Honest review of the Wake Booster

[buckbuck]

This is my personal review of the Yamaha Wake Booster mounted on a 2017 212X owned by @Brian eilrich . He, his two boys and I took a trip to the closest river not closed due to flooding in May 2019. The Rock River in Rockford IL was our test grounds. It was near flood stage with a swift current and we surfed in waters 8-10 feet deep.

I have no affiliation with Yamaha and do not even know anyone employed by them.

Wake Booster comes in two flavors. 21 foot boat and 24 foot boat. The two are very different. Here is an outline of both.


The following are some of the days test conditions;
2017 Yamaha 212X fitted with the Wake Booster and also equipped with after market @Ridesteady .
Nozzles were aligned to the Surf Point configuration.
Stock ballast was completely filled giving us about 1200 lbs. This turned out to provide the best wave. No other ballast was used.
Brian and his two boys gave a combined weight of 400 lbs.
The Booster is easy to install and remove while on the water.
Even at no wake speed the Booster has an effect on the water behind the boat. It is a bulldozer blade under water. You will have to remove it when not surfing.
Water temperature was 55 degrees. Air was 65. Wind was insignificant in the test.
I would NOT describe myself as an accomplished surfer. No stunts, no tricks. I am content to just go ropeless behind the boat when I surf. Please note that due to the water temperature I had a incentive to not let go of the rope even with a drysuit. I forgot my booties and my feet were cold.
I surfed with the Slingshot Surf Board provided with the kit.
Video was shot by 13 year old who hand held an Autel Evo drone.

From my experience, viewing the shape of the wave without a surfer does not guarantee that it will be good to ride. Prior to getting in the water with my 200 lbs. aboard we did a test run. We looked at each other and said WOW! But I withheld judgement until I was being pushed by it. Note that I also came to the river with previous disappointment in Yamaha. They promoted the Surf Point config like it was the solution to jetboat surfing. In my opinion it turned out to be little more than hype. We tried a number of ballast configurations and ended up with all three full. We also tried many differing speeds. Thanks to @Ridesteady this was easily achieved. However I wish we could have gone a tad slower going upstream. Ridesteady minimum is 8 mph and I feel the wave could have been better with more push had we had the option.
The booster completely flooded the jet area of the boat on the port side. This would explain why Yamaha includes a cover for the scupper valve. I suppose they discovered that water was being forced up the scupper when set up for starboard (goofy) surfing. The stream of water converged with the jet stream approximately 8 inches behind the nozzle.
Very interestingly to me was the boat ran level with no list. I know the ballast was even with no bias but the boys in the port corner did not influence the list. Even when Brian abandoned the helm and joined them the boat did not list. It seems to me the Booster is pushing the boat up on the corner. We are going to need well fed friends and family to overcome this and push this down in the water more. I think we will experience an even better wave with more weight.

The results of this testing led me to believe Yamaha spent some time developing this. It is not Surf Point hype. It had significant influence on the shape of the wake. Particularly in smoothness and steepness. They have produce a credible wake enhancer and those of you with newer boat should consider it if the goal is surfing.
Thanks for reading this.

EDIT 1 June 2019 Here is a video of deep water surfing on a choppy lake. Approx 2000 lbs ballast and 1000 lbs people.

 

[haknslash]

Geez near flood stage but only 8-10 ft deep? That's a creek not a lake!

Kidding aside nice review of the product! Yea it's no killer monster wave but it's proven it can put out a clean enough wave with enough push for a 200 lb rider to play around on. I'm glad it's not another surf pointe hype failure.

 

[Neutron]

I am definitely no surf expert, nor do i have any interest to surf.
but i never see a decent curl to the wave or even a clean wake. That wave doesn't seem to give you much room to play

 

[BigAbe75]

I wish you had time to deploy the swim deck bag to see whether that made a difference in your ballast configuration.

