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SaltCitySurfer

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Posts posted by SaltCitySurfer

  1. Posted

    On 10/5/2019 at 7:23 AM, mrduramaxlbz said:

    What is the biggest difference between these two boats? I'm the proud owner of the 07 elite v C4 triplemint. And have the opportunity to purchase an avalanche C4, that is not so mint !

    99% used for surfing. Thanks

    re: "99% used for surfing" me too.  I feel I've maxed out my Elite's capabilities with 750#'s in the rear lockers (plus 250# mid) and a suck-gate.  Any more weight than that and I feel the boat becomes unsafe.  It produces a really good wave on the regular side but I ride goofy. The goofy wave has a short pocket and a dirty face.  I have a friend with an Avi with a Switchblade on it, and it produces a very big wave on both sides.  I don't wanna go the Switchblade route b/c its a gas suck and it really affects the handling of the boat... all the time... no matter what you're doing.   I'd rather add ballast weight and surf tabs.  Hoping to get a good sized wave with a clean face (even on the goofy side).  Although there are many factors, the bottom line is the bigger the boat, the bigger/better the wave. 

  2. Posted · Edited by SaltCitySurfer

    The boat is currently configured to be listed only to the port side for surfing.  It has a huge custom bag on the port side that fills the rear locker and runs up under the seats.  I don't know how much water weight it holds but I'm guessing well over 1000#.  The starboard side has a custom bag (I'm guessing 720#) that only fills the locker.  I'm not a huge fan of listing boats to surf them.

    I'm planning to put Infinity Wave tabs on this boat and evenly weight it.  So I'm thinking of getting another 720# for port side and see what kind of wave I get on #1500# plus the center hard tank (another 225#).  I'm not really looking for a monster wave per se.  I just want one with a nice relatively long pocket, good push, and a clean face.  I ride goofy btw.  

    I'm just wondering if anyone here has experience with this setup and/or this boat and give me some pointers.

    Thanks for any advice.

    PS: I've owned an 07 Elite C4 with 750#'s in the lockers and 225# hard tank with a suck-gate and it produced a really nice regular wave, however, the goofy wave had a narrow pocket and a dirty face. Hoping to build a much better wave with the Avalanche.

     

  5. Posted

    On 5/10/2018 at 6:59 PM, prorider17 said:

    @SaltCitySurfer what's your ballast setup with the shaper. You have pics/vids of your regular and goofy waves? I have the regular ronix and have been happy with it. Not a fan of the Velcro, but it's worn on me to where I don't really care anymore.

    I have 750# in each locker and then 250# built-in mid-ship.  I weight it evenly and get a good wave on either side with the shaper, but the wave is really best when I've got 4-5 adults on the back seat.  I just want to find a suction cup solution that works as well as my Ronix XL shaper.  I started with the NautiCurl and it just never gave me as a good a wave as the Ronix.   

  6. Posted

    Question: I use the ronix eight.3 XL shaper and it works great -- creates a really nice wave behind my '07 elite V (with a lot of ballast that is).  However, I don't like the velcro solution.  The velcro starts to pucker and peel (on the leading edge) after a few uses.  Has anyone tried the Wakesurf Edge Pro?  It looks similar in size to the ronix.  

    Thanks in advance :)

  8. Posted

    First let me say I freaking love my 07 Elite V!  It's a great all-around boat and it can be setup to surf quite well.  Avalanches and Enzos are better surf platforms however, precisely b/c they are wider and longer boats.

    Some other things to consider (at least they were for me)...

    - storage: my storage unit has 10 x 14' door and the Elite is the narrowest boat in the lineup so it goes in w/o much problem.  An avy or enzo would be a very tight fit and I would prolly need a spotter getting her in w/o hitting the doorway.  

    - tow vehicle: the Elite is the lightest as well.  I believe the dry weight is 3500lbs.  The avy's and enzo are close to 1000lbs more.  This was a consideration for me b/c I didn't want to upgrade my tow vehicle

    - re: surf setup: it does like a lot of weight to achieve a big wave, b/c of that you need to learn how to drive the boat so you're not taking water over the stern as well as in the locker breathers.  The elite sits lower in the water (especially weighted) than the Avy or Enzo so a big wave will come up onto the back covers if you're not an experienced driver

    - it looks to me like the Boulder boat doesn't have Perfect Pass.  Those are expensive units so I would really want my purchase to already have that feature, b/c you'll likely want to upgrade the ballast, stereo, surf gate and maybe even the prop (I ended up down-pitching my prop to get a better hole-shot) ... mo money ... mo money

    - my elite was factory plumbed for 400lb bags in the rear lockers so it was a very easy to upgrade those to 750's.  If you buy one and it isn't plumbed for sacs, I would look real hard at buying the sumo sac's b/c they have a super fast pump.  Trust me, you'll want faster fill if you can get it.  My boat takes about 15min or so to get it nice and pregnant for a good surf wave :D 

    - if you do buy the elite, the Ronix is the best shaper for this boat -- at least it's better than the NautiCurl

    - last point: if you've been bitten by the surf bug (meaning that's all you really want to do ... I kinda fit that description lol) I would seriously consider trying to find an Avy or Enzo with a switchblade on it.   I have a buddy who has an 06 Avy with a switchblade and he gets a significantly bigger wave and doesn't have to put nearly as much ballast weight as I do.

