X-1 Ballast - Need Upgrade

[Flamin'X-1]

I have an '06 X-1 with the factory two rear hard ballast tanks. When I ride behind it I can barely tell that I have a wake. It washes over every time before I jump. It really sucks. I know that I need more weight, but I had the boat full of 9 people and still my wake was washing over. This boat should be throwing a nice wake, but I really need some help. Could someone please HELP?!?

['02xrider]

The X-1 loves weight up front!!!

[Flamin'X-1]

Well does anyone have any ideas of upgrades for ballast or how to arrange weight? I really need to get my wake right!

[TMCNo1]

Was this before or after you lost your platform?:confused::rolleyes:

[Flamin'X-1]

Losing my platform has not affected this! The poor wake performance has been happening since I have owned the boat.

[Jim@BAWS]

Losing my platform has not affected this! The poor wake performance has been happening since I have owned the boat.


Poor wake performance for 3 + years? I have to call you out on that one !!! Sorry. The X-1, prior X-2 Old X-Star has one of the best wakes that the industry has ever made. Why do you think it has been around so long and continues to be produced by MC?

To beef up your wake add another 400 + LBS in the storage lockers in the rear. Add a TUBE SAC in the ski storage locker where the KGB sac would normally go. Be ready to change to another prop

Hope this helps

Jim@BAWS

[Flamin'X-1]

I bought the boat used 2 months ago. I have not had it for 3 years, so I am just now getting aquainted with it. Why do you say I should be ready to change to another prop?

[mccobmd]

What speed and rope length are you riding? My X1 throws a great wake at 21mph 70 ft rope. It will wash out if you get too slow. I haven't added extra ballast yet but my dealer has been behind everything and said 300 in each side, tube sac in the locker and 200 up front on both sides to wakeboard, 200 front and 300 rear on starbord side to surf. I am curious about the prop as well:confused:

[Flamin'X-1]

I am riding on 65 ft. rope and being pulled at 23.4mph. I don't know what the problem is.

[tbd01]

like mccobmd said, I have 300 extra in the rear lockers, and 400 in the bow, and at 23.3 mph my wake is amazing, so the kids say

[Flamin'X-1]

Do you just add fat sacs next to the hard ballast tanks in the rear?

[kal_dude]

i have an 02 X-star, which is the same hull as your X1 (205 V) anyways, i have the stock ballast tanks in the rear, the stock ballast bag in the center of the floor, 1 fat sac bow sac in the bow (1000 lbs.) and 1 400 lb. fat sac in each rear compartment next to the factory hard tanks, but i only fill the rear fat sacs approx 3/4 full. it throws an awesome wake!!!!! if you have more people in the boat thats cool too! you just have to see where the wake is the best depending on where they sit? i ride at 75 feet at 25.5 and it rocks!


kal

[kal_dude]

i also have an Acme 1235 prop!

[sand2snow22]

Flamin', ditto what others have already said. I have the same boat and will note that it can be VERY weight sensitive. If you're getting white water on one side of the wake, you need to add weight/people to the white water side of the boat to fix the problem.

Also, you need to verify with a GPS you're actually traveling 23 MPH! There are three little switches on your dash. Two of them adjust each speedo, the one in the middle controls the readout for your display, i.e, depth, air temp, lake temp, etc. It's easy to accidently hit the wrong switch and adjust the speedos in the wrong direction. Again, verify with a GPS you're going 23 MPH, my guess, if your getting wash on both sides you're probably going slower than you think.

[Lennyp04]

Man something is up. I can't believe you have such a problem. I ride at 70', 24mph and have no problem with wash. My brother who is learning rides at 20-21mph 65' line with both tanks in the rear filled and very seldem is there a problem. I ride with full as well.

First check your speed using a gps. Like sand2snow said it only takes a knee to bump one if the buttons and it's messed up. If that is no avail throw in some fat sacs. Remeber when doing this to equally weight the whole boat or as close to equal as possible since most people want to throw all the weight in the back. And depending on how much weight you add, the prop may need to be changed out to get the hole shot you had before. You will lose top end but gain back the hole shot.

