Installing my own ballast system with Fat Sacs

jpowter · Newbie Joined: 31 Oct 2004 Posts: 6 City: Allen

Had a great summer with wakeboarding and wakesurfing. Can any of you help me with hard plumbing the fat sacs in the hull? I don't have a factory ballast system currently and the one they could install is only 900 pounds total. I do have fat sacs 600 in the back, 500 lounge for the side and 400 in the front for wake surfing. But it is a pain to fill and drain and I would appreicate any comments or help.

Thanks

Willy · Outlaw Joined: 01 Feb 2004 Posts: 159 City: Montreal

Before you go any furher:

http://www.wakeworld.com/Articles/2001/BallastSystem1.asp

Willy

jpowter · Newbie Joined: 31 Oct 2004 Posts: 6 City: Allen

Thanks for the information, I really appreciate it. Do you know anyone who has done this, Correct Craft wants $2,500 to put a 600-900LB ballast in and I just can't believe it's that hard. However if many people have tried and failed then it's worth it. Again thank you for the information, the aritcle is great and is exactly what I was looking for.

Tyler~Moore · Posted: Oct 31, 2004 2:35 pm Post subject:

jpowter, we have a 2003 air 206 and put in our own ballast. Took my dad about 2 days in all. I helped a little and from what i saw it wasnt too hard. Although we had all the holes drilled at a local shop...

sperbet · Outlaw Joined: 14 Oct 2004 Posts: 208 City: Truckee

I'm installing one this winter. Do a search here and on wakeworld.com and you should find a ton of info. The article posted at the top of this thread is really good info also.

jpowter · Newbie Joined: 31 Oct 2004 Posts: 6 City: Allen

I hate to bother you, but we have similar situations and I have so many questions. First let me thank you in advance for your time, and getting back to me so fast.
I have an air 211; I will try to summarize the questions.
1) Did you use fat sacs or plastic gas tanks, if fat sacs how do you make sure you don't overfill.
2) I assume when you mean the holes you are refferring to the drain. And through the hull, how many do you have.
3) Did you tap into the water intake as the article suggests
4) How many ballast or how many lbs did you put in.
5) Since we wakesurf, I wanted to put 600 in the back and have the two lounges 500lb in each side hull. Is there enough room when you rip up the floor for a ballast on the sides of the engine. And how much room is there? I was going to just fill and keep a 400 lb in the ski locker
6) Because of the left/right foot situation we have to be able to drain one side (next to engine) and fill one side quickly and I am having trouble figuring that out
7) Since your Dad has already done this, does he have any suggestions or things he would do differently.
Cool

How difficult was it to remove the floor
9) Could you summarize your setup such as pump location and how you drain and fill.

Thanks again.

JP

89 skier · Addict Joined: 30 Jun 2004 Posts: 729 City: Dallas

Here's another really good thread

http://forums.wakeboarder.com/viewtopic.php?t=27013

jklein · Posted: Nov 01, 2004 10:50 am Post subject:

I did mine. It's about 1500 lbs and is semi automatic with thru hull fittings. Cost me about 500 bucks.

jpowter · Newbie Joined: 31 Oct 2004 Posts: 6 City: Allen

Has anyone heard of a company Rival Download http://www.rivalindustry.com/download.htm
They make a complete pump setup for what everyone is trying to do. I just wanted to know if anyone had any problems before I ordered one.

Take care.

garveyj · Addict Joined: 12 Jan 2003 Posts: 877 City: Savage, MN

No problems with it - we even looked at one before we did ours, but for what they are charging to get everything, we bought all of the parts individually and saved about 1/3 - 1/2 of what they were charging...Just got to look in all of the right places.

Like 89 skier said - check out the post that he linked to:
http://forums.wakeboarder.com/viewtopic.php?t=27013
That is the post that I put together about our project...It is really easy to do - just take your time so that you cover everything.

holiday13 · Soul Rider Joined: 03 Jun 2004 Posts: 325 City: Flemington

garveyj, After reading your post last year I deceided to do my own over the rival as well, and I agree that there is a savings of 1/3 to 1/2. The only part that I wish I knew where they got it is the electric gate valve. I purchased a sprinkler system vavle for mine but think I would like to upgrade down the road. I wanted mine completely automated, just lazy I guess.