Wake Wedge Automation System

[rocknracing]

Wanted to introduce myself first my name is Chad Kerls and my wife Ashley and I have a 2012 242 Limited S that we absolutely love. Right after we bought it I tried wake surfing and it was all downhill from there. The first winter I decided to plumb 3 pumps to fill 3 different bags for wake boarding and surfing 400lbs on each side of motor and 600lbs in ski locker. Well that wasn't enough for surfing as we all know so started buying more bags and placing them on the seats and swim platform. Added another 400lbs in the port side locker along with a 400lbs on seat and 400lbs on swim platform. With that we found the right amount of weight so now to get rid of most of the bags on the seats I decided to have a custom bag made for port side which will be right at 1200 so no more bags inside. Plus we usually have 300-1000lbs of people ballast I can move around boat! All depends on what friends we have with us!! Then adding the wake wedge really helped out in cleaning up the wake. The only thing I didn't like was having to take it off when not using it or manually adjusting it up when not in use.


So with having my own Home and Marine Electronic business I started designing a way to control the wedge while inside the boat especially since we leave our boat at the lake on a lift. First thing I had to figure out is what to use to control it up and down which was pretty obvious. I needed an actuator so found a few and got them in. Then the next and hardest thing was finding a connecter at the back of the boat that would disconnect but also be waterproof and be able to be underwater. Need this since the wedge uses the trailer tie down and if we ever towed the boat we would need to take the wedge off. After several months of talking with all of my suppliers we finally found one.

So last spring I had everything I needed and got it installed on the boat. Last year was a test year with trying different actuators to see which one would work the best and make sure no problems came up. So I tried a couple of them out and came up with one that works great and it has been working flawlessly since then (about 5 months of usage every Saturday and Sunday plus a weeklong trip at table rock lake and Lake Norfolk last year). With this system it allows you to raise the wedge all the way up so you can run the boat at full speed and not have to worry, then you can lower it when you are ready to surf, and if you just want to swim you can lower it all the way and it allows you to pull your swim ladder down all from a switch on the dash. You can even leave the wedge off and just put a cap on the connector on boat which makes it waterproof so you can run boat without the wedge on.


So I decided to put a system together for anyone that already has a wake wedge or are looking to purchase one. The system comes with everything you will need to install except the wedge and wire as each person and boat will be different. All depends on how you run wire and where you put switch at. With the kit you will receive the quick connects for the boat and wire on actuator including cap when actuator isn't attached, actuator, new brackets for wedge, Carling Contura rocker switch, and instructions on how to wire actuator to switch. The complete kit runs $425.00 with free shipping. I have to order the brackets in sets of 5 so I will get them started once I know I have 3 people interested in them. If you want a system please let me know so I can order more brackets if I have more than 5 people wanting this. If you have any questions please let me know and I will be glad to help you.

Here is a video of the wedge in operation

The pictures are of the connectors for the boat and for the wire on Actuator.

To order you can PM here or email me at ckerls@cakelectronics.com

I am hoping to have this on our website at www.cakelectronics.com within the next few weeks.

 

[ar240owner]

Awesome !!!!

 

[rocknracing]

@ar240owner mark think you are going to need one for the new boat!!

If anyone in the St. Louis area is ever up at Mark Twain lake and would like to see it let me know. We are usually up there 3 out of 4 weekends a month starting in May.

 

[Master-Spud]

Will this work on all models or is this specifically designed just for the 242's?

 

[rocknracing]

Will work on all models. You just have to decided the best location for the connector on your model. The picture I posted is where I put mine at on my 242LS

 

[Julian]

You might want to connect with @jcyamaharider and see if he wants to combine your product with the wake wedge as a package.....

 

[jawsf16]

Good Lord this site keeps sucking all of my money from my bank!

That is absolutely awesome. Just when I thought I had all of the mods I need...

 

[Dhow]

Holy shit awesome idea !

 

[Scottintexas]

@rocknracing great ingenuity! do you have a video of it activating at speed or changing the angle while going, I'm very interested in seeing it in action and how it changes the wake,

 

[rocknracing]

@Scottintexas I don't unfortunately. I tried playing around with it while underway but never saw any difference with the wave. I mainly developed it so I wouldn't have to take it on and off or raise it manually when done. What we normally did was before we started surfing just lower it down about 30-45 degrees and then when that person was done lower it all the way down to allow ladder to open. Then raise it back to surf. Then when we where all done raise it up all the way.

 

[thcole]

Love the idea. Now too find a way to get 2 wedges on at the same time with 2 actuators.

 

[Julian]

Love the idea. Now too find a way to get 2 wedges on at the same time with 2 actuators.

I think that just requires double the investment! LOL

 

[Ronnie]

I'm not into wakesurfing but damn @rocknracing that/you are F'ing AWESOME !

Maybe I missed this but what would it take to make it easy to move the wedge from one side to the other easily?

 

[jcyamaharider]

With the water pressures that the wedge must withstand there is no way that I would feel comfortable making a universal wedge. It just will not hold up.

I have been talking with Chad thru his whole R&D process and Gantlin is the supplier for the hinges that the actuator bolts too. If someone is interested in a combo package they can contact either one of us and we can get the ball rolling.

 

[dan144k]

@jcyamaharider, @rocknracing

Would a combo package be offered at any discount?

 

[Addicted]

@rocknracing can you post a video of this operating out of the water?

Based on conversations that you and I have had in the past, I have been excited to see this finally available. However, I would like to see how it is put together, what the brackets look like, and how the actuator integrates.

We use the Wedge nearly every time we are in the boat, and believe it to be a necessity (unless your @bobbie) in getting a clean wave from our boats. The product works as advertised, is built well, and @jcyamaharider stands behind his product when issues do pop up. My only gripe has been having to install and un-install while on the water. Frankly, it is a royal PITA, especially in choppy water. If your on the water for a long day, switching activities, it becomes even more of a pain because you have to do it multiple times. This product solves the issue. I am very interested.

@rocknracing, thanks for being a forward thinker and improving on an already great product!

 

[jcyamaharider]

I agree with the choppy water being a PITA!!!

 

[jcyamahariders wife]

I should have took video the last time Jerry put the wedge on via swim deck(not getting wet) with choppy waves and a barge going by. Lol oh and the boat was already listed ! Too funny

 

[rocknracing]

@rocknracing can you post a video of this operating out of the water?

Based on conversations that you and I have had in the past, I have been excited to see this finally available. However, I would like to see how it is put together, what the brackets look like, and how the actuator integrates.


We use the Wedge nearly every time we are in the boat, and believe it to be a necessity (unless your @bobbie) in getting a clean wave from our boats. The product works as advertised, is built well, and @jcyamaharider stands behind his product when issues do pop up. My only gripe has been having to install and un-install while on the water. Frankly, it is a royal PITA, especially in choppy water. If your on the water for a long day, switching activities, it becomes even more of a pain because you have to do it multiple times. This product solves the issue. I am very interested.


@rocknracing, thanks for being a forward thinker and improving on an already great product!

I am out of town working right now so when I get back I will take some video of it out of the water and get some more pictures for you.

That is why I developed this as I didn't like having to install and un-install.

You are welcome!

 

[rocknracing]

Here is a picture of the switch cover.