07 Crownline 260 LS - need help with Wake Shape

[jcrhea]

All -

I have an 07 crownline 260 LS 6.2L mercruiser with a bravo three on it with a 3/3 prop configuration. It has the razor package with the tower and is a big, heavy boat. My son is really starting to get into wakeboarding, but I am having a hard time getting the wake to not wash over on the top. At 18-20 miles an hour I can get one side to look good while turning the boat at a very slight angle toward that wake side. Obviously this destroys the wake on the other side. If I increase the speed to around 23, I can get a fairly good wake, 24-25 looks great. Anything over about 20 is too fast for my son. Also, the wake is pretty wide.

I have trim tabs and have messed with them up and down and they seem to just mess up the wake. I generally trim the motor up about 1/4 and go with trim tabs all the way up..

Anything I can do to this boat to help with the wake shape and crispness at slower speeds? Props(4/3 bravo or different pitch?), fat sacs, attachements to my lower unit, etc?

Anything I am not thinking of to do with my existing setup that would help?

Thanks!

John

 

[albs]

Re: 07 Crownline 260 LS - need help with Wake Shape

Sounds like uneven weight balance. If you are the only one in the boat one side of the wake will be whitewashed unless you even out the distribution of weight. even a small amount makes a difference.

 

[rallyart]

Re: 07 Crownline 260 LS - need help with Wake Shape

To move the wash back on the wake you need to increase speed, as you did but that makes falling painful, or increase bow weight. First try moving any movable weight, including people, forward. If that does not help, get a 400 to 700 pound ballast bag to put in the bow. Also try using less trim on the leg. What you currently use is what i'd normally recommend for shape but you have a really big boat so maybe less is necessary.
If the trim tabs mess up the shape of the wake then put them up after you get up to speed.
If your son pulls hard out to the side it will clean up the wake on that side before he cuts across it. It's nicer to have the wake clean all the time but this can help for tricks.
The most likely fix is to shorten the rope. A 60' Spectra line can be found which makes it 65' with the handle. You might be able to find a 50' length. Then you are on a narrower part of the wake which is usually cleaner.

 

[DJ]

Re: 07 Crownline 260 LS - need help with Wake Shape

We have a CL 266 BR (7.4L/BIII). You're right, it is a BIG HEAVY boat.

If you have trim tabs, run them all the way DOWN, That helps lift the stern and decrease the wake. Otherwise, that boat throws a wicked wake that breaks harshly. Tubers love/hate it!

As stated, rope lenghth can help. Find the best, most economical trim, then adjust the rope length.

 

[jcrhea]

Re: 07 Crownline 260 LS - need help with Wake Shape

Thanks for all the comments. I have tried moving all the people in the boat to the front and that seems to just wash out both sides, but maybe I need to do some additional adjusting with trim then, and I don't think I did that.

So Prop and engine mounted fins, etc don't help the wake shape?

Will continue messing with it at low speeds. If I can't get it, maybe I will post up a pic of what it looks like at ~20MPH and you can have a better idea.

John