Ballast on a small bowrider - what do you have?

[bowler]

It'll soon be time to get wet!

Anyone here boarding behind a 17-18ft bowrider with ballast? If so how much and what? Thinking about beefing up my pathetic little wake

D

 

[skibrain]

Re: Ballast on a small bowrider - what do you have?

The max. Capacity (gear + ballast + people) is on your coast guard plaque.

 

[Congreve502]

Re: Ballast on a small bowrider - what do you have?

Thank you

 

[kmarine]

Re: Ballast on a small bowrider - what do you have?

Try triming your bow up with your outdrive, this will assist you. A couple of large friends work great to determine how much mass you need. Do not exceed the max capacity of your boat.

 

[ThreeMileBayWaker]

Re: Ballast on a small bowrider - what do you have?

I'm thinking about putting a 800lb sac in my ski locker since nothing is ever in it. I know people who go over what the placard says, but I'd be more worried bout the static water level and having water backwash into the engine. Playing with the trim cleans it up a bit, but the driver has to remember to trim back down again. I need smarter drivers apparently...

 

[pat8839]

Re: Ballast on a small bowrider - what do you have?

Bowler I have a 19ft Bayliner 195. I put a 350lb sac in the ski locker and then a 350lb sac in the bow on the floor. If we have too many people then I will not fill them all the way as we can tell when we are over weight capacity as the boat responds worse and nose will dive down too much when we slow down. We also always trim the outdrive after we get going.
Good luck!

 

[tgell001]

Re: Ballast on a small bowrider - what do you have?

Ditto, I ride with a 350 in the bow and a 350 infront of the rear bench with my 18 footer. I exceed that rating on my plaque frequently when i have 5 or 6 people but those things are way underrated and the boat can handle way more. It would be hard for a marine policeman to prove youre over weight and it stand up in court. Dont got crazy but my boat handles being 300 or 400 lbs over the limit just fine.

Key is using the ballast properly, placement is everything. Guess, Test, Revise.

 

[bowler]

Re: Ballast on a small bowrider - what do you have?

Ditto, I ride with a 350 in the bow and a 350 infront of the rear bench with my 18 footer. I exceed that rating on my plaque frequently when i have 5 or 6 people but those things are way underrated and the boat can handle way more. It would be hard for a marine policeman to prove youre over weight and it stand up in court. Dont got crazy but my boat handles being 300 or 400 lbs over the limit just fine.

Key is using the ballast properly, placement is everything. Guess, Test, Revise.

food for though gents - many thanks for the replies. keep them coming though. it's interesting to see what some do that others wouldn't dream of!

D.