Any tips/tricks on installing the wake booster?

[suke]

I've only installed my wake booster twice, but both times I had to fight to get that thing on. Particularly the locking pin. I've watched every vid I could find and it all seems to go easy. So, WTF man? Saturday it took me about 15 mins to get it on. I was in waist deep water, so I had plenty of articulation and wasn't in a weird angle or anything. Also getting it off is a similar fight, but not near as bad as getting it on. There has to be some secret that I'm missing as I've never heard of anyone else complain.

 

[buckbuck]

Something is not right. I have put it on a 2017 212X a number of times from the swim deck without problem on a friends boat. Can you post some pictures of it installed?

 

[suke]

Something is not right. I have put it on a 2017 212X a number of times from the swim deck without problem on a friends boat. Can you post some pictures of it installed?

I'll see what I can do. Getting ready to have 4 solid days of rain. When I pull it out of storage for the weekend I'll give it a shot. Posted on the FB group too and one suggestion was the tie down isn't far down enough, and can be tightened from the outside to give more space. I don't need much to where the metal locking pin can have more space to freely slide in without me having to fiddle with it for 20 mins.

 

[buckbuck]

ha! That was definitely an issue when we first set his up. We had to lower it by getting access through a cup holder.

 

[suke]

Have to seal anything back up? Or just loosened it from the top side while tightening it from the bottom side?

ha! That was definitely an issue when we first set his up. We had to lower it by getting access through a cup holder.

 

[buckbuck]

I think we put a bit of silicone on it.

 

[PBear]

Interesting that you have an issue and I don’t, even though we have the same boat. The locking pin slides in just fine on both sides. I have one regular foot surfer and one goofy foot surfer, so I’m moving it every time we’re out. The only trouble I had was the first time when I slid the locking pin in from the wrong direction (from the inside going out). Took and bit to get it in, and was hell in getting it out. I must be lucky that my tie downs have enough room.

If you go down to the barn, you’re certainly welcome to try it on my boat.

 

[suke]

Interesting that you have an issue and I don’t, even though we have the same boat. The locking pin slides in just fine on both sides. I have one regular foot surfer and one goofy foot surfer, so I’m moving it every time we’re out. The only trouble I had was the first time when I slid the locking pin in from the wrong direction (from the inside going out). Took and bit to get it in, and was hell in getting it out. I must be lucky that my tie downs have enough room.

If you go down to the barn, you’re certainly welcome to try it on my boat.

Reckon I could run down there during one of the rain days and give it a look. Definitely don't want to be messing with it on the weekend if we want to take it out if I have to put silicone on anything.

 

[Julian]

I read somewhere that just tightening up the tie down rings from the outside a little bit sometimes is all it takes.

 

[F.M.]

Mine is very tight also. I tightened up the rings from the outside and it helped but it's very hard to get the pin in.

 

[suke]

I read somewhere that just tightening up the tie down rings from the outside a little bit sometimes is all it takes.

I'll give that a shot. I'll see if I can't run down to the barn today in my break in meetings.

 

[suke]

Mine is very tight also. I tightened up the rings from the outside and it helped but it's very hard to get the pin in.

ok, good to hear I'm not the only one. Looking at vids they make it seem like it just slides right in. I'm like uhhhhhh not without my fighting with it for 10+ mins and finally finding the ever so perfect solution to finagle it in.

I'm ok with it being tight, def not ok with it taking me an exorbitant amount of time to get it in. I'll bring some tools and some loctite sealant in case I need to go in from the cup holder up top. Man that'd be a pain to try and get any tools into that spot.

 

[Wright2e]

Interesting to hear how hard it is to get the pin in. Besides being a bit awkward to do in the water, I’ve had no issue on my 195s once I got the hang of it. Takes about a min or two. Worst part right now is the colder water on your arms!

 

[PBear]

Bring some water to wet all the surfaces as well, to better mimic the on water conditions.

 

[suke]

So here's before. It's hella tight. I can finagle it, but watching the vids they slide it in and put the clip in easy as pie.


It's just SO tight up against the main support bar.


So I tried tightening it down from the outside. I didn't get much of anything additional.

