Wakeboarding - June 01, 2018

TOOLS AND

SUPPLIES

SKILL LEVEL

FINISH TIME

36 | BOATINGMAG.COM | JUNE 2018

DIY

+ Weekend

Workbook

BOAT DOCTOR ///WEEKEND WORKBOOK

TIP

• WakeMakers Complete
  Ballast System kit
  ($409.99 without ballast
  bag, wakemakers.com)


• WakeMakers Ballast
  System timer ($49.99,
  wakemakers.com)


• Ballast bag (starting at
  $99.99/350-pound bag,
  wakemakers.com)


• Power drill and bits


• 1^1 / 16 -inch hole saw


• Screwdriver set


• Grinding bit
  -^3 / 8 -inch nut driver


• Marine pipe sealant


• Heavy-duty PVC hose
  cutter


• Zip ties (to secure wires
  and hoses)


• Shop rags (to wipe off
  excess sealant)

Not all boats can generate the

sizes and shapes of waves that

wakeboarders and surfers who

enjoy their respective sports

need. Installing a ballast system

with a reversible pump can

change that, letting you pump

in water to add extra weight

when and where you need it to

add displacement and boost the

wave-making ability of your boat.

These systems then let you pump

out the water to empty the bag

when the watersports are done.

Companies such as WakeMakers

simplify the addition of a ballast

system for watersports by

supplying the parts and technical

guidance for DIYers. You need to

put the boat on a trailer for this

project. Take time before to plan

the location for the elements of

the system such as the ballast

bag itself to make sure all will

fit as planned. Here are the key

steps to installing WakeMakers’

Complete Ballast System kit,

with a single bag and pump timer

to ease the fill and drain process.

—Jim Hendricks

INSTALLING A

BALLAST SYSTEM

Approx. 3 to 4 hours

3 OF 5

For technical

advice before,

during or after

your DIY

ballast system

installation,

call the

WakeMakers

technical

hotline at 888-

338-6085 or

email support@

wakemakers

.com. You can

also live-chat

at wakemakers

.com.

Boost your boat’s wave-making ability with a ballast system.

CAUTIONARY NOTES

Make sure your boat can handle the additional weight of a fi lled ballast system without inducing instabil-

ity that might cause an unsafe situation. Also, avoid wakesurfi ng behind sterndrive- and outboard-pow-

ered boats, because the propeller is situated far too close to the surfer. Wakesurfi ng should be reserved

for inboard-powered boats designed for watersports or for boats fi tted with a Volvo Penta Forward Drive.

ILLUSTRATIONS: TIM BARKER