Well, I got a box of goodies from Chpthril (Mike) a couple of days ago so I thought I'd post up my ballast build/remodel. My boat had ballast system in it, but I'm not sure if it was factory or put in by someone else and it's great for wake boarding but certainly not enough to surf. Bottom line is, I really didn't want to redo everything including drilling more holes in the bottom of the boat. Cost is also an issue for me, so Mike was kind enough to send me bits and pieces to keep it out of the watchful eyes of my smoking hot book keeper/wife. Right now I'm concentrating on the goofy/starboard side wave as that is the side both my wife and i surf and when ever we have others on the boat the wave is pretty decent on the port side. I already have the hose, connections, and some other goodies from Mike and the sac will be here any day now. Later this summer I'll add the port side bag.
Here is a look of the existing ballast manifold and pumps. I will be adding 1" hose to the pumps with corresponding 1" connections at the bag. I have four pumps as evidently at one time there were two separate bags in the bow. My idea now is to use the fourth pump to help fill the rear bags. I'm thinking of putting in a diverter valve that is easy to get to depending on which bag I'm needing to fill. I'll also probably put in a crossover pump once I get my other bag.
I started out by fixing the drain pump on the front bag. The pump was originally stuffed in the same locker as the bag and it doesn't always drain well. So I drilled a hole through the storage compartment and will have the pump on that side of the wall.
Next I installed a check valve on Mike's recommendation, rather than cross vent the bags, he said a simple check valve will suffice.
So, that's where I left it today. Next I'll be drilling a hole through the back wall into the area where the Taps motor is and route the drain hose through that and connect that to the bag.
Anybody see anything I'm missing? If so, please chime in.
My plan is to route the hose from the pump manifold, back down the side of the compartment along the block and then back up to the bag. Is this correct or can I just run it straight up to the front of the bag rather than go all the way to the back of the compartment? Not sure if I'm making much sense of that. Any advise would be taken.
Here is a look of the existing ballast manifold and pumps. I will be adding 1" hose to the pumps with corresponding 1" connections at the bag. I have four pumps as evidently at one time there were two separate bags in the bow. My idea now is to use the fourth pump to help fill the rear bags. I'm thinking of putting in a diverter valve that is easy to get to depending on which bag I'm needing to fill. I'll also probably put in a crossover pump once I get my other bag.
I started out by fixing the drain pump on the front bag. The pump was originally stuffed in the same locker as the bag and it doesn't always drain well. So I drilled a hole through the storage compartment and will have the pump on that side of the wall.
Next I installed a check valve on Mike's recommendation, rather than cross vent the bags, he said a simple check valve will suffice.
So, that's where I left it today. Next I'll be drilling a hole through the back wall into the area where the Taps motor is and route the drain hose through that and connect that to the bag.
Anybody see anything I'm missing? If so, please chime in.
My plan is to route the hose from the pump manifold, back down the side of the compartment along the block and then back up to the bag. Is this correct or can I just run it straight up to the front of the bag rather than go all the way to the back of the compartment? Not sure if I'm making much sense of that. Any advise would be taken.
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