Malibu Boats RESPONSE TXi 2021, Owner'S Manual

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2021 OWNER’S MANUAL | Safety 11
has been factored into the maximum capacity) or any other
added, but unapproved ballast.
Weighting Your Boat During Watersport
Activities
Although water intrusion and waves spilling inside a boat is
an obvious boating hazard, this hazard can be increased when
weighting your boat for water sports such as wakeboarding or
wakesurfing. As wakeboarding has evolved, ballast systems have
been developed to add weight and increase the size of the wake.
The simplest ballast system on the market is the water ballast
type, such as the “FAT SAC”. The quest for the largest wake has
caused some boat operators to excessively overload their boats.
It is not uncommon to see operators use aftermarket ballast
systems and then put additional people and gear in their boat.
Be advised that this practice can lead to overloading your boat
which may lead to any of the following: changes in handling and
performance; capsizing, flooding, and sinking; boat occupants
going overboard. DO NOT overload your boat.
Always be aware of the load in your boat and do not load the
boat in excess of the listed capacity. Each boat has a maximum
capacity label displaying the maximum weight of people, gear,
and ballast that can be placed in the boat.
When loading your boat, give attention to the effect that the
Do not fill the bilge area with water. Excessive water in the bilge can
cause changes in boat trim and reduce boat stability which may lead
to submergence or capsizing.
! WARNING
load distribution has on the boat’s trim angle. Trim angle is the
technical term for the up or down pitch angle of your boat (also
known as the “bow up” or “bow down” angle). The fore and aft
load distribution of weight, passenger, and gear can affect the
running trim angle of the boat.
• Excessive weight placed in the stern of the boat can cause
the inability to get on plane, high bow-up angles, and can
lead to steering difficulties. High bow-up angles can be
dangerous due to the reduction in the operator’s forward
visibility which can lead to collisions and groundings.
High bow-up angles cause longer transition times from
displacement mode (slow velocity, 0 to 5 mph) to planing
speeds (18 to 20 mph and above). During transition, it is
important that the boat operator pays attention so that they
can see forward and that the time in transition (or in the
“hump” speed region) is minimized.
• Excessive weight placed in the bow of the boat can lead
to very flat planing trim angles which may lead the boat to
turn aggressively, unpredictably, and without steer input.
The phenomenon of yaw instability is caused by heavy bow
weights and running very flat (bow down or flat trim angles).
This can occur with excessive weight in the bow compared
to weight in the stern of the boat. Another ill effect of
too much bow weight in comparison to stern weight is
that with extremely heavy loads, the boat’s bow may dive
or submerge when coming off plane (decelerating rapidly
or encountering waves/wakes at slow speed). If the bow
submerges, then water will enter and flood your boat.
• When encountering conditions which may lead to bow diving
or bow submergence, it is recommended to accelerate the
boat before the wave/wake in order to help raise the bow
and get over the wave/wake.
• If the bow submerges, the recommended action is to
reduce throttle to stop forward speed, get passengers to
move aft, and turn on the bilge pump.
It is the boat operator’s responsibility to tell passengers to
move to other seats on the boat, so as not to overload the stern
or bow of the boat, nor restrict the boat operator’s forward
visibility. (See Get Ready section of this manual for additional
Any non-factory-installed ballast must be properly secured to prevent
injury.
!
WARNING