Wakeboarder Forum Index

 
 FAQFAQ   SearchSearch   MemberlistMemberlist   StatisticsStats   FavoritesFavorites   RegisterRegister   ProfileProfile   Log in to check your private messagesLog in to check your private messages  Log inLog in 
BlogsBlogs   

Ballast System "Upgrade"

 
Post new topic   Reply to topic    Wakeboarder Forum Index -> DIY Projects
View previous topic :: View next topic  
Author Message
Okie Boarder
Ladies Man
Ladies Man


Joined: 03 Mar 2008
Posts: 10056
City: Edmond

PostPosted: May 02, 2012 8:26 am    Post subject: Ballast System "Upgrade" Reply with quote

I decided I would do more to plumb in the ballast this year so it can be filled up a bit quicker. My system is set up with a 400# bag in the rear ski locker, a 400# bag under the rear seat, and a 350# bag that fits under the cooler down in the bilge in the space I opened up during the rebuild. A lot of times we put a 250# bag right in front of the engine too. I have a Simer pump mounted up under the helm (not in the bilge), and that pump is all plumbed to a through hull fitting and wired into a fill/drain switch. Until now, we've just had a hose off the Simer that we manually connect to each of the bags for filling. I didn't want to add more pumps (yet), but wanted the process to be sped up a bit. So, I made a PVC manifold to distribute and control water flow to each of the bags independently. Each bag will be plumbed in with a fill/drain and also a vent line. This should speed it up significantly.

Here is the manifold finished and ready to be installed.






_________________
If love is blind, why is lingerie so popular?
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Yahoo Messenger
HHI Dave
Wakeboarder.com Freak
Wakeboarder.com Freak


Joined: 10 Jun 2006
Posts: 2550
City: Hilton Head Island, SC

PostPosted: May 02, 2012 3:46 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Slick!
_________________
Hilton Head Wake Sports.com

Hilton Head Wake Sports on Facebook
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Blog Visit poster's website
Okie Boarder
Ladies Man
Ladies Man


Joined: 03 Mar 2008
Posts: 10056
City: Edmond

PostPosted: May 04, 2012 8:34 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Had a bit of difficulty getting the thru hulls mounted, but worked through that. I just about have it all done...will post some more pics once I do.
_________________
If love is blind, why is lingerie so popular?
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Yahoo Messenger
Okie Boarder
Ladies Man
Ladies Man


Joined: 03 Mar 2008
Posts: 10056
City: Edmond

PostPosted: May 14, 2012 12:33 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Got it finished and tested. Everything seems to work fine and should be a big improvement over the original set up. I timed the drain...was messing with other things during the fill...and I'm down to 15 minutes...not too bad.

Issues right now...not sure if there is a cure.

1. Bags won't drain all the way unless I lift them up.
2. Water doesn't push out the vent lines when filling so I'll have to keep an eye on the bags.

Some pics of the manifold and thru hulls all finished up.




_________________
If love is blind, why is lingerie so popular?
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Yahoo Messenger
Okie Boarder
Ladies Man
Ladies Man


Joined: 03 Mar 2008
Posts: 10056
City: Edmond

PostPosted: May 16, 2012 5:58 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Went out for our first riding session last night. I timed the fill and it was 14 minutes. I did let the rear seat bag overfill a bit and water did come out the vent line. All in all, I'm happy with the set up...definitely is much easier and quicker.
_________________
If love is blind, why is lingerie so popular?
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Yahoo Messenger
mgs917
Addict
Addict


Joined: 17 Sep 2008
Posts: 532
City: Spartanburg

PostPosted: May 23, 2012 8:53 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Looks great. Did you drill the hull yourself?
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
kartman
Wakeboarder.Commie
Wakeboarder.Commie


Joined: 29 Oct 2008
Posts: 1542
City: meridian, Idaho

PostPosted: May 24, 2012 5:12 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

looks killer. you have any more pics of the boat? im about over the whole i/o thing and am thinkin of sellin mine to pick up a saltare/sunsport project. hows the wake? hows the room for people?
_________________
trying to find a $5-7K usable saltare if anyone knows of one.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Visit poster's website
Okie Boarder
Ladies Man
Ladies Man


Joined: 03 Mar 2008
Posts: 10056
City: Edmond

PostPosted: May 24, 2012 8:38 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

mgs917, yes.

I'll see what I can find or take some new ones. The wake is good and it is fairly roomy. Being a DD, it lacks some seating benefits of the VD's. We regularly have around 8 people on board and it works.

_________________
If love is blind, why is lingerie so popular?
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Yahoo Messenger
Display posts from previous:   
Post new topic   Reply to topic    Wakeboarder Forum Index -> DIY Projects All times are GMT - 8 Hours
Page 1 of 1

Add To Favorites

Jump to:  
You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum
You cannot vote in polls in this forum
You cannot attach files in this forum
You cannot download files in this forum
             


Copyright © 2012 - Wakeboarding - Wakeboarder.com - All Right Reserved
Powered by phpBB © 2001, 2005 phpBB Group