Is the Yamaha 19’ surf package worth trying?

[MOwater]

I have a 2020 195s and I am just wondering if anyone has had success using just the Yamaha 19’ surf package. I am looking for a good starting point because my kids are wanting to try out surfing. Any help or advice would be greatly appreciated!

 

[lgparra]

21' AR195 here. I recently just started dipping my toes into wake surfing. I've wakeboarded for many years but have never wake surfed and not too long ago bought a Hyperlite Broadcast 5'4 and rope off amazon to give it a shot. It's definitely a blast! I'd actually go as far to say if I never hopped on a wakeboard ever again and only ever wake surfed I'd be totally okay with that! Obviously with only a board and rope you're very likely not going to ever go ropeless. So in order to make a 195 surf-able with no rope its definitely possible and lots of people do it but it'll cost thousands of dollars between the board, rope, WakeBooster, ballasts, perfect pass GPS, etc in order to do so. If you and the kids are just wanting to try it out I'd recommend perhaps just starting with a board/rope to see how everyone likes it. From that point, if you feel you'll like its something you'll end up doing often enough and want to buy all the other items, I'd say go for it! Also, lots of board options out there. Hyperlite broadcast and the slingshot's seem to be most popular. I went with the hyperlite after reading a few online reviews. It's a good all-around beginner board that anyone can ride but its a board you can "grow into" as riders become a little more advanced into the intermediate skill level.

 

[MOwater]

Nice! I’ll check that board out. I was already looking at the CWB Connelly Ride because it has positive reviews as a beginner board and a great price point. What is your plan for upgrades? Have you thought about getting the Yamaha 19’ wakebooster kit?

 

[lgparra]

Right on! My wakeboard is a CWB and that Connelly surf board was on my shortlist too. I'm sure for your guys' needs it'd be a great starting point and solid board too especially at that price. Upgrades wise I'm torn. My personal situation is that our home lake is relatively small and generally pretty busy on the weekends so I'm not sure we'll ever surf there with the traffic unless it was during a weekday. We take quite a few long weekend/road trips to much bigger lakes around the midwest which is where we "surf" at. It's a ton of fun and I've loved every second of just screwing around with nothing more than a board/rope but I have a little bit of a tough time justifying the 2-3k it'd cost and work required to get the boat setup for a good wave on something I'll really only ever have the chance to do a few weekends a year. I may change my mind on splurging for it but for now I've had so much fun wake surfing I've been researching boats that will do it better/easier like a 212X or true dedicated tow boat. I suspect if you start wake surfing and the family/friends enjoy it, you may fall into the same trap as me so be careful ?

 

[Disco Volante]

We surf all the time behind our 2016 Fsh 190 all the time, no ballast and two or three people in the boat sometimes we will throw a fat sac that we had in our old MC 205 on back platform. We can surf no rope. On all these small boats, 25 foot and under you just need an ocean board not a wakesurf board. We needed same thing on our old MC. It is just a function of wake size and board size.

 

[kgower]

I have a 2020 195s and I am just wondering if anyone has had success using just the Yamaha 19’ surf package. I am looking for a good starting point because my kids are wanting to try out surfing. Any help or advice would be greatly appreciated!

This was a month ago, first time wake surfing. Day 1 no additional ballast, day 2 19' wakesurf package. definitely made a difference Will definitely need more ballast. In the middle of audio upgrade, second battery amps et cetera. that put 100 lbs +/- with original battery on port side. I received 2 50lb Leadwake bags yesterday which will go in the rear starboard side to offset as I ride goofy. Thinking about a 350 lb bag for the ski locker and probably 2-4 50lb waterfilled bags for the bow, Can't say whether a Perfectpass or Ridesteady is needed or worth the investment for my needs. 1st Time Wake Surfing | JetBoaters.net - The World's Largest Jet Boat Forum!

 

[Ridesteady]

This was a month ag, first time out. Day 1 no additional ballast, day 2 19' wakesurf package. definitely made a difference Will definitely need more ballast. In the middle of audio upgrade, second battery amps et cetera. that put 100 lbs +/- with original battery on port side. I received 2 50lb Leadwake bags yesterday which will go in the rear starboard side to offset as I ride goofy. Thinking about a 350 lb bag for the ski locker and probably 2-4 50lb waterfilled bags for the bow, Can't say whether a Perfectpass or Ridesteady is needed or worth the investment for my needs. 1st Time Wake Surfing | JetBoaters.net - The World's Largest Jet Boat Forum!

Ridesteady is definitely needed and definitely worth your investment.

The problem with controlling the speed manually is that it's pretty difficult to do on Yamaha's to begin with, given the very short throw between idle and WOT on the throttle levers. Adding weight (ballast) for surfing adds momentum which makes it even more difficult.

It's not that it can't be done, obviously an experienced driver who's paying pretty good attention can make it work. What Ridesteady offers is consistent, repeatable speed that can easily be set in 0.1 MPH increments (just rotate the knob).

This makes the wave more reproducible (and thus easier to find the "sweet spot"), as well as taking pressure off the driver and frustration from the rider. It is an investment, granted. However, we hear pretty regularly how customers only regret is not buying it sooner. It just makes your limited time on the water much more relaxing and fun for everyone. </sales pitch>

 

[MOwater]

I appreciate all the input! I just ordered a board /rope this morning and will hopefully be on the water Friday evening to start playing around. If the kids like it I am sure I’ll be persuaded to start getting more upgrades. I know a bigger boat would probably make a huge difference but being able to fit it inside my garage has been very convenient.

 

[white2kstang]

My 15 year old rides behind our 2019 195 on a Coaster 5.0. The booster cleans it up a lot. This pic is the two 210lb bags included in the kit, me, the wife and one 10 yr old kid in the boat along with 300lb of additional steel ballast. It's totally enough push for my daughter with just the two included bag bags. It was money well spent for us and its much easier with a lot less stress using the RideSteady system. RideSteady is some of the best money I've spent out of the ridiculous amount I've spent to date on this boat. Even if not surfing it's great for all activities and even cruising. I use it on almost every outing. IMO if surfing you'll get irritated trying to hold speed without it.

 

[Ridesteady]

Impressive surf wave, @white2kstang !