 

[Brian eilrich]

We had a fun day on the water. From my prospective this is the second best the boat has ever done producing a surf able wave. I will say the wave was slightly better last summer in Shelbyville but we had over 20’ water depth and almost 1,100 pounds of additional weight. With the wake wedge and their custom 700 pound bag add 400 pounds of additional people. Also this was the first time we were able to produced a wave big enough to push a surfer in this depth of water. And I will not use the deck bag in shallow water. In my opinion this was a big win I do believe I will need 300 to 400 pounds of additional weight on the surf side but that is easily achieved. With a few additional people or ballast. I have also ordered from jet boat pilot the new thrust vector wake. Which will be tested shortly after we receive it with the help of @buckbuck it should ship the end of the month.

 

[PJ73]

Nice. Waiting for my to arrive at Winnebagoland so I can pick it up.

 

[J-RAD]

Excellent review, it will be interesting to hear others reviews and how they all average together. How did the Coaster handle? You'll have to give it a try with other boards you might have used to see how they perform with the WakeBooster and review the board's performance.

 

[hamsammy]

I am definitely no surf expert, nor do i have any interest to surf.
but i never see a decent curl to the wave or even a clean wake. That wave doesn't seem to give you much room to play

I think that's because they are in fairly shallow water.

 

[buckbuck]

With the testing we are planning to do in a few weeks we will probably end up at Lake Geneva where the water is deep. @Brian eilrich will feel comfortable throwing that 700 lbs on the rear corner end then we will see what that Booster can do. Hope the fisherman have gone in for the day.
The Slingshot Surf Board needs a more talented surfer to give it a proper review. If I had to say anything it would be that I found it the same as my HyperLite Broadcast board. I did not experience any difference. But you more invested guys could probably get a great deal more out of it. One thing I will note is the board is very grippy. I found it difficult to adjust my feet but Brian felt that is good for younger riders so they don't slip off when starting to get up. He also felt my feet stayed drier on the Slingshot.

 

[addfw]

I am a complete surf neophyte. Can you get any wave action by only using the booster and not any ballast?

 

[buckbuck]

It would be unlikely to go ropeless. However, if you are just starting out you will be holding the rope a lot anyway. Plan on filling your boat with people to improve the wave.

 

[SCP1]

With the testing we are planning to do in a few weeks we will probably end up at Lake Geneva where the water is deep. @Brian eilrich will feel comfortable throwing that 700 lbs on the rear corner end then we will see what that Booster can do. Hope the fisherman have gone in for the day.
The Slingshot Surf Board needs a more talented surfer to give it a proper review. If I had to say anything it would be that I found it the same as my HyperLite Broadcast board. I did not experience any difference. But you more invested guys could probably get a great deal more out of it. One thing I will note is the board is very grippy. I found it difficult to adjust my feet but Brian felt that is good for younger riders so they don't slip off when starting to get up. He also felt my feet stayed drier on the Slingshot.

Let me know when you guys go if you want another person to join.

 

[dadofral]

Wish this was available for all Yamaha boats in all years. @buckbuck On the outline pic which is the 21 and which is for the 24? Is there also a way we can see it mounted on the 212 please?

 

[swatski]

Wish this was available for all Yamaha boats in all years. Buck. On the outline pic which is the 21 and which is for the 24?

I think red is 21 and blue is 24 in @buckbuck drawing.

--

 

[SCP1]

Wish this was available for all Yamaha boats in all years. Buck. On the outline pic which is the 21 and which is for the 24?

Yeah if this works so well, why not make one for the 19’s as well. I realize there is no jet wash but this really seems to do more than fix the jet wash issue. Based on this forum alone they know people are surfing on 19’ boats.

 

[dadofral]

I think red is 21 and blue is 24 in @buckbuck drawing.

--

That was my thinking too, but never hurts to ask...thanks @swatski.

 

[GeauxDeep]

Wish this was available for all Yamaha boats in all years. @buckbuck On the outline pic which is the 21 and which is for the 24? Is there also a way we can see it mounted on the 212 please?

yeah seriously, i agree. i have a 2015 AR210 so i'm out of luck. guess i'll look at some ballast bags and give that a try first then maybe look at the thrust vector wake.

