Ballast Weight Offset

[kgower]

Newbie question. How does using ballast bags on the boat affect the boats max capacity i.e. 8 persons 1600 lbs. ? Do you have to reduce number of passengers?

 

[tdonoughue]

Oldbie who doesn't wakesurf answer. In theory, yes. The max capacity is supposed to be an 'or' (that is 8 ppl or 1600 lbs--not both). So you are supposed to have a max (with people) of 1600 lbs.

That said, I know of very few people with after-factory ballast systems who mind that. After all, the whole point is to, basically, sink the boat some by adding too much weight temporarily. A true wake boat will factor that into hull design, etc. With ours, the boat will be lower in the water than intended when the capacity is exceeded. You may sink the rub rail (which is not really intended to be long term underwater) and take on a little more water. However, as long as the ballast is kept low, you won't have a capsizing risk--basically you are making the boat less prone to capsizing by pushing it down in the water more (if you put the weight on the tower (which, if you think about it, is where a standing person's center of gravity would be)--that would cause a capsizing risk (and other issues)). So 1600 lbs of people is not the same as 1600 lbs of ballast on the back deck.

I have never heard of anyone getting a ticket for being over capacity due to the weight. LEO will cite you for having more than 8 ppl. But I have not yet heard of them asking each one how much they weigh, adding in the contents of the boat and trying to issue a citation based on that.

 

[Levi Weatherford]

I will also add that I don't think many factory dedicated surf boats with factory built in ballast are actually legal most of the time. I know my friend's G23 is way over the factory nameplate when he has 100% full ballast and 12 adults on board. But it sure puts out an outrageous wave.