Using Ballast On Your Ski Boat

Ski boats, also known as wake boats, offer you the speed and features necessary to tow people who like to do watersports, including wakeboarding, water skiing, wakesurfing, and riding inner tubes. One crucial component of this process is the ballast used on the ski boat, which is used to push down the stern of the boat deeper into the water. This, in turn, increases the size of the wakes that the boat can generate, which is better for your surfers and boarders. Here’s what you need to know about ballast.

Types

Ballast comes in a few different types. You may have what are called “fat sacks,” which are  bags that can be filled with water and placed strategically around the boat. The nice thing about this option is that you can add or pour out water as needed to increase or reduce the amount of weight. Sand is also very common as a filler for ballast, but it cannot be disposed of as easily as water.

Some people use their passengers as a form of ballast, by having everyone who isn’t actively in the water or operating the boat stand in certain places to weigh down the stern.

Configurations

Placing the ballast on your boat correctly will take some trial and error, and it’s not an exact science. Balancing the weight evenly will help to shape the wakes and make them less likely to collapse on you. Also, the type of sport you’re towing can change how you use the ballast. Wakeboarders will need a 50/50 balance of ballast at the front and rear to make really big wakes. Meanwhile, wakesurfers will require more ballast at the stern to make a wake that is strong enough for them to surf without aid of a rope. Do some experimenting to figure out what works best for you and your passengers.

Stop by our location in Fenwick Island, DE, today to view our stock of new and used ski boats for sale. We also offer boat financing options for your purchase. Island Watersports serves our customers in Ocean City and Salisbury, MD.