1989 supra mariah custom ballast install

moser08 · Newbie Joined: 12 Apr 2006 Posts: 29

i am currently tearing down my supra with plans to install a ballast system and new carpet, and some floor replacement. i would like some input on a stetup before i start. There is minimal space available so i think i am going to have to make custom fiberglass enclosures in the old cooler area and in the rear of the boat. i think that i am going to have two atwood 1100's for filling and 1100's or 750's for draining depending on the cash situation

also wondering where a good place to buy thru-hulls at for cheap

check out picks in my pick gallery of the torn apart supra

wesgardner · Posted: Apr 13, 2006 4:24 am Post subject:

Hey moser08,

Here's a link to what I did...I'm testing it this weekend I hope

http://forums.wakeboarder.com/viewtopic.php?t=52208.

My boat has a fairly sizable "trunk" where I have two 700 lbs sacs, my fuel tank is just behind that.... my ski locker is quite long where I have two 600 lbs sacs, one in front of the other.

Use a bronze thru-hull (from West Marine or sim, ain't cheap) and typically you want EVERYTHING bronze until the shut-off - I cheated and used a big PVC ball-valve as my shut off...

I'd think about how to keep any weight off the top of your fuel tank? Maybe glass in some removable support structure such that you could then lay a flat "floor" on top and the sacs on top of that...can't really tell how much height would be left above te tank...dunno if you could move the entire seating arrangement forward and gain space behind/under that?

I'll let you know how it goes

Wes

moser08 · Newbie Joined: 12 Apr 2006 Posts: 29

well i got the most of the install done, check out the pics in my gallery because i dont know how to put pics in here...anyone know??but ya it worked great, besides a couple of very minor leaks that i have yet to fix.the sacs arent' all hooked up but i just threw the lines over the side of the boat that fed the side sacs and they had plenty of flow...now i just have to hook the side sacs up and install aerators pemanently on them, and wire them in..then finish the floor and carpet. total ballast is approx. 1700 lbs. when filled (two side 540's, rear 300 and front 540 that will only be able to fill about 1/2 to 2/3 because of space)...also misc. wieghts from weight bench up front that add about another 150

darty · Addict Joined: 18 Mar 2003 Posts: 522 City: Lexington

i know that there is a really thurough ballast install post in this forum...a guy did it on a newer MC i think. I'm pretty sure he talked about thru-hulls, etc. Thought it may be worth you checking out to make sure you catch everything with your install (if you haven't seen it already).

& BTW, to post pics, click on the "Post Reply" button down @ the bottom right, & you'll go to a page where you can post & post attachments.

Good luck!

sjp · Criminal Joined: 09 Apr 2003 Posts: 81 City: Mesa, AZ

Moser8

That is an impressive amount of plumbing you have going on. It seems like there are several of us working on Supra Mariahs right now. Although I am doing nothing as extensive as you. I am not trying to get ballast, I just want to get the thing on the water.

I have an off-topic question. How many bolts/nuts did you have to remove to get the bow seats off? I have discovered rotting wood-- well, more like a collection of wood chips -- under my bow seats. I am trying to figure out how to get them off.

These are the seats in question

Sorry for the thread jack--

Jared

PS-- And what are you doing with your old cooler?

moser08 · Newbie Joined: 12 Apr 2006 Posts: 29

those were a tough job to get off, a few of the bolts you have to get up under the drivers console and passenger console to get out i had to actually had to break the fiberglass that the bolt sits in to get some out.....but if you do that you have the bolt that sticks out of the seat and you can patch the fiberglass were it broke behind the seat...then when you put the seat back in the bolt will just sit in there and the rest of the bolts will hold the seat in just fine...sounds bad but what other way is there???bad design..mine are also in rough shape and i am going to get them worked on after this summer. i have the cooler and its on good shape, you can make me an offer, shipping might be a little spendy, but im sure there hard to find.