me into the boat if I don't. Also, I removed the rear two fins on the board. Also, credit to Cwazy for the setup notes on the wave. He gave me those notes in a text and I followed them while I was out there and magic happened.

I should add....only person IN the boat was the driver.

Not sure if they are all the same, hence the title of the thread... Just figuring my bimini out. I noticed last weekend the cover had a pole In it. I think it goes across the middle of the bimini. The little balls on the ends seem to fit in with the pins. What is this pole for other than support? Do you use it? I feel like opening and closing the bimini is a chore on this boat. My last boat was literally 15 seconds to open and 15 seconds to close it. With this one I'm not even sure if I'm going it right. Trying ti find a way to fold it back and still fit the cover on without removing all the Velcro and click straps around the tower. Any tips? I hate to leave it open. Birds will $hit all over it...

ahhh, I thought you attached it and it stayed there for ever. Might be worth a try then.

I've seen these but that flower thing looks crappy. Also unsure if it will cover the whole bimini and maybe get in the way of the tower where the rope and boards go. Being that my boat is ALWAYS in the water I kind of like to have it put away before I go home every time. Sounds like I might try leaving the bimini cover off and just strapping it up. It's one of those things I thought would get easier as I got used to it but it's really not looking that way. :\

Well, the cross pole is supposed to slide in the little sleeve in the bimini. So, I'm thinking of NOT using that little sleeve so I can leave the cross pole in and just fold it. I guess I can fold and strap it but I've ALWAYS put the cover on and zipped it on my previous boat. That's most of the pain. Stuffing it in and zipping it up is a total hassle.

My midship bags fit perfectly. The heater hose is nowhere near it. It leaves about 6 minches of space in the locker, front facing. I'll get a picture this weekend. I think you need to refer to the Supreme ballast upgrade package and tell them you ONLY want the midship bags, since you guys have no need for the rear bags. I'm hearing talking to them on the phone isn't always a great experience though. Ask extra questions so you can figure out if you are talking to a quality person.

I have the wakemakers upgrade, which has the midship bags. The overflow comes from the rear sack once all are full. The rear sacks drain to the midship and the midships fill first, then the rear sacks fill. Keep in mind they are cross plumbed though.(You probably noticed this already) When your port side is full, you will see the overflow on the starboard side. Not sure if this is new for 17 but it got me because I was looking for overflow on the surf side for a bit and nothing ever came out...:)