Ballast System

[Gardyloo03]

Hey I was thinking about adding either the factory ballast system to my boat or an aftermarket system. Does any one here have the factory system and if so would they mind posting some pics of the tanks and where they are sitauted and the switch controls. That would be awesome nobody around here that i know has it. I was also looking at a Rival Industries system anybody have one of theirs or know much about them? Some pics of that would be great too! Thanks for any help.

[brd4fun]

Before you add the factory ballast, you should look at any and all other options. The factory ballast is a joke (atleast in the front) they have stuck a carpeted tank right in the way of your most valuable storage compartment. The tank only weighs 100lbs (if I am wrong about the weight please correct me because nobody seems to know how much it weighs)

Please do not get me wrong I think Tige is one of the best boats on the market. I have a 05 22V and this is my 4th Tige and they are great, but as for the front ballast, Total brain fart.

If you have any additional questions hit me with an email fdkelsh@resourcelabel.com

[PColucci]

I've gotta believe that that factory ballast weighs 250lbs up front but I could be wrong. I installed my own this past summer. It turned out to be a lot more work than I thought. It ended up costing about $1350 I think.
- 4 hard plastic tanks from california to Illinois, 2 36g for rear storage and 2 25g for front ($850)
- 6 750gph Atwood, 2 500Atwood from Walmart for $18-$19 a piece.
- 8 SS thru-hull 3/4" fittings ($100)
- Manifold built from PVC from Home Depot
-Then of course the rocker switches wiring and plumbing.

I originally tried to T into the water feed for the engine (then not fill it while running fast). That didn't work, because I had a check valve in the T to feed the manifold (up high behind the rear seat) to prevent the engine water cooling system from sucking air. This didn't work because the engine cooling pump snapped it shut when on. I had to drill a hole in the bottom and give the ballast system manifold it's own feed (helps it fill even faster when running). Right now I have a manual shutoff valve on this feed line, I should upgrade this to be electric so it's completely automatic. It's kind of silly to have all the switches on the dash and then have to go lift the hatch and shut the red manual valve. Sometimes though I just let it run open - when running water will leisurely shoot out four of the eight portholes in the four corners of the boat. I'll try to attach some pictures I have some decent ones of the tanks and the components of this...

[PColucci]

Tank Picture

[PColucci]

Old Dash...

[PColucci]

New Dash with PerfectPass, Clarion Remote, and 4 rocker switches for ballast system...

[PColucci]

Close Up of dash plate for ballast system and TAPs (I thought I had better overall pictures of this - more of the internals and stuff)

[PColucci]

For good measure...
You can keep your lightweight/lightduty Black Scorpions - "there's no replacement for displacement"

[Matt Garcia]

PColucci,

Unless I missed it, but what is your total weight ? Also fill time?

[PColucci]

The weight is about 1000lbs. It fills in five minutes (maybe faster when in motion) and empties in five minutes.

(I thought I had better pictures of the install)

[sschnip]

We have the Rival Ballast System and it is great. It fills and empties in less than 5 minutes. It does not take up valuable storage space and once full gives you close to 1,000 pounds of additional weight. Also, it allows you to fill each individually. It makes a great surfing wake.

[Paublo]

I've posted it before, but I don't know how you would improve on the Rival system. You pick the bag sizes if you want a little more weight. I also use a little lead to get more weight up front and for adjusting to passengers. You can check this thread-
http://www.tigeowners.com/forum/showthread.php?s=&threadid=210&highlight=ballast

[PColucci]

The bags are a joke compared to hard polyethylene boxes (although I guess when deflated you have more storage (don't puncture them) but they should probably be inflated every outing).

1800lbs. is awesome!

With my 1000lbs, it's still nice to drop a fat sac in the front. Maybe two in series in the front walkway would be ideal for an insane wake (+weight of Bigblock 454Magnum + 45gals gas).

The setup I built doesn't truly have independent fill (but I reasoned - besides wakesurfing, you either have them all filled or all empty. period. unless I suppose your passengers won't balance themselves.) it's kind of like fill them all up in under five minutes (wakeboard) then empty one side or tweak as desired (each tank controlled by one switch in the dasy) for wakesurfing or balancing boat left/right or front/back.

Where do you guys get lead bars? Does anyone know a cheap place to get them?

Thanks,
Paul

[Paublo]

With lead there are a few options, but the cheapest is DIY. Shipping makes it impractical to have them sent. My dealer sells a 65# bar covered in the same carpet that is in the boat for $75. There are cheaper methods, but you don't even notice these on the floor. For the hidden lead, use tire weights in allmost any container. I've seen them in ziplocks that were then covered with duct tape. Somewhat ghetto looking but works.

[sschnip]

The rear bag has a hard canvas cover for protection and cannot be punctured. The two front bags are under the front seats in the open bow. They are not protected however we do not need that small area for storage. Its great.

[norcalatver]

Originally posted by PColucci
Close Up of dash plate for ballast system and TAPs (I thought I had better overall pictures of this - more of the internals and stuff)
Where you have your switches mounted, I have my stereo mounted. Where is your stereo mounted?

[norcalatver]

Originally posted by norcalatver
Where you have your switches mounted, I have my stereo mounted. Where is your stereo mounted?

[cmb22V]

Rival, hands down. And do custom bags... We had some built that run the entire length of the rear storage areas, then built a false floor over them so we have storage in the back. We still have to use a sack or two in the front if we fill the rears up (750 a side) but have been able to adjust things nicely without messing with it when we are short on time.

Tige's biggest letdown is their ballast system. They need to find a way to hide some weight in the nose...

[PColucci]

Here are the 4 ballast switches... I though I had included it before:
The switches are incorporated on the right side to the left of the TAPs plate where slalom times were, I cut a piece of aluminum to replace what was there.
the stereo is mounted in the glove box on the passenger side and the remote for that squezed between the tach and the gas gauge right below the perfectpass control.

I completely agree with the post about needing more weight in the front, particularly with TAPs set.

I just installed a PhatBudde tower and would highly recommend that to anyone looking.

[PColucci]

with attachment...

[norcalatver]

Originally posted by PColucci
with attachment...
Thanks PColucci. The dash on the newer Tige's are a little different than my 1997 22V. I have two speedo's where you have some sort of digital gauge. Also my taps adjustment is on the throttle lever.

[PColucci]

I have a 96 22V, are you saying in 97 they moved it to the throttle? that nice. I replaced the one speedo with the perfectpass control

[holiday13]

I have a 24V and did my own ballast system and after doing it I would say buy the rival system, but get it with dual 540 rear sacks and dual 350 front sacs. I still also put a 440 in the front walk through and the wake is getting real nice. I found that on the 24 you need a lot of weight to have an impact on the wake.

[2kims]

just got our 24v back from the dealer putting a Rival 4 bagger in 2-440s and 2-220s. Haven't tried it yet, the boy got appendicitis... in mid summer! agh! the dealer put the front bags in the mid section instead of under the front seats. what do you guys think? future mods or it'll be ok. had to add the ballast for the comp size wakes.