2005 22v Manual Ballast?

[wake454]

I want to add some ballast to my 2005 22v. I rather not drill holes, install pumps etc.. Is it possible to just have the ballast in the boat and drop a pump in the water with a hose attached? If people do it this way, what is a good setup?

Thanks for the help.

[Ptown]

A lot of people do ballast that way. The sac manufacturers (Straightline, flyhigh, etc) typically have a pump that is specifically sold for that purpose. Best recommendation is to get the biggest bags possible so you don't have keep switching the pumps around. You should be able to fit enzo sacs (google it) in your boat that will take up the rear lockers and underneath the rear seats. If you're looking to use it for wakeboarding, I would recommend two pumps so you can fill both sides at one time. If you're looking to use it for surfing, one pump and one bag should be fine.

[G-MONEY]

We have 2 approved fly high dealers that are active members on this site, I'm sure will chime in soon. They can get you everything you need.

Where are you located?

[TRD]

I want to add some ballast to my 2005 22v. I rather not drill holes, install pumps etc.. Is it possible to just have the ballast in the boat and drop a pump in the water with a hose attached? If people do it this way, what is a good setup?

Thanks for the help.

Yes I do this... W/ that said and if I had the option to install ballast I would. You will get water all over the boat while filling and unfilling the bags. You lose the room in the boat to walk around or have more people on the boat. As G-Money says, Chptril & SPBFan can help you.

[wake454]

G-Money, I'm located in San Antonio Tx.

TRD, Why does water get everywhere? Alos, do you keep the sacs in the floor of the boat? I'm planning on having the sacs in the back lockers and in front under the seats. So they would be hidden and out of the way.

This would be used for wakeboarding a lot more than surfing.

[chpthril]

To be honest, the cheapest and easiest and most effective way to fill and drain sacs without a plumbed in automated system, is to by a pump for each sac. If you have 3 ACC sockets, you can fill or drain all three at once, you're done in about 5 mins.

I'm working on a single pump/multi-sac system as we speak, but it's coming in over budget because of the cost of the electric valves, and the inexpensive ones cut flow rate way too much. I do have a design that would fill or empty all the sacs simultaneously (no means of selecting which sac to fill or empty) and would be semi-automated, and could be done without drilling holes. You could do this with manual ball-valves, so you could select which sac(s) to fill or empty, but the manifold and valves need to be close to the pump and accessible.

I'll help you in any way I can, just let me know

[majestic]

I use two pumps per sack all on one line with a ball valve that i can close when not filling so there is no water leaking when the sacks are full. When I want to fill I plug in the fill pump open the valve and drop the pump in the water and when emptying just plug in the empty pump.

This is by no means my permanent solution but it does work really well. Next season I want to do is just push buttons.

[TRD]

G-Money, I'm located in San Antonio Tx.

TRD, Why does water get everywhere? Alos, do you keep the sacs in the floor of the boat? I'm planning on having the sacs in the back lockers and in front under the seats. So they would be hidden and out of the way.

This would be used for wakeboarding a lot more than surfing.

Mine sacs do sit on the floor.

The reason for the water is when you are filling you have to remove the pump and close the fill plug (water comes out, as fast as I am it still comes out), when pumping the water out, remove plug - put in pump (water comes out again) pump water out. Hope this makes sense, but every time you use the pump water will come out. You can do the manual sacs for 1 season, you will probable decide to install but at least you will know.

[TRD]

I use two pumps per sack all on one line with a ball valve that i can close when not filling so there is no water leaking when the sacks are full. When I want to fill I plug in the fill pump open the valve and drop the pump in the water and when emptying just plug in the empty pump.

This is by no means my permanent solution but it does work really well. Next season I want to do is just push buttons.

could you post a picture of your setup please. I think I know what you are doing, I have and idea now that you explain but would like to see a picture. I do not have locker storage so I will always have to do it manually, but you gave me an idea.
Thanks

[Waterski-Rebel]

I do the same thing that majestic does, but I have my pumps hard wired to the dash. It's about as automatic as you can get without drilling holes.

[jason@wakemakers.com]

It's no problem to install two aerator pumps in series (because they do not impede the flow of water when turned off) to make a single connection to the bag for filling and draining.

You can even use your existing drain plug as a pseudo thru-hull intake to further automate the process.

[dogbert]

G-Money, I'm located in San Antonio Tx.

TRD, Why does water get everywhere? Alos, do you keep the sacs in the floor of the boat? I'm planning on having the sacs in the back lockers and in front under the seats. So they would be hidden and out of the way.

This would be used for wakeboarding a lot more than surfing.

If you ever make it up to Austin, give me a shout. I've got some extra bags and pumps that are just gathering dust in my garage. I'll check to see how many are operational and you can try them out.

I would recommend getting a fly high integrated bow sac for the front because it will fit better if you want it hidden. I do have a big sack that fits in the walkway and is the perfect complement to the V-Drive sacks in the rear. You will want to make sure you have at least 50% of the weight in the front or your wake will start falling over.

[wake454]

I've been off this post for a while. How much weight do you guys recommend for a 22v? My plan is to have a hidden bag in the front and two in the rear lockers. It's time to start getting this together before March!

[jason@wakemakers.com]

How much weight will ultimately depend on how you plan to use the boat, and what your expectations are for the wake size.

If you're planning on using the boat for wakesurfing as well as wakeboarding I would recommend a Pro X Series Fat Sac in each rear locker along with the Integrated Bow Sac in front. That will give you enough capacity in the rear lockers for surfing, although you won't want to fully fill the bags in the back for wakeboarding; that will make an already soft wake even softer and more likely to crumble.

If you're only using the boat for wakeboarding then Fly High Pro X Series V-Drive Sacs in the rear lockers along with the Integrated Bow Sac up front would be a great route.

Feel free to shoot me an email if you have any other questions regarding weighting in general, or your boat in particular.

[chpthril]

I've been off this post for a while. How much weight do you guys recommend for a 22v? My plan is to have a hidden bag in the front and two in the rear lockers. It's time to start getting this together before March!

I can have what you want/need to ya in about 3-5 days.

Now, for boarding, a pair of V-drive sacs (Fly High W701) @ 400 lbs ea and the Fly High W711 Integrated Bow Sac is a great combo for that boat at about 1300 lbs total ballast, it will give you a nice wake. If you added another 400 lbs, give or take, to the bow area, the wake will ramp up alot.

For surfing, the 22V really likes all the weight in the back on the surf side. So, the question is, do you have goofy and regular surfers that ride with you often? If so, then it may be worth while to get a pair of sacs large enough to produce a nice surf wake when filled on what ever side the surfer will be. With 2 pumps, you can be draining one while filling the other when changing sides. If you are mostly surfing on one side and very rarely changing sides, then the single pair of V-dives will serve double duty and can be stacked in one locker for 700+ Lbs of surf ballast. This is an easy and economical method with a manually-fill. Along with the W707 "Original Fat Sac" that was mentioned above, I also recommend the W705. It will hold about 600+, but does stretch out under the seats a bit with its 60" length.