Started the installation of the ballast system this weekend

03parksridr · Soul Rider Joined: 04 Jun 2004 Posts: 256 City: Edmond

This past weekend i plumbed in the manifold and the fill pump. on the ends of those valves we are going to attach the hoses that run to each tank ( 1 on both sides of the engine and 1 under the rear seat). let me know what you guys think. any input/suggestions? the pictures are at
PICTURES!!!!!

Wakebrad · Ladies Man Joined: 11 Dec 2003 Posts: 12257 City: Dallas

those pictures look good. Did you redo the vinyl yourself or have it done?

Neognosis · Ladies Man Joined: 13 Jan 2003 Posts: 17617 City: Webster

That is MOST impressive

dirtysparks · Wakeboarder.Commie Joined: 07 Jul 2004 Posts: 2428

That vessel is really coming together, looks good! How did you do the scoop on the hull? Any pics?

vawakemonster · Posted: Feb 28, 2005 8:44 am Post subject:

that boat is loking AWSOME making me want to do that when i get a little older i bet it is awsome knowing yours is a totally unique boat...only one like it on the lake

oshensurfer · Posted: Feb 28, 2005 10:05 am Post subject:

03parksridr,
Nice man. Keep the pics coming.

03parksridr · Soul Rider Joined: 04 Jun 2004 Posts: 256 City: Edmond

actually its a funny story about the vinyl. the guy we bought the boat from last summer had the vinyl redone about a year before we bought it from him, but he had it redone in a very nasty grayish-white with blue highlights. the vinyl itself was still in decent shape, so i really didn't want to have to spend the $$$ to have it all recovered. I found this vinyl paint/dye/whatever you want to call it and i figured it would be worth a shot. i didnt think it would stick at all, but i cleaned the vinyl with paint thinner, and then sparyed a test area, and let it cure. i could not get it to come off! i scraped it with a pair of scissors, and the vinyl tore before the paint would come off. (this was on a test piece of course). so i figured id color all of the vinyl like that until we get the $$$ to have the interior recovered with white with red piping.
dirtysparks, i dont have any pics of the hull scoop. i'll try and snap a few next weekend. the scoop is actually a mastercraft part number. it is a brass piece with a strainer on the bottom.

thanks again for the compliments guys. it is really getting close to being done. all we have left is to finish up the ballast system and then do the stereo install Twisted Evil

, and then we're done. just in time for the season to start up.

-=LoneStar=- · Addict Joined: 20 Nov 2004 Posts: 751

My only suggestion is that you put a valve before the pump. The pump is just a hunk of plastic and you don't want your boat sinking if it cracks, especially if you're going to have the manifold hanging out in the air like that; an accidental step could snap the pump right off.

Or you could just do like they do out at sea and keep a tapered wooden plug tied next to the through-hull so if something goes wrong, you can just pull the pump off and pound the plug into the hole. I'd go with another ball valve though.

03parksridr · Soul Rider Joined: 04 Jun 2004 Posts: 256 City: Edmond

-=LoneStar=-, thats a good idea i honestly didnt even think of that. It would have sucked to find that out the hard way. I'm going to the hardware store now to look at valves.

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

03parksridr, Home depot, sprinkler system valves, the 1" electric vavle is a wopping $11

03parksridr · Soul Rider Joined: 04 Jun 2004 Posts: 256 City: Edmond

hmm electric valves? sounds like a good idea. do they run off DC power or do you have to have an inverter?

-=LoneStar=- · Addict Joined: 20 Nov 2004 Posts: 751

Look at the design of the sprinkler valves to see if the extra flow restriction is worth it to you. Obviously, you'll still want a manual brass ball valve for the safety shut-off.

The ideal situation would be an electrically-actuated ball valve but those are generally made for plant automation, run on AC, and are quite pricey.

03parksridr · Soul Rider Joined: 04 Jun 2004 Posts: 256 City: Edmond

yeah those look like they cut the flow off quite a bit. i think i'm prob going to stick with what i have plus the manual main shut off valve. i actually just checked and i already have the main shut off valve so all i have to do is put it in. add that to the list of stuff to do this weekend.

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

-=LoneStar=-, The one I purchased is not that style, it is a strait open close gate valve. I would love to get a nice ball valve but when I priced them out I was looking at 350+ for the valve. I would love to know who Rival gets theirs from, that is a nice valve.

03parksridr · Soul Rider Joined: 04 Jun 2004 Posts: 256 City: Edmond

$350 for a valve? wow that seems like alot. I don't doubt that they cost that much though. someone should come up with a low-cost alternetive to the expensive valves. those one are for like industrial applications and are overkill for what we wakeboarders need. they should offer a light duty version.

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

03parksridr, you are right, the only ones outside of the Home Depot specials were industrial which is why they had a price tag of 350. I am still looking though for the cheaper alternative.