Hope this helps!
-Lenny

[ironj32]

there are many ways to get a sick wake out of this hull. here are the different things i do.
normal sets:
2 - 750 sacs...sides of engine
300 KGB Ski Locker
1100 bow wedge
2 - 60 pound lead containers to put where ever to balance out the boat
ride at 85 feet @ 26 mph

my girl rides with:
300 each side of engine
300 KGB Ski Locker
300 Integrated bow sac under the seats
2 - 60 pound lead containers to put where ever to balance out the boat
ride at 70 feet at 23-24 mph

when i really wanna get down and dirty...see pictures
2 - 750 sacs...sides of engine
300 KGB
300 Integrated bow sac
1100 bow wedge
620 fat sac rear floor
620 fat sac middle, going towards walk way
2 - 60 pound lead containers to put where ever to balance out the boat
ride at 87 feet @ 27 mph

this boat definitely likes a 50/50 - 60/40 balance. i would say that if it's curling over, you either are going to slow, or have too much weight on the opposite side of the bad wake. side to side balance is another key thing with this hull.

[SteveO]

when i really wanna get down and dirty...see pictures
2 - 750 sacs...sides of engine
300 KGB
300 Integrated bow sac
1100 bow wedge
620 fat sac rear floor
620 fat sac middle, going towards walk way
2 - 60 pound lead containers to put where ever to balance out the boat
ride at 87 feet @ 27 mph



Nothing 4400 lbs + of ballast won't cure....How long does it take to get that beast on plane? Equally impressive is no perfect pass.

[ironj32]

it actually isn't that bad. probably 8-10 seconds. i have the Acme 1235 on it and it gets out of the hole pretty good. and nope, no perfect pass...we have the old school PP, but never use it. that prop makes it pretty easy to hold speed.

[wakeX2wake]

dude that's ridiculous... you got more in fat sacs than my whole crew does in gear (and we all buy new stuff at least every other yr)... how long does it take you to fill all that? hour? 1.5 hours?

[ironj32]

maybe 15 minutes. basically, the three external bags take about 5 minutes a piece.
the two rear sacs, the KGB, and the integrated bow sac are all on their own pumps (Jabsco reversable) and own thru hull intakes. then i use a tsunami pump to fill the others. if i had two tsunami pumps i could get it slammed in about 10 minutes i'd say.

when i run my normal "daily" setup it takes about 5-7 minutes. basically, by the time i get my knee braces on, rope hooked up, and board on, they are filled.

[sand2snow22]

Ironman, you gotta post pics of your wake now! That thing is a lowrider!

[Maristar210]

Nothing 4400 lbs + of ballast won't cure....How long does it take to get that beast on plane? Equally impressive is no perfect pass.

Hey SteveO- What's up?

and I wanna see pic's of the driver and the wake, please?

[norris laker]

Remove the hard tanks and replace them with 750 fat sacs. This is the best thing I did on my 05 x2. It also great for surfing.

[Flamin'X-1]

When you removed the hard tanks and replaced them with 750 fat sacs, did it have an overflow for it? I was told they didn't. I was wondering how that works.

['02xrider]

Just connect the overflow that used to be on the hard tank to the bag. You will have to connect a longer hose. The one off the hard tank is pretty short.

For what it's worth, unless you plan to load the boat all the time, I would stay away from the 750's and go with the 400's, less hassle than trying to get the same amount on each side. I have been running the 7's and am going to the 4's. I will keep a 7 onboard to throw in the locker for surfing.

[Harvey]

When you removed the hard tanks and replaced them with 750 fat sacs, did it have an overflow for it? I was told they didn't. I was wondering how that works.


The hard tanks have an intake hose on the stern side (back of boat) near the bottom of the tank and an overflow hose on the bow side (front of boat) near the top of the tank which leads to a through hull above the water line just under the rub rail. You can unbolt the hard tanks I think it was 4 or 6 screws and then undo the hoses and swap a bag its place. I would go with 750s but I doubt you will fill them all the way unless you have enough weight up front.

I had a couple 550s lying around when I did my ride so that is what I used. I fill them up and then I have the sack in the locker for another 330-350 and then a V drive sack in the walkway as far forward as it will go for another 400-425. Then I have some lead in the bow for about 50 pounds. When I have more than 2 people in the boat at least one has to ride in the bow or I have to add 100 lbs of weight to the front. Here is a link (MY BOAT (http://www.wakesiderides.com/rides/index.php?page=out&id=1570)) to my setup with pictures of the bags and their locations. With 3 people in the boat we end up with a little over knee high at 65-70 feet at 22.5 to 23.5. It tends to wash out at speeds below 22.5.

