Automatic Ballast for a 2100v Ltd

[dogbert]

First off, I want to thank you guys for getting me inspired to do this and then answering all of my questions. I also wanted to thank my son Ryan for coming up with the absolutely brilliant idea for my below-the-waterline thru hulls.

I went with a Fly High integrated bow sack up front and two Fly High V-Drive sacks for each storage locker. The pumps are the JABSCO Ballast puppies and I have 3 of them. Aside from the hose clamps, wire, wire connects, screws and 1" ID hose (see pictures in subsequent posts, here's the parts list

3 x 1" Attwood Stainless Thru Hull



3 x 1" Groco Bronze Thru Hull



3 x 1" 90 degree bronze elbow



3 x 1" brass ball valves



3 x Nylon 1" NPT to 1" hose adapter



3 x JABSCO Ballast Puppies



1 Fly High Integrated Bow Sac



1 Pair Fly High V-Drive Sac



6 Fly High Quick Disconnect Fittings.



5 Fly High Quick Disconnect Elbow Hose fittings



1 Fly High Quick Disconnect Hose fitting

[dogbert]

You'll also need 1 tube of 3M 5200 sealant and some pipe joint compound.

You'll need to drill 6 holes in your boat, 3 in the transom and 3 in the sides of the hull above the waterline for the vents. You'll want to drill all six holes at the same time and secure the thru hulls at the same time because the 3M 5200 sets up and once you open the tube, you might as well throw it away (it's nasty stuff so have plenty of rags you're willing to part with to clean up the excess.

Here's where the thru holes for the transom are located. Keep in mind that my swim platform is right at the waterline empty, so these are definitely submerged while the boat is at rest.




I located a vent in each V-Drive locker, pretty much at the rear of the locker so it would be out of the way.




Then, I put the vent for the bow sac just in front of the fuel vent because I was able to get a clear line from the bow sack up to it without many kinks. You can't really get a thru hull vent in the bow area because there's not much room up there and, if you read my other thread about my cushions, I have deck screws poking through the seatbacks up there as well (not a good combination with water hoses).



I found the transom on my boat was a total of 1" thick, 1/2" fiberglass and 1/2" marine grade plywood encased in fiberglass. The side hull was almost a 1/2" thick. I feel pretty good that my boat is built like a tank. That's probably why it is so heavy.

[dogbert]

Now onto the interior. The fittings in the transom were a real pain. You actually want to put the elbows on before you secure the thru hulls with the 3M 5200 sealant so you can get the elbow positioned just the way you want it. I put mine on an approximate 45 upward angle.



You'll need the pipe thread compound for the brass/bronze fittings and teflon tape for the nylon hose adapter. This part of the job takes 2 people and I had to buy a special plumbers tool for that would allow me to secure the thru hull from the outside while we were tightening it. The transom thru hulls does take 2 people, so you'll need a buddy to complete this part of the job.

After the elbow, I connected the 3 ball valves and then the nylon hose adapter.

I put 2 of the ballast puppies in the V-Drive lockers in the back and connected the hoses from the transom. You'll notice I also used 2 90 degree hose adapters to get around the corner.




I located the ballast puppy for the bow sack in the front of the V-Drive locker (sorry, no pics) and ran the hose for it up on the side of this locker.

Here's the rest of the pics I have of the install.

[dogbert]

BTW, the duct tape is not because that fitting leaks, but rather to protect the bow sac from getting punctured by the hose clamp.

[dogbert]

Pray for me, I'm going to the lake to see if my boat still floats

[NICKYPOO]

Right on Dog! Hope she floats.

[xpjim1]

Looking good dog. Hope it all works good for you

[dogbert]

Well, got to the lake. Nothing leaks, but my impeller is toast. I sucked up something on my last trip out. It did clear itself out, but it seems like the impeller is no longer with me.

[da.bell]

That sucks but at least you were able to test the ballast system.

[Carter13]

Well done Mr Bert,

Looks great and also awesome idea about covering the clamps with duct tape. I'm sure you are going to throw a nice wake with that setup.

[samw]

Nice right up....
Thanks

[NICKYPOO]

Well, got to the lake. Nothing leaks, but my impeller is toast. I sucked up something on my last trip out. It did clear itself out, but it seems like the impeller is no longer with me.

Sweet!

Doh!

[dogbert]

Well, so far so good. I get no leakage through the ballast puppies. I do need to order some replacement impellers for them just so I have them on hand when they do finally go.

I did discover that my quick connects in the bow area leak where the fitting connects, so I may have to rethink that a bit or add a second vent for the starboard side to take the pressure off the port side vent.

It's so easy to set up for surfing. I may have to look into a custom sack for the port side that holds more. I have plenty of room under the ski locker there because we never store our skis. I do have a long ski locker sack from LaunchPad...I wonder if I can plumb it to work with my fly high sack.

All I have to say is why the heck did I wait so long to do this? I can fill the rears in 3 minutes and the front in a little over 5.

[G-MONEY]

NICE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Jason B]

Nice write up!