Do you use ballast to level your boat? Or for trick wakes?

Horton

Do you use ballast to level your boat? Or for trick wakes?

MISkier

Yes - at least some ballast is alway in the boat

Manual ballast. Lead shot bags. Used to level the boat and, in some cases, bring the nose down.

Broussard

Yes - some combination of the above options

I typically use lead bags to balance a boat for slalom or jump if there is no one in the observers seat. I also use them to weight a boat for tricks or add some weight in the nose for slalom.

disland

Yes - but only for tricks

I misunderstood the question. I thought you were only asking about water ballast not lead bags

bigtex2011

yawn.....it must really be getting slow at HQ.

wski1831

Yes - some combination of the above options

I have the leveling tank in my boat. I use it in slalom when needed to balance the boat. for tricks I use it full with bags in the back also.

The_MS

Yes - sometimes - depending on how many people are in the boat

@bigtex2011 whenever there is a poll like this it is not long after that you see new advertising

Horton

Yes - at least some ballast is alway in the boat

@The_MS I wish it was that easy. Somebody recently asked me why I wasn't calling on the lead bag companies and I told them they were crazy and then thought maybe I was wrong so now I'm running a poll.

The_MS

Yes - sometimes - depending on how many people are in the boat

It’s a good thing

Wayne

Yes - at least some ballast is alway in the boat

I run a fatsac to balance out for the driver.

oldjeep

Yes - the water ballast system that is built into the boat

Sometimes just having a subscription fee is superior to advertising.
In terms of the question, front tank full for skiing to drop bow, move people for side to side balance.

thager

Yes - sometimes - depending on how many people are in the boat

I use 70 lbs. of sand behind passenger seat in the nose of my 196. Usually only driver and skier, rarely have more than that for practice. Remove if I do. Cost was like $3.00.

jayski

Yes - sometimes - depending on how many people are in the boat

@thager did you just shovel it in under the nose?

thager

Yes - sometimes - depending on how many people are in the boat

Yep, S. Canadian oil sand. I like the way it sticks together in the container!

swbca

@MISkier Where do you get lead shot bags. I used to have two 100 pound steel plates with a handle welded to each, but lost them somewhere ?

swbca

ANYONE Does a 197 ProStar need weights to offset the 110 pound wife driver ? for slalom ? I recently bought the boat but its winter here.

MISkier

Yes - at least some ballast is alway in the boat

@swbca, in the past we have gotten the bags from Action Watersports. We usually get the 50 pound bags. They have two heavy duty web strap handles (one on either end) and are a very heavy duty vinyl.

A Google search for lead shot bags brings up a few options, but not the ones we have.

jjackkrash

Leadwake.com makes great (stout) 50 lbs. bags and they have lots of colors to color match your boat. They fit them in a USPS box that is priced independent of weight so shipping is pretty cheap. And contrary to the name, the weight is steel shot not lead.

Bookm_dano

No - do not use ballast of any kind

No, but I think I should. There's an anchor and a tool kit under the observer seat (probably about 30 lbs)... Wake seems really uneven when I'm pulling my wife. Not as bad for me since she weighs about 112. Helps when one of our ski buds is with us.

bishop8950

Yes - some combination of the above options

I can ski or drive a boat that isn’t level, but if all I have to do is move a sand/lead bag, fill a ballast tank or ask someone to observe (always a safer plan anyway) why wouldn’t I?

I ski many lakes and boats. Not everyone has ballast. So, I have a 40lb bag that lives in my car, not kidding.

skiinxs

Yes - sometimes - depending on how many people are in the boat

Yes, two 50 Lb rubber coated dumbbells under observer seat if only driver is in boat. leaning boats do not drive or ski well.

2Valve

Yes - at least some ballast is alway in the boat

I throw six of those 60lb. sand tubes into the bed of my pickup for winter traction. I just take a couple in the spring and put 'em in the boat. One in the bow and one in front of the pole that I can move from left to right depending on passenger girth.

aupatking

Yes - sometimes - depending on how many people are in the boat

If the option for “pretty much always” had been there. Most of the time it’s me and my ski partner only. With just the driver it’s 45lbs plate under the passenger seat of the 196 and a 50lbs bag of sand almost to the left gunwale under the passenger seat. Drives easy and skis easy. I see some folks use 70lbs in the same boat. I guess me and my ski partner need to drop the bio-ballast.