30 pounds of weigh under the engine

a company called RaceWeights back in the day used to make a ballast system for ski's you could add or position weight in the ski by moving the plates around... not sure if they are still in existence or not.
 

snowxr

V watch your daughters V
Location
Waterford, MI
I have a set for my SXIpro that bolted to the bottom of the motor under the bedplate, and a second bolted down to the front tank strap mounts.
 
So they are custom-made for each model of ski? Or are they one-size-can-be-adjusted-to-fit-all.

I was thinking about trying some weights in my squarenose for racing around the buoys at the local lake.

I heard that a company called Custom Ski Works used to make some that would replace the styrofoam nose piece inside a squarenose, but I can't find them on the web.

I think way up in the front would be the place to have them - ie, more effective at keeping the nose down than the same amount of weight way back underneath the motor. Or maybe the are meant to be used as a ballast, to keep the bottom of the ski pointed down.
 
I would like to find a non-permanent solution so I can race in the morning and ride in the surf in the afternoon.

The lead idea might work - its soft enough to not damage the hull or jab a hole in the gas tank.
 

Midlake Crisis

Site Supporter
Location
Bakersfield, CA
This is just talk, but it seems wrong to intentionally weight anything that is supposed to go fast.
There has to be a better way to achieve the ride characteristics racers are looking for.
Before I became obsessed with Superjets I was in to old school jet boats and spent a lot of time reading the jet boat forums.
There was a lot of talk among the racers, both circle and dragboat, about trim devices and also the design and condition of the bottom of the hull (i.e. hook and rocker, etc.) and how those things effect things like turning, porpoising, and top speed.
I think there is a lot of engineering to be done for somebody with the motivation and time to experiment and figure out some hull design/mod solutions on PWC as an alternative to weights.
 
Yes, adding weight to something that you would like to go faster does seem like a band-aid solution.

Thanks for the suggestions, I will figure out something.

Does anyone know how much "Rayce Weights" used to retail for?
 

snowxr

V watch your daughters V
Location
Waterford, MI
The weight is an advantage for bouy racing. Top speed isn't everything. Handling can be improved, if the weight is added in the right area of the ski.

As an experiment, I added weight to the nose of my ski, and it handled poorly. It felt like it jumped and bobbed like a dolphin, nosing into the water.
Adding weight under the motor and in the nose made the ski more stable, and helped it carve with a more solid feel than it did without the weight.
 

Big Kahuna

Administrator
Location
Tuscaloosa, AL
It helps the ski from getting tossed around in the race chop. If the ski is deflecting off the waves then you are loosing speed and time. This is why the SXR does so well over the pre 08 Superjets. I have heard of racers having upwards of 50 lbs added.
 

SuperJETT

So long and thanks for all the fish
Location
none
Weight on the bottom of the hull lowers the center of gravity substantially, which makes you way more stable in rough water. Also, a heavier ski is going to be more stable because it won't get tossed around.

You can move things around some to lower your center of gravity, and make the higher up items lighter (hood) but having more weight is an advantage in rough water.
 

Mark44

Katie's Boss
Location
100% one place
When Katie got her SJ it had a large lead weight under the motor bolted directly through the hull. We had to remove the weight and fill the bolt holes this was Oysters old ski.

This is also when Katie and I began our relationship. LOL It was all her fault........

Mark44
 
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Big Kahuna

Administrator
Location
Tuscaloosa, AL
When Katie got her SJ it had a large lead weight under the motor bolted directly through the hull. We had to remove the weight and fill the bolt holes this was Oysters old ski.

This is also when Katie and I began our relationship. LOL It was all her fault........

Mark44

That ski that Oyster sold her use to belong to Victor Sheldon.
 
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