So in from the cup holder I went. I took some pics in case anyone runs into this. Glad I did as I found the hose for that cup holder not attached. Also barely to NO sealant around the cup. I forgot my sealant at home so I'll run back over there after work and wrap it up.

To get the cup holder ring off just press down on the chrome piece and it rotates off. Then a couple screws to get the cup holder out. If your's is attached to the hose you likely will have to pull some to get it to detach. I bought some slightly longer hose so I can attach it. The one in there was so short there was no conceivable way to attach it anyways. I noticed my cup holder on my dash also wasn't attached the other day. So, I shouldn't be shocked. You can also see the suck sealant job there. It'll get a full bead when I go back.


That blurry bolt(s) in the background, hard to get a clear pic as my phone really wanted to focus on the tube. It's a 3/4" same with the outside one. Trick is to loosen the outside so you don't have to try and man handle the one that has little room to do so in the hull. If you have huge arms that may be tricky. Fortunately I'm built like a stick figure. I'll also put sealant on the tubes so they don't leak ever. Yes I am in fact OCD.


Now you can see SOOOOOOOOO much better. I can slide in that pin, move the wake booster into position easily and everything with little to no effort. Should make worlds of difference on the water. I MAY back it up JUST a smidge, but it's not like that piece can slide through. There's the welded tab on that side preventing it from doing so.


Plenty of room for the pin.

 

[suke]

Bring some water to wet all the surfaces as well, to better mimic the on water conditions.

I walked over to your boat and gave it a look. I'm surprised you're not having any issues. your tie downs looked just as short as mine. So, I didn't mess with yours at all.

 

[PBear]

I walked over to your boat and gave it a look. I'm surprised you're not having any issues. your tie downs looked just as short as mine. So, I didn't mess with yours at all.

Great pictures -- I'll take a look next time I bring the boat home and compare. I've just been going by feel on the water.

 

[anmut]

Question on that pin that slides in through the tow strap. I see it's tapered - does it have to go all the way in and does it lock up with something? Or does the retaining pin lock up with something?

 

[BigAbe75]

So here's before. It's hella tight. I can finagle it, but watching the vids they slide it in and put the clip in easy as pie.
View attachment 119540

It's just SO tight up against the main support bar.
View attachment 119542

So I tried tightening it down from the outside. I didn't get much of anything additional.

So in from the cup holder I went. I took some pics in case anyone runs into this. Glad I did as I found the hose for that cup holder not attached. Also barely to NO sealant around the cup. I forgot my sealant at home so I'll run back over there after work and wrap it up.

To get the cup holder ring off just press down on the chrome piece and it rotates off. Then a couple screws to get the cup holder out. If your's is attached to the hose you likely will have to pull some to get it to detach. I bought some slightly longer hose so I can attach it. The one in there was so short there was no conceivable way to attach it anyways. I noticed my cup holder on my dash also wasn't attached the other day. So, I shouldn't be shocked. You can also see the suck sealant job there. It'll get a full bead when I go back.
View attachment 119552

That blurry bolt in the background, hard to get a clear pic as my phone really wanted to focus on the tube. It's a 3/4" same with the outside one. Trick is to loosen the outside so you don't have to try and man handle the one that has little room to do so in the hull. If you have huge arms that may be tricky. Fortunately I'm built like a stick figure. I'll also put sealant on the tubes so they don't leak ever. Yes I am in fact OCD.
View attachment 119551

Now you can see SOOOOOOOOO much better. I can slide in that pin, move the wake booster into position easily and everything with little to no effort. Should make worlds of difference on the water. I MAY back it up JUST a smidge, but it's not like that piece can slide through. There's the welded tab on that side preventing it from doing so.
View attachment 119545

Plenty of room for the pin.
View attachment 119544

Excellent write up. [USERGROUP=3]@Administrative[/USERGROUP] can this be added to faq somewhere?

 

[suke]

Question on that pin that slides in through the tow strap. I see it's tapered - does it have to go all the way in and does it lock up with something? Or does the retaining pin lock up with something?

I'd imagine it's tapered to facilitate easy installation into the loop while you're hanging over the boat in the water. I'd say put it in far enough to get the pin in easily. Then tighten up the adjusting piece to get it tight. I yanked on it and it didn't move at all. I think that clip is to ensure there's no way for the booster to slide all the way out should it come loose.