Rear Ballast

[Riverside711]

I have a 2010 Z1 and this year I noticed my rear ballest tanks are taking on water without the motors turned on. I thought I was accidentally hitting the on swithces but that is not the case. Is there a valve switch on the motor? or could it be both motors are bad? At this time I have turned all ballest off at the ball valves. The motors work to fill and empty the tanks but somehow the tanks are taking on water..

[NICKYPOO]

It's called passive filling due to more head pressure than the pumps can stop on their own.

Lots of smart ballast people here. They will soon chime in. It may help to list a few more specifics about your system. What pumps, any check valves, what pick-up?

[jmoore15]

I too have a 2010 Z1 and bad the same issue. Find the hoses coming from your pumps and make sure they make an arch before going to your tanks. Mine were laying flat which will cause the tanks to passively fill. I took a zip tie and tied up the hose so that it makes an arch on its way to the tank. This took care of my passive filling. Hope my explanation makes sense. Happy to send some pics if needed but am on my mobile right now.

[NICKYPOO]

...and there we go. Simple fix.

[Riverside711]

Ballest

Thanks everyone for your replys. Let me see if I can get some more info..but the motors and ballest set up is a factory set up.

[jmoore15]

Thanks everyone for your replys. Let me see if I can get some more info..but the motors and ballest set up is a factory set up.

Yep. My factory hard tanks would both passively fill. Pull up your carpet, lift the floor latch (there are screws underneath the bench on both sides), and you should see your orange ballast pumps. Find the hoses coming out of each and just zip tie them up so to where they have a slight arch. This did the trick for me.

[chpthril]

Just like Jmoore, explains. At some point, the hose needs to be above the level of the tank and water (lake) level. There is a small amount of water pressure on the inlet of the pumps while the boat is under way. If the hose makes a direct line to the tank, which is in the floor so its close to the water line and level of the pump, that small amount of pressure will push the water right to the tank. Lifting the hose so it creates a loop, adds head-pressure to the line, thus overcoming the passive filling.

[IDBoating]

Another way to think of it: Water wants to seek a common level. If the bottom of the sac/tank is below the water line, the water will want to passively fill it. If you have centrifugal pumps, water can pass through them (in either direction) when they're not running. So you need to do something to prevent the water from seeking its common level. Raising the hose will do that.

[Riverside711]

That's the ticket!!

Thanks everyone, you are all frigen geniuses!!! Putting a arch in the fill hose did the trick...Now I can surf again....I'm a happy dude!!

[jmoore15]

Thanks everyone, you are all frigen geniuses!!! Putting a arch in the fill hose did the trick...Now I can surf again....I'm a happy dude!!

Excellent!

[lancehon]

I have the opposite problem all of a sudden, my sacs are passively draining out the fill pumps

[chpthril]

I have the opposite problem all of a sudden, my sacs are passively draining out the fill pumps

Getting the fill hose above the tank, which is harder on an 08, will work just the same. If you cant get the hose higher, then installing a check-valve will work.

[lancehon]

Getting the fill hose above the tank, which is harder on an 08, will work just the same. If you cant get the hose higher, then installing a check-valve will work.

Trying to figure out what changed? It's been flawless all year until the last 2 rides out, and I Havnt changed a thing

[IDBoating]

Trying to figure out what changed? It's been flawless all year until the last 2 rides out, and I Havnt changed a thing

I'm not familiar with your particular setup, but I find that things "change" on me because the hoses move around unexpectedly. I'm now using that style of tyrap that has the molded screw holes, and have put a few here and there with screws to hold the hoses at appropriate heights. Since doing that my "mysterious changes" have stopped haunting me.