Malibu Response wake with wedge up

[bigskieridaho]

Hey just bought a 2009 Response Lxi and it has a wedge. How does this effect the wake when it is up? I have already pulled the FAE exhaust off, but should I remove the wedge from the bracket when I am running the course? Obviously winter time, but just curious on some opinions.

[thager]

Leave it on. When it's up you won't even know it's there.

[Wish]

What @thager said. I ski behind an 07.

[thompjs]

@OB1

It does not touch the water at slalom speed. Go for it.

[Bill22]

I don't have data to prove this but I think it negatively impacts handling at idle speed (even with it up). I never use it so I plan to take mine off this spring.

 

Example: if I am sitting in my boat stopped and I want to make a U-turn to pick up a skier the turn radius of my boat is much larger than other boats (not Malibu) I have driven. Also, my boat doesn't navigate around the dock as well as others.

 

Edit: agree with above; it has no impact on ski wake.

[jjackkrash]

How much does the wedge weigh?

[bigskieridaho]

@skibrain I would have left the FAE on but it throws a rooster tail from what I hear which is not needed at 22.

[greghayes]

@OB1 - I am running a 2012 Txi with the wedge up. No complaints/difference without it. Have fun with the kids!

[DW]

@bigskieridaho : If you never plan on using the wedge, removing it might be the way to go assuming you are interested in having the flattest wake possible. Transom weight of any kind will deteriorate the wake, you can run the experiment by changing fuel levels and see the effect of transom weight on the wake.

[LZywicki1]

Wedge up, down or off on a TXI, wakes the same.

Same with our LXI.

[Wayne]

@jjackkrash the part that moves up/down is less than 20 pounds.

[jjackkrash]

20 lbs. is not much but not nothing--like adding 3 gallons of gas to the stern. Seems like a reasonable weight gain/trade off for the added utility it provides.

[ForrestGump]

The TXI's feel the same with and without the wedge. I always thought the RLXI had a hard wake with the wedge up than the ones without a wedge.

[DW]

@bigskieridaho : on a Gen 1 ('03-'06) I have observed the wedge seems to catch some water in the up position particularly when turning, could be some simple bracket adjustments needed to ensure it is up high enough.