    That boat is super clean and it would be a fabulous purchase ... especially if you can get them to put perfect pass on it.  Here's a couple of shots of the my (goofy) wave a few weeks ago at Lake Powell.   Good luck and let us know if you decide to purchase :)

    me_surfing_powell_2017.jpg

    surfing_powell_trip_2.jpg

  9. Posted

    On 9/16/2017 at 1:39 PM, gravity12 said:

    So we all know the elite and avy have crappy lids.  Has anyone replaced or found a neewer modle that would look good and not be so flimsy? 

     I have a buddy who has offered to fix mine -- the lid has come away from the hinges.  If the fix turns out well I'll post some pics so you can see how he did it.

  10. Posted · Edited by SaltCitySurfer

    On 10/10/2017 at 6:23 PM, prorider17 said:

    I run the same setup, except the part with 4 people! I think that extra bit of weight makes all the difference on our models. I need a ballast bag that can go on that seat to replace those people. 

    Agreed!  I have used 2 400# bags (one for the seat and one for the floor) when I've only got 3 people in the boat.  Made a big difference in the height of the wave.   It's a crap-ton of weight in the boat though.

    If your going to buy a new sac, I'd look real hard at the sumo sac b/c the pump they have is sweet - https://www.wakemakers.com/straight-line-sumo-max-flow-ballast-pump.html

    ... It pumps a lot faster than anything else I've seen on the market.

  13. Posted

    Just a follow up in case someone with a similar boat finds this thread and would like to know -- here's how I got my 07 Air Warrior Elite C4 to surf with plenty of push ...

    With only 3 people in the boat (driver, flagger, surfer) ...

    - 750lbs  in both sides of the rear lockers

    - built-in center ballast filled (250lbs)

    - 400lb fatsac centered on the rear seat

    - 400lb fatsac centered on the floor in front of the rear seat

    - Ronix Eight.3 XL shaper (using 1" shim on lower chine) 

    ... it surfs great on either side with this setup however the wave is definitely cleaner on the port side due to left-hand prop rotation

    The crowning glory moment came a couple of weeks ago when my friend with the 07 Mastercraft X-45 said "I wish my boat put out a wave like that" ... YES!!!

    Notes:  

    1) I did down-pitch the prop (from 4-blade 13.5 x 17.5 to an acme 537 [13.5 x 16]) as was recommended by acme (as I have a 1.46:1 gear box).  I don't really think it made a huge difference but it probably helped some since I typically run at 4800 ft in elevation. 

    2) if I have 6-8 people in the boat I don't use the external ballast on the seat and floor, just put everyone on the back seat

    Happy surfing everyone and thanks so much for all the input!

    • Like 1
    • Like 1

  14. Posted

    I have an 07 Air Warrior Elite C4.  It took me most of summer to get it setup to surf well (solution: Ronix Eight.3 XL plus 2600# stern ballast or people weight).  Surfing is super addicting and It's extremely likely that once you get into it, you won't want to do much else.  That makes a T5 a bad choice b/c you want as much weight in the stern as possible.   Avy's are bit bigger boat than the Air Warriors and are thus a better platform for surfing.  If you can find one with a switchblade then you'll be the envy of most surfers as it will produce a monster wave (assuming good ballast setup).  The Elite's are cheaper and can do anything: ski, board, or surf. Bottom line: find a v-drive in your price range.  I know Moomba, Supra and Centurions can all be setup to produce a good surf wave.  Good luck.

  15. Posted

    Don't know if this helps but ...

    I have the same prop (817) on an 07 Elite Air Warrior (1.46 / 1 gear ratio).  In Salt Lake, the lakes are generally around 4900ft.  I run 1500# rear and 250# mid ballast (evenly weighted).  I have to be going 12.5-13.5 mph to get a surf-able wave, however it doesn't have enough push to drop the rope.   I just barely got off the phone w/ acme and they recommended the 537 (1 1/2in less pitch) than the 817.  Your boat is longer and heavier so my guess is you'd need even less pitch.  Maybe call them both and compare the recommendations.  

    • Like 1

  17. Posted

    On 7/5/2017 at 0:39 PM, gravity12 said:

    I had 650each locker 75 mid each side 250 center tank.  80 in bow.  Me 4 adults on back and side seats.  Two 70 lbs kids in bow.  Was Surprised that i could not get on plane or above 15mph. Stock prop.  Black scorpion.  No suckgate on the side.?  

