• Welcome to Jetboaters.net!

    We are delighted you have found your way to the best Jet Boaters Forum on the internet! Please consider Signing Up so that you can enjoy all the features and offers on the forum. We have members with boats from all the major manufacturers including Yamaha, Seadoo, Scarab and Chaparral. We don't email you SPAM, and the site is totally non-commercial. So what's to lose? IT IS FREE!

    Membership allows you to ask questions (no matter how mundane), meet up with other jet boaters, see full images (not just thumbnails), browse the member map and qualifies you for members only discounts offered by vendors who run specials for our members only! (It also gets rid of this banner!)

    free hit counter

Wakesurf with stock boat?

All Seas

Well-Known Member
Messages
50
Reaction score
16
Points
47
Location
Austin, TX
Boat Make
Yamaha
Year
2012
Boat Model
AR
Boat Length
24
is it possible to surf behind a 2012 ar240 without any crazy setups?

We are looking to get into it but can imagine it lasting long with the mrs if we have to have ballast bags all over the boat.
 

swatski

Jetboaters Fleet Admiral 1*
Messages
12,806
Reaction score
18,566
Points
822
Location
North Caldwell, NJ
Boat Make
Yamaha
Year
2016
Boat Model
AR
Boat Length
24
is it possible to surf behind a 2012 ar240 without any crazy setups?

We are looking to get into it but can imagine it lasting long with the mrs if we have to have ballast bags all over the boat.
You should be able to do it with just two bags - both out of the way: swim deck (custom, Gatlin) and ski locker, plus wake wedge (also Gatlin - all @jcyamaharider babies).
It works surprisingly well.
If you really like it, plumbing some pumps/ballast could be your next step. But to start, an overboard pump will do, saving a ton of money and initial effort.

--
 

All Seas

Well-Known Member
Messages
50
Reaction score
16
Points
47
Location
Austin, TX
Boat Make
Yamaha
Year
2012
Boat Model
AR
Boat Length
24
Man I just feel like for a "watersports" boat, the yamaha does nothing well lol

Can't tube because the jet spray kills you, can wakesurf without a whole bunch of extras, can't even cruise because it porpoises it so bad you need trim tabs....

I have a serious case of buyers remorse. Whats the value of a 2012 AR240 with 140 hours?!??!?
 

dietz

Jet Boat Addict
Messages
77
Reaction score
17
Points
97
Boat Make
Yamaha
Year
2017
Boat Model
242X E-Series
Boat Length
24
Seriously? Kids and Adults absolutely love tubing (sit, lay, hotdogs,...) , kneeboarding & wakeboarding. Haven't surfed yet, but I've read under 200lb may be possible with just wedge add on.
Only spray complaint was when we had rope extension knots - moved extension to boat & all perfect. No wakeboard complaints ever.
Fast accel for pulling up boarders and GPS makes driving easy. Steering stable, and so powerful for whipping tube riders around.
Perfect all around water sports in my opinion.
Yes, not a dedicated water sports boat, but the sacrifice for the rear deck & huge bow are well worth it for me.
If you have tube spray issue, try a 10-20 ft extension, and no knots bouncing (or some use the football thing, but that seemed like too much work for me). Sorry to hear your regret , but maybe some simple fixes.


Man I just feel like for a "watersports" boat, the yamaha does nothing well lol

Can't tube because the jet spray kills you, can wakesurf without a whole bunch of extras, can't even cruise because it porpoises it so bad you need trim tabs....

I have a serious case of buyers remorse. Whats the value of a 2012 AR240 with 140 hours?!??!?
 

ar240owner

Event Sponsor
Event Sponsor
Vendor
Messages
938
Reaction score
979
Points
187
Boat Make
Yamaha
Year
2010
Boat Model
AR
Boat Length
24
Man I started surfing with just a tote on the swim deck with water in it and a board , just start with that and do a slight turn and see if you like it
 

ar240owner

Event Sponsor
Event Sponsor
Vendor
Messages
938
Reaction score
979
Points
187
Boat Make
Yamaha
Year
2010
Boat Model
AR
Boat Length
24
Then my set up on my 2010 ar240 is just a ballast bag on the swim deck , and wake wedge , works real good for us
 

ar240owner

Event Sponsor
Event Sponsor
Vendor
Messages
938
Reaction score
979
Points
187
Boat Make
Yamaha
Year
2010
Boat Model
AR
Boat Length
24
0844FAC4-D073-4545-B999-E3179EB56D1E.jpeg This is my wave with just a ballast bag on the swim deck and a wedge and every one likes a different wave , just need to see what you like
 

ar240owner

Event Sponsor
Event Sponsor
Vendor
Messages
938
Reaction score
979
Points
187
Boat Make
Yamaha
Year
2010
Boat Model
AR
Boat Length
24
I dug deep in my pics , her is my stock boat with totes of water on the swim deck , and a cheap board , yep very cheap combo and easy fill with a bucket , best way to try it out with not spending a lot of coin , heck I didn’t even have a cool life jacket yet lol !!! And yep 200 pound dad ropless !!! Don’t need to go crazy to have fun :) 29EC6C6B-42BF-4B1F-B64E-E7A659BC0244.png
 

Scottie

Jetboaters Commander
Messages
451
Reaction score
566
Points
192
Location
Helena, Alabama
Boat Make
Yamaha
Year
2013
Boat Model
X
Boat Length
21
Man I just feel like for a "watersports" boat, the yamaha does nothing well lol

Can't tube because the jet spray kills you, can wakesurf without a whole bunch of extras, can't even cruise because it porpoises it so bad you need trim tabs....

