Jet wash while skiing

[danielcasey01]

Bought my first jet boat 2008 SX 230 HO) a few weeks back (2nd boat as I had a 23 foot, stern driven Glastron prior), and while skiing the jet wash extends to the end of our 75 foot rope which makes it tough to ski behind the boat and kinda hurts! Will a jet wash deflector help and does anyone know about what they cost?

 

[Scottintexas]

I'm wondering if you don't have another issue,

How fast are you going when skiing?

Maybe get a video of pump area at speed ti help identify what is creating the spray pattern

 

[2kwik4u]

You'll get that. IMO, it's one of the downfalls of traditional skiing behind a jet.

Aside from VERY VERY early beginners, I would suggest moving just to the left/right a little and getting into some flat water between the edge of the wake and the center washed out portion. There is smoother water there. Of course outside the wake is best

 

[danielcasey01]

skiing at about 30mph, thinking about extending the rope by 10 feet?

 

[jetboatjay]

We were having this same issue while tubing with the boys on my AR195. I just installed the Thrust Vector Wake from jetboatpilot.com and it completely eliminated the jet wash beyond 10 feet behind the boat. You still get some wash close in, but nothing beyond about 10 feet. While I am single engine and your SX230 will cost a bit more for the hardware, it was worth it to us to install. Plus, added benefit: it increased the handling at slow speeds 1000 percent.

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[Julian]

I just don't sit behind the boat....move slightly off to one side and you are good to go. That said, I do this because of the wake turbulence not because of spray....so perhaps you have something dragging???

 

[danielcasey01]

We were having this same issue while tubing with the boys on my AR195. I just installed the Thrust Vector Wake from jetboatpilot.com and it completely eliminated the jet wash beyond 10 feet behind the boat. You still get some wash close in, but nothing beyond about 10 feet. While I am single engine and your SX230 will cost a bit more for the hardware, it was worth it to us to install. Plus, added benefit: it increased the handling at slow speeds 1000 percent.

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Much appreciated and thank you!!! Will check it out.

 

[Sean R]

Jetboatjay, did you loose any speed adding the thrust vector wake?

 

[jetboatjay]

Jetboatjay, did you loose any speed adding the thrust vector wake?

Admittingly we don't run it wide open very often, but testing the top speed after install resulted in the same 45 MPH max.

I was just reading the thread about which gas to use and I have been using 87/10% ethanol. I am going to run 91 octane tomorrow on the Illinois river and see if that makes a difference. I might get more speed out of it. I will post and let you know.

 

[Sean R]

My buddy has a 2018 Ar195 he uses 91 octane. He hit 51 on the GPS a few times, perfect condition.

 

[jetboatjay]

My buddy has a 2018 Ar195 he uses 91 octane. He hit 51 on the GPS a few times, perfect condition.

That is good to know. Now I have a target speed as a challenge!! Thanks for the knowledge @Sean R.

 

[haknslash]

That is good to know. Now I have a target speed as a challenge!! Thanks for the knowledge @Sean R.

You’ll be wasting your money with a higher octane on your boat. You’re not gojng to pick up hidden horsepower.

The reason the AR195 uses premium grade fuel is because it’s requires due to the supercharger tune and boost levels. Your boat is naturally aspirated. Just run what is recommended and spend the money you’d be wasting on higher octane for the TV Wake or a spray booster ball. It should help with some of the rough jet wash that is just the nature of the beast with a jet boat.

 

[Sean R]

I agree I use 87 in my 212 but I know the 195 they suggest 91. 91 in the 212 will be a waste but not sure if 87 in 195 would hinder performance.

 

[ScottS]

Here is the wash on our 2017 AR195. You get pelted if you hang behind the boat. I have a Lucky13 cone, no thrust vector, and the was is annoying. But, get off to the side and the water is fine...

 

[biffdotorg]

I notice you have nobody in the boat with you, or at least nobody in the rear seats. We notice quite a bit of difference in turbulence based on weight distribution. Even in a 24' boat, if we have more folks in the bow over the stern, the water will be more turbulent and the jets have a different attitude in the water. Even at no-wake mode.

This is even more noticeable now that we have TV-Wake installed. But it is really knocked down more overall.

Move some folks to the back or add weight. Ballast is not recommended, as it would add wake, which you don't want skiing. But you may find a balance between less spray, but a slightly larger wake to overcome.

Good luck,

 

[ScottS]

@biffdotorg Thanks for the recommendation. I typically have one person opposite the driver and the other sitting on the bow filler cushion facing to the rear. This centers the weight on the boat well and results in a minimal wake for me to cross. I don't spend any more time behind the boat than I have to, so the added spray doesn't bother me.

However, I will definitely put this into practice for tubing - sometimes I feel like I am undergoing water torture with all the jet spray that hits us on the tube.

 

[biffdotorg]

@biffdotorg Thanks for the recommendation. I typically have one person opposite the driver and the other sitting on the bow filler cushion facing to the rear. This centers the weight on the boat well and results in a minimal wake for me to cross. I don't spend any more time behind the boat than I have to, so the added spray doesn't bother me.

However, I will definitely put this into practice for tubing - sometimes I feel like I am undergoing water torture with all the jet spray that hits us on the tube.

ya man, it's a tough balancing act for skiing. As your wake goals are different for sure. This whole past couple weeks I have left 400lbs in the locker for a bit of added wake for tubing. The girls are just giggling when they hit the center wake with twin two person tubes. As they not only get air, but they get push from the wake if they catch it right. They never complain of spray, but then I never let them stay in the middle, as slamming them into each other, or into the wake is the best part!

But yes, a bit more weight in the rear does bring the spray down a bit.

 

[Sean R]

Maybe its just me but when i have two in the bow I feel the boat is louder then when the same two passengers sit in the back. I also think I have an easier time wiping the tube when the bow is empty. Fyi that was when I had my 2017 Ar190, I haven't pulled anything yet with my 212.

 

[biffdotorg]

Maybe its just me but when i have two in the bow I feel the boat is louder then when the same two passengers sit in the back. I also think I have an easier time wiping the tube when the bow is empty. Fyi that was when I had my 2017 Ar190, I haven't pulled anything yet with my 212.

Think about what is happening when there is bow weight. The nozzle is pointed more towards the surface than horizontal or down. With weight in the back, the nozzle is pointed more down, than horizontal.

The result is more turbulence and exhaust hitting the surface sooner. I notice this on our 24' when the bow has 6 women sitting up there chatting away, and it's just me and a buddy behind the windshield. Those two jets are a bubbling away out back way more than normal. And this is just at no wake speed.

 

[grywlfbg]

For tubing, we added 2 x 5' bungee extensions to a standard 60' rope (towed from the rear/low tow hook). This solved the spray problems for the kids.

For water skiing, I also found that adding 10' to a standard 75' rope (towed from the tower) gives the jet wash more time to dissipate, making it more comfortable right behind the boat.