    Sounds like we have a similar problem.  I'm thinking it's the prop (in my case).  I also have the stock prop, an acme 817.  I don't think that prop is designed to handle the extra weight and slower speeds needed for surfing.  I need to get a couple more data points before I contact them ( http://www.acmemarine.com/contact_us.php ) about what prop I should use.

  18. Posted

    2 hours ago, InfinitySurf said:

    I dont know what the hull design on that boat is...is it still "deep-V"? I would say the main issue is not enough weight as I run a Nauticurl...2nd issue may be hull design working against you due to not enough weight to get it far enough down.

    To get mine weighted enough....I put 2500lbs of Ramfill and then 1400lbs of PnP. I probably dont need quite that much but that is what keeps my Nauticurl under water. It will still make a wave even if its an inch or so out of water but no matter what you gotta have enough ballast to make a wave with the push you desire. Realize this probably does not help too much, all I can really suggest is that you get some more bags to put on seat or floor to see how it works. I do know that others have gotten a good wave with less weight, so maybe a homemade gate is the cheapest answer to try first?

    You also may wanna try ALL your weight at rear and remove bow weight first just to see if that improves anything, may drop transom enought to get the gate under water and that is the place that weight is priority.

    re: not enough weight - I was well over 2k lbs.  Not sure how much more I'd feel comfortable with.   Although, I thinking pulling the weight out of the bow and more on the mid-ship (seats) might be something to try.  

  20. Posted · Edited by SaltCitySurfer

    Need help/advice:  I can't seem to dial in a wave that gets enough push so that you can drop the rope.  The wake looks pretty good from inside the boat, but when you get out and surf it, there's no pocket really. 

    07 Elite V Air Warrior

    Here are the two setups I've tried

    1. Even weighting:  750# in both rear lockers, 225# in the built in mid-ship tank, 200# under each seat in the bow, NautiCurl wave shaper as far back and down as possible on the opposite side

    2. Listed (starboard/goofy/surf side): 750# in surf-side rear locker, ~400# opposite side rear locker, 225# in the built in mid-ship tank, 200# under the surf side seat in the bow

    3. Listed (starboard/goofy/surf side): 750#, 400# on surf side seat in the cockpit, 225# in the built in mid-ship tank, 200# under the surf side seat in the bow

    I know I have a 4-blade prop but I don't know what the pitch is.  The boat will do over 50 mph so I know the prop isn't designed for the hole-shot.

    The boat has to be going at least 12.5 mph to get a decent wave.  13-13.5 seems best.  Anything slower and it washes out.

    I don't seem to get any significant help from the wake shaper.  It seems like it I can't get it low enough in the water b/c the hull is too shallow and there's a slight curve on the lower portion of the hull that prevents positioning the NautiCurl low enough in the water (even w/ 750# in the rear locker on that side).

    I've been thinking about making a DIY surf tab that attaches to the teak swim deck.  My presumption is that I can position the tab further back to more properly affect the wave, and I can get it lower in the water.

    Any thoughts or advice would be greatly appreciated.  I love the boat and don't want to sell it, but if I have to start dropping major coin (e.g. switchblade) to get it to surf then I may have to re-think things.

     

    Thanks in advance.

  21. Posted

    28 minutes ago, Jake707 said:

    Play with the bow weight a bit instead of just going all out and filling up the bow sac as much as possible. You want to find that balance, plus unless you already have an aftermarket prop 2K plus a decent crew of 5-6 is almost too much for the stock engine prop combo.

    That is great info - thx.   I know Centurions are famous for taking water over the bow (mostly with inexperienced drivers) so that bow weighting advice is not lost on me, but I know you need some bow weight to lengthen the pocket.  A balancing act I guess.    And I really don't want to mess with the prop if I don't have to.  

  22. Posted · Edited by SaltCitySurfer

     

    On 6/9/2017 at 1:30 PM, gravity12 said:

    I agree.  Did you try the mission on your boat? That would be giving it a fair comparison.  My diy delta worked wonders on my 06 elite v. 

    I have an '07 Elite V Air Warrior and looking to upgrade the ballast.  Currently it has 400's in the rear lockers and a 250 hard tank midship and I have a NautiCurl wake shaper.  

    I'm planning to upgrade the ballast to 750's in the rear and an under-seat bow sac - this should give a little over 2k ballast.  I'm hoping that (evenly weighted) plus the NautiCurl will give me a nice wave big and long enough for tricks and such (not that I can do any yet lol). 

    I'm curious to know the details of your setup as your boat is essentially the same as mine.  Also wondering if this approach is better or is listing the boat a better approach.   I just bought this boat so I'm new to V drives and wake surfing.  Any advice would be welcomed.   TIA

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