Ballast question

[samw]

I have been reading several of the installs of a ballast system.
My question is why does everyone use pumps to bring water into the bags and not a through hull scope? I thought it would be easy to fill on the move. If this has been cover, my applogizes. I have missed it.

Thanks

[Studman]

I think its because first of all you would have to have pumps to empty anyways and you would have to have a electric or hand valve of some kind to stop the water from just entering and exiting as it pleases. I guess you could do it but it would prob end up costing more money and wasting more time than just using pumps.

[eks]

Another factor is that most of the sacks is sitting above water. You need a pump to fill the sacks all the way. You might be able to get a little water in there but not completely full.

[akdoc]

I have been reading several of the installs of a ballast system.
My question is why does everyone use pumps to bring water into the bags and not a through hull scope? I thought it would be easy to fill on the move. If this has been cover, my applogizes. I have missed it.

Thanks

We have a thru hull pickup for our ballast that goes thru an electronic gate valve that you control at the dash (open or closed). There is a manifold with 4 pumps after the gate valve to help with filling. The bags will fill when moving, but the pumps keep the water going in the right direction. Once full we close the valve and are good to go. We can fill 2000lbs in about 3-4 minutes going 25mph.

The only problem we had was that I had to put check valves on the fill lines just before they got to the sacs. My front ballast was somehow draining back when we were on plane. The check valves fixed that problem.

[samw]

Ok, I was just wondering. I thought it might be cheaper and easier. I guess that is not the case. Looks like I will need to save some $$$$$

[G-MONEY]

If you do it yourself you can save a bunch of money......

SPBFAN can get you a great price on all the stuff needed to do a ballast system. Send him a PM to get more info.

I just did mine and EKS is doing his this weekend with SPBFAN

[eks]

If you do it yourself you can save a bunch of money......

SPBFAN can get you a great price on all the stuff needed to do a ballast system. Send him a PM to get more info.

I just did mine and EKS is doing his this weekend with SPBFAN

You can get a better ballast for less money if you go through SPBFAN. He is the Man.

[chpthril]

If you do it yourself you can save a bunch of money......

SPBFAN can get you a great price on all the stuff needed to do a ballast system. Send him a PM to get more info.

I just did mine and EKS is doing his this weekend with SPBFAN

You can get a better ballast for less money if you go through SPBFAN. He is the Man.

When are ya'll going to be ready to release a price on this cheap setup. So far, the pump are 2/3rds the cost of my whole system, sacs included.

G, am I see correctly that yours is a 2 sac system? Or am I just not seeing the 3rd pump.

Eks, is yours going to be a 2 or three pump system?

I'm real interest in this if/when I decide to expand and start offering ballast installs

[eks]

When are ya'll going to be ready to release a price on this cheap setup. So far, the pump are 2/3rds the cost of my whole system, sacs included.

G, am I see correctly that yours is a 2 sac system? Or am I just not seeing the 3rd pump.

Eks, is yours going to be a 2 or three pump system?

I'm real interest in this if/when I decide to expand and start offering ballast installs

3 pumps, one for each bag. On My system will be around 2150 lbs. 700bls in each back side and 750lbs on the bow.

You can do a system cheaper using tsunami pumps. But again you are comparing 2 complete different systems. I believe using the Jabsco pumps the system will be faster and cleaner.

If you want the price PM Andrew.

[chpthril]

3 pumps, one for each bag. On My system will be around 2150 lbs. 700bls in each back side and 750lbs on the bow.

You can do a system cheaper using tsunami pumps. But again you are comparing 2 complete different systems. I believe using the Jabsco pumps the system will be faster and cleaner.

If you want the price PM Andrew.

What are you guys comparing the Ballast puppy system to

If you compare retail to retail, you cant do a ballast puppy system cheaper then an aerator pump setup. And last time I checked, the B/P's where slower.

Wakside.com:
Jabsco Ballast Puppy, 11GPM = $245.00

Attwood Tsunami T800, 13.33GPM = $24.95

Not trying to stir poop up, not knocking the reversible pump, just trying to figure out how it will be cheaper and faster. You cant compare a system bought at wholesale to a system bought retail! But you can compare these to systems as they do the same thing. They are a ballast system that fills and drains rubber sacs. If you cant compare a reversible pump system to an aerator system, then what would you compare it to?

[xpjim1]

I thought long and hard on which to use. I bought my tsunami 1200 (20 gpm) when they were only $28 each. Reversible pumps less hose but take more amps. Simpler Install .Heard people changin implellors once or twice a season, but a simple setup. I made my choices on cost, speed. I then made the choice of not being able to fill on the fly. I also created my own vapor lock issue by where I placed the checkvalves and my manifold for future expansions. Both mistakes but not too bad fo a DIY system with no directions and will be fixed before 1st outing. What is 8 minutes to fill a 1300 pound surf sac. That gives me time to get the surf rope, get the board down get a soda etc. I still say you cannot go wrong with either system. The important thing is that it accomplishes what needs to get done. Fill and drain sacs the easyist way possible. Flip a switch

[G-MONEY]

I did a three bag system...... third pump is in the bow..


No doubt it's cheaper to do it with the Tsunami's. I just like the way the system was easer/ faster to install and takes up less room in the boat.


Originally I was going with the changed my mind that last week.


Both are good systems but to each their own.

[xpjim1]

Thats what happens when you have too much time onyour hands