As for your wash over I imagine it is a function of weight distribution (side to side), speed and rope length. If you are riding the stock ballast alone you can probably get away with 20-21 mph with a rope length of about 60-65 ft. If you speed up to much and lengthen the rope you will be in the wash. If you slow down below 20 you will wash out most of the wake. Hope this helps.

[Jerseydave]

Here's my buddy's setup on his X-1:

-Remove rear hard tanks
-Replace them with (2) 400# v-drive sacs
-ski locker sac (300-350)
-750 fat sac in walkway
-400# sacs across front seats laying on top of 750 sac

If needed, add another 250-300# sac in front of that 400# sac in bow

Nice wake this way starting at 22 mph, 23+ is better. Yes these boats like weight in the front.

[Aric'sX15]

there are many ways to get a sick wake out of this hull. here are the different things i do.
normal sets:
2 - 750 sacs...sides of engine
300 KGB Ski Locker
1100 bow wedge
2 - 60 pound lead containers to put where ever to balance out the boat
ride at 85 feet @ 26 mph

my girl rides with:
300 each side of engine
300 KGB Ski Locker
300 Integrated bow sac under the seats
2 - 60 pound lead containers to put where ever to balance out the boat
ride at 70 feet at 23-24 mph

when i really wanna get down and dirty...see pictures
2 - 750 sacs...sides of engine
300 KGB
300 Integrated bow sac
1100 bow wedge
620 fat sac rear floor
620 fat sac middle, going towards walk way
2 - 60 pound lead containers to put where ever to balance out the boat
ride at 87 feet @ 27 mph

this boat definitely likes a 50/50 - 60/40 balance. i would say that if it's curling over, you either are going to slow, or have too much weight on the opposite side of the bad wake. side to side balance is another key thing with this hull.


Wake pics?

[ironj32]

i'll try and find some pics of the wake when i get home.

[ORX-1]

I love the wake on the X-1 always does right by me. I have the same factory ballast with two 250's in the bow. Riding at 70 @ 23mph.

[Flamin'X-1]

Okay...So I have gone out the past two days and have completely solved my problem!
I took a GPS out with me. When my speedometer hit 23mph on the boat, the GPS showed that I was only going 19mph. I re-calibrated my speedos and now the wake is awesome! Its amazing at what just a few mph's will do to the wake.
Quick Question though -
I plan on adding two sacs - 400lbs each next to my hard tanks in the rear. Would an integrated bow fat sac be enough weight to level me out or do I need more?

[sand2snow22]

Okay...So I have gone out the past two days and have completely solved my problem!
I took a GPS out with me. When my speedometer hit 23mph on the boat, the GPS showed that I was only going 19mph. I re-calibrated my speedos and now the wake is awesome! Its amazing at what just a few mph's will do to the wake.


Night and day!

[sand2snow22]

Quick Question though -
I plan on adding two sacs - 400lbs each next to my hard tanks in the rear. Would an integrated bow fat sac be enough weight to level me out or do I need more?

If you have the ski locker (KGB) ballast, you should be ok with the integrated sac. If not, try to keep the weight 50/50.

[tcmercil]

Well I'm late to this reply, but I'll add my 2 cents as well... I have the same boat as you - 2006 X01 - all black....

Step 1 - pull the hard tanks and pipe in 2 x 750 lb backs - use the vent holes for the hard tanks to the other side of the sacs... the thing that I LOVE about this is I get my storage back in the rear compartments - no space taken up by empty tanks while traveling....

I have a 400lb plumbed into a 3 reversable pump into my ski locker. On that same pump, I plumbed in another 400 lb U shape ballast bag that runs around the front seats...

Over all - about 2100 - 2200 lbs...

Surfing - I dump everything except the Port Rear Ballast - normally running that full at 750lbs and everyone on that side...

I've played around with keeping some ballast in the front for surfing, but found out that it won't work all that well....

But - I see your disappointment with the original set-up - it's a very beginner set-up - simply not enough weight for me.

Best of luck - if you have questions on how I plumbed everything - let me know -