Wake Gate - Wake Enhancement

[ssnaples]

I have 2007 Mastercraft X2 with the current ballast setup:

Front: 400lbs. stock + 500lbs. lead weight = 900lbs.
Port - Rear: 250lbs. stock + 455lbs. piggy back sack = 705 lbs.
Starboard - Rear: 250lbs. stock + 455lbs. piggy back sack = 705 lbs.
Total Weight: 2,310 lbs.

Surf Speed:
10.6 mph

For the last year, I have never been able to get a really clean surfable wave... until now! At 6'2" and 210 lbs. we have previously had to list the boat to the surf side and cram as many people as possible into the corner. This made the wave surfable, but the boat had a scary lean to one side with water approaching the top corner of the boat. To top it off, the wave was always mushy with no lip.

After many hours of researching the different wake enhancement systems out there, I have come up with a quick and easy method of providing a great surf wave. I have not seen anyone try this setup with a Mastercraft, but I could be wrong. So I thought I would share my success for anyone attempting something similar. This is still a work in progress, but the prototype is pretty amazing.

I am calling this apparatus (for now): the "Wake-Shaper". This is basically a completely removable and adjustable tab that works with the principles of delayed convergence that produces a remarkably clean and surfable wave, with quite a bit of push. Installs in about 10 seconds. I can now free-ride with only a driver and observer in the boat. No more listing to one side or shifting people around. Just fill all of the ballast and let everyone sit comfortably in the boat, then surf! Check out a quick video I made of the initial tests over the 4th of July weekend (sorry the video is a bit shaky):

http://youtu.be/EaazgqRHhMs

If anyone has any questions or suggestions I would love to hear what you think.

[rydog]

Pictures of the device? How/where does it attach to?

[ssnaples]

Sorry, I don't have any pictures of the device right now, but you can see it in the video. It simply sandwiches in between the swim platform and the transom. It also goes around the swim platform bracket and is held in place with a rope attached to a hook on the transom. I will post some additional pictures once I develop it a bit further.

[SpokaneSteve]

Might be similar to this

I have also seen this, mostly made for Malibus now:


http://www.wickedwakesurf.com/index.html

Cheers, Steve.

[rydog]

Sounds good, I am very interested. Wonder how it would be going between different boats, or would one have to be designed for each boat specifically?

[ssnaples]

Thanks for the link Steve! I hadn't seen that one before. I wonder if they make it for different boats? Has anyone talked about it here in the MC forums?

rydog,
I developed this specifically for my 2007 X2. As it is simply held in place between the transom and swim platform and matches the curvature of the hull, I think it would be specific for each year, make, and model. But for anyone with a 2007 X2, I think this is worth experimenting with.

[dvsone79]

Nice work! In the video it looks like you're attaching the device on the starboard side but when underway the port side wake cleans up. Can you attach it to either side?

[FoggyNogginz]

It seems like a simple idea that could be easily retrofitted. I met a guy on Norris lake with a home made version of this over the weekend too. Seems like a great improvement to any surf boat.

The video shows you placing this on the starboard side, and then shows a port side surf wave. Is this correct??

[CantRepeat]

Are you weighting both port and starboard at the same time?

[Blmeanie]

pm sent

[tcmercil]

I traded a few emails with the Wicked surf folks... sounds like Malibu/Axis only right now. I figured it's a matter of time before people start building things like this in their garage... it'll be interesting to see what happen as we all try out new methods....

[markmcfarland]

How deep does it go? I have an xstar and haven't figured out how to deal with the stepped bottom.

[MarkS]

Specs

If anybody builds one of these for an Xstar 2008 hull please post the specs.

[MC25]

I have also seen this, mostly made for Malibus now:


http://www.wickedwakesurf.com/index.html

Cheers, Steve.

better be careful. malibu might sue them

[ssnaples]

Nice work! In the video it looks like you're attaching the device on the starboard side but when underway the port side wake cleans up. Can you attach it to either side?

This is correct. It is called delayed convergence. by placing the gate on the starboard side, it cleans up the wake on the port side. I have not made one to attach on the port side yet, as myself and most of my riders are regular footed and ride port side. I assume that it will work equally well on either side, although I have read in other forums that the starboard side is much harder to clean up. I will make one this weekend and post some results