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Custom SwimDeck Ballast Bag project

Would you be interested in this type of bag for your swim deck?

  • Yes

    Votes: 54 76.1%
  • No

    Votes: 4 5.6%
  • Maybe

    Votes: 13 18.3%

  • Total voters
    71
Be kind of hard to level back up that granite block on the back of a boat....LOL

I bet the 3d scanner is fun!!
I have suction and clamp mounts for it so it can be portable. Yea that granite ain't moving lol
 
I have suction and clamp mounts for it so it can be portable. Yea that granite ain't moving lol

I spoke to Aaron over @JetBoatPilot . . . . said he might be able to laser scan and 3D model the swim platform of the boat with Will's permission. ;)

Anything we can do to provide Wakemakers (or anyone else who can make a custom bag) EXACT measurements will just make it that much better.
 
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Well I do have a laser 3D scanner and CMM....

What are the chances of putting this bad boy to work for exact measurements?

I am seriously less then impressed with Wakemakers as they are slacking. . . . . (Anyone know someone over there) There has been ZERO reply after 3 calls and 2 emails. There are other bag makers but they want CAD files to make the bag which I don't have the ability to provide.
 
maybe
@bobbie didn't they make her bags
or @OperationROL wakemakers usually provides some type of raffle prize for Shelbyville
 
What are the chances of putting this bad boy to work for exact measurements?

I am seriously less then impressed with Wakemakers as they are slacking. . . . . (Anyone know someone over there) There has been ZERO reply after 3 calls and 2 emails. There are other bag makers but they want CAD files to make the bag which I don't have the ability to provide.
I would need access to a boat to scan. It's an involved post process once scanned getting a usable CAD file unless they take the point cloud data which would save me A LOT of tedious hard work building the mesh. Converting point cloud data to CAD is not a simple one click process.
 
@0627Devildog CAD documents are not something that Yamaha ever releases....I asked about visiting the factory once....answer...NO WAY. The other challenge here is that each swim deck step is slightly different (sometimes quite a bit when it comes to step height).
 
@0627Devildog Unfortunately this is WakeMakers's high high season and worst time to deal now. I've dealt with them in the last few months and find it frustrating at times. In my experience it is best to pick one of the "product specialists" and insist on talking to that person only, also addressing emails to them by name, with a generic email address. Mine is Jenny, she has been pretty good.
Honestly, while spending $3,000-4,000 with them I expected to be somewhat catered to, but I guess they are accustomed to dealing with people who just throw cash at them and don't seem to give a shit.

--
 
@0627Devildog CAD documents are not something that Yamaha ever releases....I asked about visiting the factory once....answer...NO WAY. The other challenge here is that each swim deck step is slightly different (sometimes quite a bit when it comes to step height).

If someone can laser scan and transfer to CAD we don't need mother Yamaha. . . . ; )
 
@Scottintexas yep...they did my bags. They worked with my dealer and scanned most of the yamaha's i believe to get the dimensions. Spencer at wakemakers has always been very responsive but I'm sure they are slammed this time of year.
 
I was told Brian was the custom bag guy. . . . . . I hit them up on their FB page and FINALLY got a response, even though it read like a bs excuse to save face. It's not like I just sent 1 email and didn't follow up. Screenshot_20170630-115522.png Screenshot_20170630-115533.png
 
What's crazy to me is how much money they are leaving on the table once the work is complete. In addition to the folks interested here I know at least 4 other people who want one.
 
I don't think grilling them (no pun intended) is going to get you much help and if anything delay the project from getting off the ground. This time of the year is peak summer season so I'm sure they are swamped with orders and such. I understand this can be frustrating but hang in there and try to not 'piss off the cook you want to make your food' so to speak ;)

As for the scan, I can help BUT A) I need a boat to scan B) It isn't really something I typically do for free as it's a very time consuming process to get from point cloud->refined mesh->usable CAD data but if all they need is point cloud data that's no biggie at all and something I'd gladly do for free if I had a boat to scan. Honestly though since this is an external bag and not as critical for fit as an internal compartment you could just use something free like Google sketch up and use your cardboard dimensions to make a CAD model of the general shape and volume. I don't really see the need for 3D scanning the boat for this kind of bag. Or if you need a CAD file you can give me the napkin sketch of your cardboard dimensions and I can make a solid model for you if you don't have software, free of charge.
 
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@0627Devildog
I noticed on your facebook post you said you emailed to custom@wakemakers,
when I was just looking at building a custom bag it said to email them at custombag@

I Don't know if it makes a difference, just pointing out what I found, you still would have thought somebody would have returned a voice message,
 
@0627Devildog
I noticed on your facebook post you said you emailed to custom@wakemakers,
when I was just looking at building a custom bag it said to email them at custombag@

I Don't know if it makes a difference, just pointing out what I found, you still would have thought somebody would have returned a voice message,

They gave me the custom@wakemakers.com email address when I first called. Then after I sent it I made 2 follow up calls, got a live person both times. . . . .and still no reply.
 
Here's a brief video of the templates I made and how I expect them to connect together.

 
any update on this project?
 
Cool project. I have full 3d CAD capabilities. What do you need? A simple 3D drawing would tell you the exact weight capacity. Cam.
 
Cool project. I have full 3d CAD capabilities. What do you need? A simple 3D drawing would tell you the exact weight capacity. Cam.

Hey Cam. . . .ideally we need someone to laser scan the rear swimdeck then put the measurements into CAD for the bag maker.
 
any update on this project?

Unfortunately the guys at Wakemakers declined to even discuss making the bag and were too lazy to even pickup the phone . . . . Afterwards, they said they wouldn't do it because they "don't recommend putting bags on the swim platform of our boats". . . .which I felt was a copout after being called out for their lack of responsiveness.
Even more so considering when they sold me my (2) 400lb bags they are the ones that recommended them for the swim platform.

So now I am working directly with the guys at Barefoot International on the bag but even they are having difficulty grasping what I am trying to do even with all the info above, pictures, video, etc. They are basically leaving it to me to provide exact measurements, in CAD (you know cause everyone has a laser scanner and CAD s/w).

That, combined with crappy response times and messages left with snarky secretaries has hindered progress quite a bit. I am working on simplification of the design which unfortunately won't exactly maximize the weight potential. Just need to make the time to sit down and draw it up.
 
This project kind of fell by the way side. We need to get this thing moving! @0627Devildog . If you can give me some general measurements then I can model up in 3D and probably get something going. WakeMakers and I have a good working relationship.

Ideally I want 750 pounds back there. That is what I have found to work the best for my application.
 
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