My Ballast System

[lee]

Nice looking switch covers.

[xpjim1]

And here is the almost complete manifold. I just need to add the fittings on the end to attach the hose from the thru hull. It will be shipped this week.
The pumps rotated about 1/4 more than I expected when fully assembled but it all fits where planned.

More next week as I get more parts.

[xpjim1]

I built the manifold with future expansion plans. I am going to only go three pumps at this time but if I am unhappy with the fill times on the surf sac I will add the 4th pump on the end.

[xpjim1]

Here is the Manifold without the pumps installed. The pumps are put together pump, mack washer, thru the PVC reducing bushing, then the pump nut that actually fits inside the bushing making it like a thru hull. The nut is snug and will not turn once it is all tightened. I put some silicone sealant on the nut to hold in place and then some on the threads.

[xpjim1]

Here is the beginning of the system. Here is a picture of the partial parts. they are still being delivered

[juniors]

You can use a 2" ball valve and buy brass or stainless 1 1/2 king nipple all you do is specify 2" thread and 1 1/2 king nipple

[lee]

Anyone have a picture of the factory thru transom?

I am taking pictures of a ballast install we are doing with a transom fill.

[talltigeguy]

I was at Lowe's today for some other things, it brought back some nice memories when I started looking at the valves. One thing I noted is that the 1.5 inch valve has only a 1 inch 'tunnel' so you could restrict the flow of water significantly by putting a 1.5 inch valve in. Interestingly, looking at the 2 inch monsters, I was challenged to see how to get it hooked back down to the 1.5 inch hose you might use, I couldn't see the right adapters, but I only did a brief search...Fond memories...

[juniors]

I installed the rival in my 24ve last fall and the only thing I changed was that I put in a pvc ball valve in front of the slidegate for "just in case" it fails. I also custom ordered double pole double throw switches from carling to match my switches and had a company make stickers of a little boat with the corner shaded in to what was filling when that switch was pushed. My system fills and emptys by the time I'm redy to surf, board, or ski

[spharis]

I missed the transom part but my point was that I believe that if you have a hole in the bottom of your boat, it will let water in whether you have a scoop or non-scoop thru-hull whether you are on plane or not. Even w/ a transom thru-hull, you will have to come to idle sometime

Your bags fill line should be above the water line, therefore, even if you have pump failure, physics does not allow the boat to leak. The pressure difference keeps the boat from filling with water. You don't necessarily have to have a gate or valve, but an emergency cut off won't hurt.

A one way valve is installed to always allow water to flow into the boat, else you could never fill up.

[xpjim1]

Moki

Talltigeguy has to push the switch on the dash down to close the gate valve. Other wise the bags will continue to fill while underway.

[Moki]

I like the idea of being able to fill up while underway.

Tall,
So how do you stop your bags from filling up while underway. Do you manually shut the valve before the manifold or with the pumps turned off, does it block the water from coming in?

[mtnsmith]

My buddie's centurion does not have valve to close off the manifold. That's why when my ballast pump body cracked I was very glad to have a valve to save our day at the lake. I have a second bilge pump also but that is more of an anal thing from boating on the gulf of mexico. I remembered reading an article out in Missouri that a wakeboard boat owner was taking on water and ended up ripping the drain pumps off of his bags and using those to help keep the boat floating as the water came higher and higher. I think the boat had hit something in the illinois river and cracked the hull, if I remember right.

[chpthril]

Interesting concept on the non-scoop through hull. The downside to going with the non-scoop is that fill times will be slower, and if you have a catastrophic failure at the manifold, or in the pumps, you will be sunk (literally).

I missed the transom part but my point was that I believe that if you have a hole in the bottom of your boat, it will let water in whether you have a scoop or non-scoop thru-hull whether you are on plane or not. Even w/ a transom thru-hull, you will have to come to idle sometime

So regardless of one's setup, a valve is a must

a leak anywhere in the sys.

like you said, anywhere in the bulge area ie pumps, thru-hulls, manifold.

[xpjim1]

Both would be nice. Outside and inside with the pump manifold.

Thanks

Might be changing my parts list.