I have a serious case of buyers remorse. Whats the value of a 2012 AR240 with 140 hours?!??!?
This surprises me. We tube all the time without any spray issues. If you're dealing with spray, your rope is too short. I don't know what kind of water you're on, but on the lake, my 212x has no issues porpoising, and I don't have trim tabs... Yet. As for wakesurfing, I see $100k boats with ballast bags on the deck, so I just don't see a ballast bag for wakesurfing as that big of a deal. Sure, you can get a better boat for wakesurfing, but you're also giving up quite a bit in other areas, and you're likely going to spend more. You should buy a boat that fits whatever your needs are, for sure, but I think there's more in your yamaha than you're getting out of it.
 

Chillypilot

Jetboaters Captain
Messages
518
Reaction score
552
Points
247
Location
Barrie, Ontario Canada
Boat Make
Yamaha
Year
2009
Boat Model
SX
Boat Length
23
I've noticed when you bow heavy you get a little more spray on the tube. Moving a little weight to the stern might help. Also use tubes where the rider sits high like a Super Mabel.
 

swatski

Jetboaters Fleet Admiral 1*
Messages
12,806
Reaction score
18,566
Points
822
Location
North Caldwell, NJ
Boat Make
Yamaha
Year
2016
Boat Model
AR
Boat Length
24
can't even cruise because it porpoises it so bad you need trim tabs....
These boats do not porpoise... and pop up on plane like no other boat. Certainly no porpoising by any standards of traditional small bow runners.
Trim tabs are great to smooth the ride in rough water but not required.
Jet wash can be an issue, and the boats are loud as they cruise at high RPMs, but if cruising anywhere over 18-20mph there is zero porpoising under normal conditions.

--
 

MidnightRider

Jetboaters Captain
Messages
956
Reaction score
1,312
Points
207
Location
Zumbro Falls, MN
Boat Make
Malibu
Year
2013
Boat Model
Wake
Boat Length
20
Both my son and I finally went ropeless for the first time last night. Stock ballast and people weight. Putting 3 adults in the back corner did it. My son had an easier time than me since he is lighter, I had to concentrate a lot on putting weight towards the front of the board without diving to keep up with the wave. We are definitely hooked now and will be spending some more money soon at the @jcyamaharider shop.
 

biffdotorg

Jetboaters Admiral
Messages
3,319
Reaction score
3,640
Points
357
Location
Pelican Rapids, MN
Boat Make
Yamaha
Year
2011
Boat Model
Limited S
Boat Length
24
242LS, no Ballast other than human ballast. It's still fun. Two of the kids can go ropeless.

We can talk all day about how easy it is to add a bag, or wedge, but if you don't care to mess with crap on your seats, or swimdeck, it can be fun without as well.

The first half of this video we didn't have enough folks in the bow. The wave took shape, but it also shows the progression of how we moved folks to get the wave as good as we could without ballast or wedge.

(the issue with human ballast, is you loose ballast with each pee break!!)

 

Attachments

Arcadyus

Jetboaters Lieutenant
Messages
615
Reaction score
611
Points
152
Location
Washington
Boat Make
Moomba
Year
2019
Boat Model
Wake
Boat Length
25
https://www.amazon.com/SportsStuff-BOOSTER-BALL-Towable-Tubes/dp/B001Q98TNY/ref=pd_sbs_468_1?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_i=B001Q98TNY&pd_rd_r=HAW73Y8KDTT46FA8YZBW&pd_rd_w=XZNUR&pd_rd_wg=gDpaa&psc=1&refRID=HAW73Y8KDTT46FA8YZBW

This will eliminate spray for tubing. With a swim deck ballast and a ski locker ballast you can go ropeless pretty easy if the driver can keep slighting turning. I just started surfing a few weeks ago and we are getting the hang of ropeless surfing. It def takes some practice.
 

All Seas

Well-Known Member
Messages
50
Reaction score
16
Points
47
Location
Austin, TX
Boat Make
Yamaha
Year
2012
Boat Model
AR
Boat Length
24
What size bag fits the ski locker? Can I just fill the locker up with water lol
 

swatski

Jetboaters Fleet Admiral 1*
Messages
12,806
Reaction score
18,566
Points
822
Location
North Caldwell, NJ
Boat Make
Yamaha
Year
2016
Boat Model
AR
Boat Length
24

All Seas

Well-Known Member
Messages
50
Reaction score
16
Points
47
Location
Austin, TX
Boat Make
Yamaha
Year
2012
Boat Model
AR
Boat Length
24
Do you think you can go ropeless on a wakefoil board without ballasts?
 

spatty99

Jetboaters Captain
Messages
418
Reaction score
271
Points
212
Location
Orlando, FL
Boat Make
Moomba
Year
2017
Boat Model
Other
Boat Length
21
Do you think you can go ropeless on a wakefoil board without ballasts?
Yes, but only with the correct foil setup. The commonly provided wings don't have enough slow speed lift to foil a small Yamaha wake ropeless (for all but the lightest of riders). There are some newer wings (Slingshot Infinity wings) specifically designed for a lot of lift at wakesurf speed. An average size adult should be able to go ropeless on that setup all day long.
 

All Seas

Well-Known Member
Messages
50
Reaction score
16
Points
47
Location
Austin, TX
Boat Make
Yamaha
Year
2012
Boat Model
AR
Boat Length
24
Man so do I spend $1800 on a foil setup or $1500 on surf setup
 
Top