Ballast Question!!

[bighitbiker3]

Ok so I am putting automated ballast in my boat. I have a 5.7 litre 260 hp mercruiser. I was looking at the article on wakeworld http://www.wakeworld.com/Articles/2001/BallastSystem1.asp I has been extremely helpful to me. But I have been reading on here that tapping into the raw water line is a bad idea. And the article in wakeworld says to do it. But reading on here people say to use a thru hull scoop but im kind of nervous to drill into my boat below the waterline. So do you think that it will be ok to tap into the raw water line? And if i do that I will have to fill while the boat is on right? Thanks a lot guys. O BTW i am doing the reversible pump one if that matters.

[bighitbiker3]

O ya the boat is a 1983 cobalt original motor.

[DJew Jake]

Just idle when you fill the ballast so you dont starve the engine of water.

[wakeman61972]

i just got a automatic ballast but for some reason it will not fill. i hear it running but nothings gettin in the ballast. Can anyone help me w/ this.

[wakeman61972]

please

[Jay Dutton]

wakeman61972, What kind of boat do you have? Has it ever worked? Is this something that you installed yourself or stock? If you tell us about your system somebody will be able to help you out.

[wakeman61972]

its a centurion T5 Thunder and it is stock it filled once and emptied once but now it never works i hear it running but nothings happening.

[DizzyG]

I ran 3 simer pumps off the raw water intake on our old '95 sunsetter for a couple years. I just didn't fill up while I was doing more than idling or barely moving. I never had any problems at all, just watch your temp level while you fill/drain.