Custom Ballast Diagram & Wiring Questions? Simer BW8512

chopper515 · Criminal Joined: 08 Jun 2004 Posts: 68 City: St. Louis

I just upgraded from a 91 4.3L i/o to a 98 Malibu Sunsetter VlX and I can’t wait to take it for a ride. I put money down on it pending a test drive this week. I have never driven or ridden behind an inboard.

That said I’m going to put a custom ballast system in. I have extensively searched the forums here and at wakeworld for ideas and I have come up with the diagram shown for a system.

Will the diagram shown work with the Aerator and Reversible run in parallel? Both would fill and only the reversible would drain. If this would work it solves a few issues I have with the 2 separate systems: The 2000GPH has the benefit of an incredibly fast fill and is cheap. The simer allows me to fill and drain thru the same pickup (the aerator only system would require me to either drill a bigger hole above the water line to drain at a decent speed or set up a system of valves to drain out the intake). Also, I don’t like the idea of having to put an aerator pump on each bag to drain, seems like a lot of wiring. This system would fill very fast drain a little slower. I’m not to concerned about drain time considering I can drain while waiting to trailer or on the trailer.

If this will work my next question is how to wire both pumps to a single 3 way switch. If I combined the positive from each pump into one wire and ran it to the dash and do the same with the negatives (giving me 1 positive and 1 negative from the pump and one pos. and one neg. from the battery at the dash) and then wired it like you would the jabsco ballast puppy 7 pole switch would this work. When I switch to drain it would reverse the polarity on each pump, the reversible would reverse, what would the aerator do? Is this safe, or would I need two switches.

Does the Simer BW8512 have run dry protection

Do I need 2 pumps? I will be running about 1200 to 1500 lbs of weight? Anyone have a similar system with fill times, 1 or 2 pumps?

Where can I get the 3 way rocker (fill-off-empty) switch that comes with the jabsco ballast puppy? I checked www.carlingtech.com as stated in previous threads, but I did not see it. Anyone have a link?

A local dealer told me that I had to install a seacock in lieu of a simple ball valve at the water pick up because if my boat sinks due to the added water pick up, my insurance would not cover it unless there is a seacock installed here. Has anyone heard of this? What is the difference between the two valves? Seacocks are at least $65 at west marine.

chopper515 · Criminal Joined: 08 Jun 2004 Posts: 68 City: St. Louis

Having problems with attaching the diagram. Will try again later

wakeboarder89 · Addict Joined: 15 Jun 2003 Posts: 637

im not sure what the switch you are looking for looks like but i found this that i have used for my system.
http://www.westmarine.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?storeId=10001&langId=-1&catalogId=10001&productId=143900&catalogId=10001&classNum=294&subdeptNum=124&storeNum=9

chopper515 · Criminal Joined: 08 Jun 2004 Posts: 68 City: St. Louis

Diagram

chopper515 · Criminal Joined: 08 Jun 2004 Posts: 68 City: St. Louis

Now that i'm thinking about it I don't think this will work. What's to keep the water from running in a counterclockwise rotation through the aerator pump will draining. I would probably have to have a 3-way diverting valve at the T from the water intake to the 2 pump. I'll probably just use 2 Simer pumps on separate systems and switches, 1 for the front bag and the other for the 2 rear. I want to avoid having to turn valves to fill and empty

Doug · Posted: Mar 01, 2005 5:06 am Post subject:

I've got an older Sunsetter Euro. I've got a separate pump for each sack. Everyone on this sight will have an opinion on types of pump/setup. I prefer using Simers. By using one per bag, you do not need ball valves for routing water to each bag. you can also trim weight side to side, front to back.

chopper515 · Criminal Joined: 08 Jun 2004 Posts: 68 City: St. Louis

Doug, where did u get your simer's? How much? Are they run dry protected? Does anyone know where to get them locally?

