Plumbing in ballast

Okie Boarder · Ladies Man Joined: 03 Mar 2008 Posts: 10056 City: Edmond

My plan this spring is to plumb in my ballast. I'm trying to keep it inexpensive and cut down on time it takes to fill everything. Currently I have a Simer pump with a hose that I connect to each bag one at a time to fill. I have the pump plumbed in to a thru hull fitting for fill and drain and it is wired up with a switch. My goal with this plumbing is to eliminate the need to connect and disconnect to each bag. Right now I have a bag in the rear ski locker, one under the rear seat, and one up front down in the bilge area. The boat is an 89 Supra Sunsport, for reference.

Here is the plan...

1. Build a "manifold, using 4 PVC ball valves.
2. Plumb pump to manifold.
3. Plumb each ball valve to its respective bag plus one to an auxilary hose (what is already being used) for filling auxilary bags (surfing).
4. Plumb vent lines to each bag.

Any thoughts, concerns or ideas to consider?

vette74 · Posted: Mar 05, 2012 8:35 am Post subject:

Make sure to use a check valve (swing not spring) or it will all drain out the bottom unless the line loops higher than the bag. Also make sure you have a way or plan to vent the bags.

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

That simer pump isn't ignition protected, so don't mount it anywhere there could be gas fumes. PVC can break easily if it gets brittle - make sure you have a brass cutoff valve at your intake.

The check valve idea above won't work with a 2 way pump.

jjaszkow · Posted: Mar 05, 2012 9:45 am Post subject:

I think that P Hat's thread is a must read for this project.

Definately need manual cutoff valves at any thru-hull that is below water line. Cheap insurance IMHO.

Okie Boarder · Ladies Man Joined: 03 Mar 2008 Posts: 10056 City: Edmond

I already have a brass ball valve at the thru hull so I am covered there. The Simer is also already mounted in an area outside the bilge.

jjaszkow, I may go back through his thread again for some ideas.

vette74, where are you talking about with respect to the check valve? Also, what do you mean by a way or plan to vent the bags?

vette74 · Posted: Mar 05, 2012 2:49 pm Post subject:

I didn't read the simmer pump part it in itself is its own check valve. I had aerator pumps on mine I put the check valves between the pump and bag. In a perfect world air will not get into the system but in my world it did, I had to burp the air out of my bags ever so often until I installed a vented line (the bag had 3 ports on it.)

Okie Boarder · Ladies Man Joined: 03 Mar 2008 Posts: 10056 City: Edmond

I'm planning to put vent lines in with check valves.

vette74, where were your bags and how did you run your vent lines?

vette74 · Posted: Mar 05, 2012 3:40 pm Post subject:

I had a bag under the front cushion under the rear seat and back ski locker. I ran the front next to the bilge outlet and the rear just at the rub rail.

Okie Boarder · Ladies Man Joined: 03 Mar 2008 Posts: 10056 City: Edmond

That's basically where I'm thinking for them to exit.