Absolutely the biggest wake II

[cyclone]

Now, I know that there are all sorts of weighting techniques for wakeboard boats, they usually involve increasing amounts of weight or a wedge device or something like a trim tab. There is a feature on Epics that could possibly be defeated to increase the wake size. Starting in 2000, they added a wakeplate to the transom of the Epic22's and x22's. I don't know if they exist on other Epics (help?)

I think that this plate, which is parallel with the bottom of the hull, was installed to improve the ski wake on the heavy 22 foot epics. It is in the center of the hull, so it may affect the roostertail if removed, who the hell knows?
I think that the stern would sink more if the plate were removed=bigger wake. Has anyone removed theirs?

[atlantabuff]

Good point.  We have that.  I was just trying to discribe that to someone.  One of the great things about our boat is that it is awesome to learn on.  With no weight you get a small firm rampy wake at all speeds.

In fact that is why I think our wake gets smaller and wider when we start to put weight up front.  I just got twins to put near the back, but the weather has been too crappy for me to check it out.
I'll post up our findings.  We did a lot of boring testing last week.

[davidgree1]

I have a 2001 SX.  I don't have any wakeplate in the back.  Is it metal?  Any pictures?  I wish I had a plate that I could adjust to soften the wake for slolam.

[cyclone]

I definitely like the wake better with tons of weight in the back. I don't often use the sack in front anymore, the Fat Seat does the trick. Danny Harf told me that he used to put two fat sacks in the trunk, one on each side of the engine,  and one behind the engine hump in place of the back seat. That's a lot of weight. He said that he had 400 lbs or so of lead under the seats up front too. That is really pushing it with a relatively small engine like the Lexus.

[atlantabuff]

We went out last night.  Best night of the year, by the way.  Ballast + 250 lead + 500 twins in the back and 100# up front and it was the best wake we have ever had.  

[cyclone]

I took some pics but I am out of town right now, so I'll post it when I get home. It is on the back of the transom and is basically a static trim tab. You could install a regular trim tab on your boat to adjust the wake, see a Supra dealer for an example.

[b8b]

Hi All,

Any pictures of the wake? I want to buy an SX but I want to see if the wake will  be good for wkesurfing as that will be the main reason we want to buy.

TIA!
b.

[cyclone]

I was out today for the first time in mine. The boat handles much differently with full ballast, and the wake is bigger than my epic 22 with one sack and a couple of people. It is a bit steeper than my old boat, and has a nice lip. I have to check the speedo, it feels fast at 21 mph, and the wake flattens out drastically from the best shape at 18 mph. I think the speedo is reading a mile or three slow, or at least different from what my old one reads. RPMs at 21 were around 3600, that's 500 higher than my E22. 

The wake at 21.3 was flattened out but I still got great pop. It's  a fun wake

With the ballast full, the boat drives really well in chop and does much better than boats with the ballast above the waterline, including my E22. I think with weight next to the engine and a sack in the walkthru, it will be massive. With the long tanks on each side in the floor, it's easy to put a lot of weight on one side of the boat. I'm planning on running with a lot of people, so that with the factory ballast will do for now.

I didn't have my camera today but I will next time I have it out.

[b8b]

I didn't have my camera today but I will next time I have it out.

I would love to see those pics!  Seems fast for wakesurfing, no?

[Lakeside]

My '99 E-22 does not have a wake plate.

[cyclone]

They added them in 00. You could always get an adjustable Bennett trimtab. They make one for ski boats. It might mount differently on our boats as our transom is totally different than any other ski boat. The wake plate was added because the boat will porpoise with weight biased to the rear. The solution is the plate and/or add weight up front. Load the boat up with people, that's the best way.

[ScarabEpic22]

Holy dead thread batman but its relevant so why bother starting a new thread.

Any chance one of the wake plates could be added to a 99 E22?  I had 7 people and light gear tubing last weekend and was losing control of the boat during turns.  Had the wheel all the way right and still going straight, only way to stop it was to back off the throttle.  Wonder if adding a plate would fix this, starting to board more now and have more weight in the back.