3/4" or 1" Hose

[inspectorscott]

Hello All,

What is everyones experience with the 2 hose sizes for the ballast puppies? I am currently using 3/4" red garden hose but, if the fill speed will be faster with the 1" then I am going to change the size when I replace the hose with TigerFlex. My concern with the 1" is that the pump will take longer to prime and increase wear on the impellers (I have replaced 6 this season). I would also need to change fittings on the fat sacks to accommodate the new hose.

Is it worth up sizing the hose?

Thanks,

Scott

[dogbert]

Actually, I think part of the reason you have had to replace your impellers this season is the fact that you don't have enough throughput in your hoses. I have had my install for a couple of seasons now (and we use our boat A LOT) and have never had to replace an impeller. I have 3 1" intakes and have run 1" hose throughout. Those ballast puppies can crank a lot of water in a short period of time. My fill times on a 450 lb sac is 3 minutes or less.

I'd step up to the 1" fittings.

[chpthril]

How is your sysyem draining......out the intake or diverted to the vents? Seems that those that drain out the intakes have a high impeller failure rate

I'm not sure that the increase in flow rate is worth the cost and time to swap the hose. Unless you could contribute the failures to the 3/4 hose.

[inspectorscott]

Thanks for the responses.

Dogbert: My system is 4 seasons old. I had to replace the black impellers as they fell apart probably due to age. The replacement impellers were the Globe (Blue) with the plastic center core the centers stripped out. They said I might of had a bad batch but, they cautioned me on "old" Jabsco pumps running hot(?) and burning out the plastic core. I have switched to the green Jabsco impellers (which surprisingly have a plastic core as well). We will see how they work. Due to Globe's comments regarding the heat, I am especially concerned with how long the pump will run without water before they are primed.

Are you using 3/4" or 1" through-hulls for your discharge?

Mike: My current system uses a fill hose plumbed to the bottom of the bag. No vents. The discharge is through the bilge discharge via check valve. All of my pumps are in the back (battery/ shower) compartment on the driver side of the boat. When I rework the system I am going to put the pumps closer to the bags as it will discharge through the vent through-hulls. I am going to be purchasing hose for this rework and the cost difference is only minimal between the sizes. The labor on the other hand...

Can I feed two pumps with 1" or do I need to switch to 1 1/4"?

Thanks, Scott

[dogbert]

Thanks for the responses.

Dogbert: My system is 4 seasons old. I had to replace the black impellers as they fell apart probably due to age. The replacement impellers were the Globe (Blue) with the plastic center core the centers stripped out. They said I might of had a bad batch but, they cautioned me on "old" Jabsco pumps running hot(?) and burning out the plastic core. I have switched to the green Jabsco impellers (which surprisingly have a plastic core as well). We will see how they work. Due to Globe's comments regarding the heat, I am especially concerned with how long the pump will run without water before they are primed.

Are you using 3/4" or 1" through-hulls for your discharge?

I have the Ballast Puppies with the run-dry protection. So far so good. I went with all 1" fittings, including 1" thru hulls for vents and intakes/discharge.

Mike, the big difference between my intake/discharge and most others is that mine are installed in the transom and not through the bottom of the hull. I think I avoid the vacuum/pressure issues related to that. I can also dump ballast when driving. The only downside is that I have to be at idle speeds or stopped to fill ballast. This isn't an issue for us because it usually takes about as long to fill as it takes the first rider to get their stuff ready to go.

All-in-all, I'm pretty happy with the results.

Here's the thread I wrote up on my install. It includes a fairly complete parts list.

[inspectorscott]

Nice install Dogbert.

I was wondering as I would like to get a surf sack, if I put a discharge port below the rub rail, how do I keep the water in the sack without a valve? Has anyone installed the through hulls above the rub rail or used a pressure calibrated check valve?

Thanks,

Scott

[chpthril]

Nice install Dogbert.

I was wondering as I would like to get a surf sack, if I put a discharge port below the rub rail, how do I keep the water in the sack without a valve? Has anyone installed the through hulls above the rub rail or used a pressure calibrated check valve?

Thanks,

Scott

If you can run the drain/vent hose so it has a loop (upside down drain trap) up in the gunwale that is higher then the sac when filled, this generally eliminates any unwanted raining.