 

[dadofral]

yeah seriously, i agree. i have a 2015 AR210 so i'm out of luck. guess i'll look at some ballast bags and give that a try first then maybe look at the thrust vector wake.

Even with the new TVW I'm going to find a good way to add a little more ballast, my 2015 212X comes out of hibernation tomorrow and my next project is a home made wake enhancer....I own a metal fab shop so I'm going to involve our team and see what we can come up with.

 

[rkim808]

This is my personal review of the Yamaha Wake Booster mounted on a 2017 212X owned by @Brian eilrich . He, his two boys and I took a trip to the closest river not closed due to flooding in May 2019. The Rock River in Rockford IL was our test grounds. It was near flood stage with a swift current and we surfed in waters 8-10 feet deep.

I have no affiliation with Yamaha and do not even know anyone employed by them.

Wake Booster comes in two flavors. 21 foot boat and 24 foot boat. The two are very different. Here is an outline of both.
View attachment 93555

The following are some of the days test conditions;
2017 Yamaha 212X fitted with the Wake Booster and also equipped with after market @Ridesteady .
Nozzles were aligned to the Surf Point configuration.
Stock ballast was completely filled giving us about 1200 lbs. This turned out to provide the best wave. No other ballast was used.
Brian and his two boys gave a combined weight of 400 lbs.
The Booster is easy to install and remove while on the water.
Even at no wake speed the Booster has an effect on the water behind the boat. It is a bulldozer blade under water. You will have to remove it when not surfing.
Water temperature was 55 degrees. Air was 65. Wind was insignificant in the test.
I would NOT describe myself as an accomplished surfer. No stunts, no tricks. I am content to just go ropeless behind the boat when I surf. Please note that due to the water temperature I had a incentive to not let go of the rope even with a drysuit. I forgot my booties and my feet were cold.
I surfed with the Slingshot Surf Board provided with the kit.
Video was shot by 13 year old who hand held an Autel Evo drone.

From my experience, viewing the shape of the wave without a surfer does not guarantee that it will be good to ride. Prior to getting in the water with my 200 lbs. aboard we did a test run. We looked at each other and said WOW! But I withheld judgement until I was being pushed by it. Note that I also came to the river with previous disappointment in Yamaha. They promoted the Surf Point config like it was the solution to jetboat surfing. In my opinion it turned out to be little more than hype. We tried a number of ballast configurations and ended up with all three full. We also tried many differing speeds. Thanks to @Ridesteady this was easily achieved. However I wish we could have gone a tad slower going upstream. Ridesteady minimum is 8 mph and I feel the wave could have been better with more push had we had the option.
The booster completely flooded the jet area of the boat on the port side. This would explain why Yamaha includes a cover for the scupper valve. I suppose they discovered that water was being forced up the scupper when set up for starboard (goofy) surfing. The stream of water converged with the jet stream approximately 8 inches behind the nozzle.
Very interestingly to me was the boat ran level with no list. I know the ballast was even with no bias but the boys in the port corner did not influence the list. Even when Brian abandoned the helm and joined them the boat did not list. It seems to me the Booster is pushing the boat up on the corner. We are going to need well fed friends and family to overcome this and push this down in the water more. I think we will experience an even better wave with more weight.

The results of this testing led me to believe Yamaha spent some time developing this. It is not Surf Point hype. It had significant influence on the shape of the wake. Particularly in smoothness and steepness. They have produce a credible wake enhancer and those of you with newer boat should consider it if the goal is surfing.
Thanks for reading this.

Aloha @buckbuck can u post a pic of the scupper valve cover, I would like to get one wonder if Yamaha sells separately from the Booster kit. Great review on the Booster.

 

[GeauxDeep]

Even with the new TVW I'm going to find a good way to add a little more ballast, my 2015 212X comes out of hibernation tomorrow and my next project is a home made wake enhancer....I own a metal fab shop so I'm going to involve our team and see what we can come up with.

sounds awesome man. let us know how it goes!