Venetrex's ballast system

[venetrex]

I want to start out that my ballast system is a little different than everyone elses so I'll give the description and will have pics to follow. My boat is a 2002 21V. I am using 3 ballast puppies. In the 2 rear V-drive lockers I have 2 40 gallon fuel tanks, 1 on each side a perfect fit. I use the fuel sending units to show my levels on 2 gas gauges in the dash. I installed pvc unions to the fill/drain, and on the 2 vents. I have 2 straightline bags in the bow, one on each side. Which leaves the front middle for my anchor. That pump is mounted in the right side compartment. RAn the pvc above the fuel tank. My original pickup was the raw water line to the engine, DON'T DO THIS. OVERHEATING ISSUES. Got my 1 1/2 thru hull today and am going to make my manifold tomorrow. I originally had all 1/2 in pvc for everything. Was ok for 1 tank at a time but ng for all 3. I have found I do not need any check valves for hard tanks. The fuel tanks fill up the v drive completly but I have racks on my tower for everything. Pics to come

[ragboy]

that sounds like fun. Love the idea of having gauges.

[venetrex]

delays for photos

Sorry about the photo delays, I've been working past dark every night. I installed the 1 1/2 thru hull backward just out of line with the factory water pickup. I can run all 3 ballast puppys at once and believe I get the 2 rear and bow filled in about 7 mins. I need to use a stopwatch to be sure. No problem sucking air. NO problem with engine overheating. I do find I do not need to run the boat with the tanks all full to get a good wakeboard wake. I airchair, so I like a giant wake too. Ho0wever I ride at 25.0 on the perfect pass which pushes the wake back and makes it a wee bit smaller. You know I thought it would be cool to have some type of horizon gauge to balance the boat from port to starboard for a balanced wake using ballast. Has anyone tried this.

[Duncan]

You know I thought it would be cool to have some type of horizon gauge to balance the boat from port to starboard for a balanced wake using ballast. Has anyone tried this.

An "old timey" floating compass mounted on the dash will give you a horizon gauge.

[ragboy]

Their is more to balancing the wake than just horizon level due to rotation of prop and stuff. Best way is to look at wake when at wakeboarding speed going straight with rider right in the middle. Move some people around til wake is same on both sides and adjust taps to taste.

[Duncan]

most of our crew is trained to self adjust ... if you see wash, shift to that side. Repeat that over and over and over and it sinks in

[venetrex]

Photo's coming I promise

I'll post some boat photo's, does anyone else use hard tanks in the rear of their boat. I have found they emty much better than soft bags. Some air still gets introduced into the pump this way. Thinking about have custom aluminum hard tanks made, this way I can have gauges on them too. Or do they make fuel tanks to fit up in the bow?

[venetrex]

Some photos

Manifold

[venetrex]

Pics of tanks and pumps

Here are some pics of my rear tanks and the 3 pumps and locations. It started to rain here so I could't photo the manifold installed. I have only 1 line each for fill and drain and vents thru a thru hull on the port and starboard side. My vent for the bow sacs is near the fuel vent. I actually have 2 thru hulls there. one for vent and 1 for my second bilge pump mounted in front of the vdrive tansmission. It's a low point in my boat that always collects water.

[chpthril]

Whats this?

[venetrex]

What's this

Those are unions, there are a gray one and a white one, what the hardware store had, grey is schedule 80 and white is schedule 40. Those allow for an easy disconnect to remove the tanks to work on the boat, or dry it out, change the battery, etc.

[chpthril]

Cool, looked like it may be a c/v, wasn't sure

Looking good though!

[fastjohnny]

Coming off your Thruhull, you have a 90 street elbow. Is it female NPS threads and male NPT?

If it is, I'm looking for the same fitting, where did you find yours?

If not, I'm guessing then it is NPT threads on both ends, then the question is how well did it thread on the NPS threads of the thruhull?

Thanks

[chpthril]

Coming off your Thruhull, you have a 90 street elbow. Is it female NPS threads and male NPT?

If it is, I'm looking for the same fitting, where did you find yours?

If not, I'm guessing then it is NPT threads on both ends, then the question is how well did it thread on the NPS threads of the thruhull?

Thanks

I use the same female/male elbow on my systems and it's NST (straight threads) as is pretty much all of the hard parts. once you make the transition to the sch40 PVC, then you get into the NPT.

[fastjohnny]

All pipe fittings (elbows) I've found are NPT (National Pipe Tapered) while all thruhulls have been NPS (National Pipe Straight)

Where are you guys finding the elbows with NPS to fit the thruhull?