Sbt3 · Soul Rider Joined: 27 Jan 2003 Posts: 279 City: Okauchee

Menards in my area carries the simer pumps and they have them for around 55 each. They are not run dry protected but you can here them change tone when it is dry. I have 3 of them, 1 for each bag.

chopper515 · Criminal Joined: 08 Jun 2004 Posts: 68 City: St. Louis

Stan, what kind of place is Menards (hardware, plumbing supply, etc.). I was wandering what type of store to start my search.

Sbt3 · Soul Rider Joined: 27 Jan 2003 Posts: 279 City: Okauchee

Menards is like a home depot or lowes. Depending on where you are from I am not sure if they have them. I know there are a bunch of menards in WI IL and IN. I assume they are other places as well.

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

I get the idea of what you are doing, but I honestly think you are making this too difficult. I take it like most ballast systems you are planning on filling all of the bags full right? If so then why do you want the ball valves in front of the bags. With the way it looks to me I would just put a check valve on both ends so that it cannot flow back and then when the bags are full it should just flow out the bilge line that you have on there.

I see you are thinking of using the fill scoop as the drain as well...If you are doing that I would not recommend using the aerator pump as that will not pump out....Just in (and reading through your post it looks like you are planning on doing the 2 reversible pumps.)

from what I can get out of your profile are you putting this into an I/O? If so where are you putting the sacs?

Overall a good plan, but I would definitely suggest some modifications to it.

WakeTech · Addict Joined: 19 Jan 2003 Posts: 949 City: Edmonton

garveyj,

Do you have any experience with the simer pumps and if so do they allow water to back flow. What I am doing is using 3 pumps / 3 bags. Each pump will fill and empty. I want to know if someone steps on the bag will the pump allow flow past it ?

gmarkham1 · Addict Joined: 10 Sep 2003 Posts: 505 City: janesville

Chopper...

I am also thinking about a similar system for my boat. an 18 ft bayliner. anyways just wondering what your bag placement was going to be?

I am thinking one in the ski locker and then one under each of the rear seats.

Doug · Posted: Mar 02, 2005 4:37 pm Post subject:

www.beatlas.com is where alot of people buy them. Around $65. Unfortunately they are not run dry protected.

People walk all over my fat sacks, and there is no noticable loss of water, with only the Simer impellar holding the water in.

Also remember that the pumps have a high inrush current, so use automotive high current relays when switching power!.

chopper515 · Criminal Joined: 08 Jun 2004 Posts: 68 City: St. Louis

garveyi, thanks for the input. I have actually read alot of what you have written regarding your ballast system and it was alot of help. I think I am going to modify my plan. I'm putting the system in a 98 Malibu Sunsetter VLX (v drive). I will be filling 2 450# sacks next to the motor and 1 700# in the ski locker as far as it will go. I'm going to run 2 simers, 1 to the back 2 sacks and 1 to the front sack. I will vent the rear sacks to there own thru hull fitting, or combine them with check valves. I don't plan on venting the front sack because I have to keep an eye on it anyway since I cannot fill it all the way up. I also plan on putting some lead weights in the bow

I just looked up the simer BW8512 on www.beatlas.com and it is $95. Still searching for a cheaper buy

Anyone know a good place to find lead weights.

WakeTech · Addict Joined: 19 Jan 2003 Posts: 949 City: Edmonton

On these simer pumps when they say no run dry protection, how long can they run when self priming beofre the break. I have about 6 feet of hose to suck from the water intake, will this wreck the pump ?

chopper515 · Criminal Joined: 08 Jun 2004 Posts: 68 City: St. Louis

I just bought my 2 simer pumps at a local farm supply store for $75 each. I should have my system done when www.gethighsports.net gets the v-twin sacks back in stock.

chopper515 · Criminal Joined: 08 Jun 2004 Posts: 68 City: St. Louis

I just bought my 2 simer pumps at a local farm supply store for $75 each. I should have my system done when www.gethighsports.net gets the v-twin sacks back in stock.