Automatic Ballast for a 2100v Ltd

[dogbert]

Good Point! Didn't think of that. 5200 it is. Did you have to put a check valve on your bilge pump line? Whould it even matter?

I haven't, but I'm thinking about it. What I'm seriously thinking about doing is installing a larger thru hull and adding a second bilge pump that's mounted at the lowest point in the bilge (right by the V-Drive). If I do this, I will need to install check valves on each of the bilge pump lines. I suppose I could always just tap into my vent line for my starboard rear sac and put a check valve on it.

More stuff to think about...

[Coach]

I haven't, but I'm thinking about it. What I'm seriously thinking about doing is installing a larger thru hull and adding a second bilge pump that's mounted at the lowest point in the bilge (right by the V-Drive). If I do this, I will need to install check valves on each of the bilge pump lines. I suppose I could always just tap into my vent line for my starboard rear sac and put a check valve on it.

More stuff to think about...

That is a great idea! I notice the water is always near the middle of the boat and when I take the boat out at the ramp there is a water to drain (esp if I take a roller over the front).

[dogbert]

My stock bilge pump was actually where I was planning on putting a second one, but I had them move it because we take on so much water while surfing that I wanted it near the back of the boat so it would drain more frequently while surfing.

[jake's02-22i]

dogbert were you able to get some more pictures?

[dogbert]

dogbert were you able to get some more pictures?

Not yet.

[TigeDuner]

Nice job on the install. Somehow I missed this entire project. On mine, I had a few leaks on the sac fittings and used the 3M 5200 and have now more leaks. I liked that idea better than using PVC glue.
I like the three drains in the hull idea, but it did look tough to install.
Again, nice job.

[dogbert]

I liked that idea better than using PVC glue.
I like the three drains in the hull idea, but it did look tough to install.
Again, nice job.

It was actually easier than doing it through the bottom of the hull. After a season of use, I still have very little leakage, so I'm very happy. During this off-season, I plan to add one more vent for the front V-Drive sack on the starboard side (I have one for the port). This will allow the air built up on that side to drain more easily.

I would think plumber's putty or teflon tape would also work for the fly high drains.

[TigeDuner]

I have one vent in the front V sac and the pump sucks a vaccuum on the entire sac due to the check valve in the vent line.

I tried teflon take with no luck. Rival uses glue, but I wanted the flexibility to remove it later. The 3M stuff worked great.

I did not notice any air in the front sac, but then my fill is in the middle so it flows both ways and sucks from both ends.

As far as hull leakage, I must be lucky because all I have in the well is dust.

Bottom line, the systems work great.

[rustydust]

Nice job

Amazing job Dogbert, you boat looks awesome. I just got my boat and it is pretty much bare right now and I am looking to put a stereo system and ballast in. I have a couple of questions on your systme.

In the pics I see the vent hose connected at the top of the bags but where is the pump hose? Were they just not connected in the pic?

Why could you not use the 2" thru on your boat? I have a 2000 would this be the same for me?

I see you have a dual batter switch, where do you store your other battery?

Where did you mount the pump switches?

About how much would I expect to fork out for a system like this?

Really awesome job. Looks like I have a lot of work ahead of me.

[chpthril]

Amazing job Dogbert, you boat looks awesome. I just got my boat and it is pretty much bare right now and I am looking to put a stereo system and ballast in. I have a couple of questions on your systme.

In the pics I see the vent hose connected at the top of the bags but where is the pump hose? Were they just not connected in the pic?

Why could you not use the 2" thru on your boat? I have a 2000 would this be the same for me?

I see you have a dual batter switch, where do you store your other battery?

Where did you mount the pump switches?

About how much would I expect to fork out for a system like this?

Really awesome job. Looks like I have a lot of work ahead of me.

On many of my installs, i've used a single pickup and common manifold to feed the pumps. it's very effective as wells a single pickups are. It really comes down to each individual boat model and layout. Some boats have plenty of room for a single pickup, some it's easier to build with individual pickups for each sac. The diff between going through the transom and through the hull is the ability to fill on the fly. Once the boat is under way, there very little, if any water on the transom. This is really about personal preference, and not about one method being better then the other. For some people, it's not a big deal to wait and fill when they hit their riding spot and come off plan. For others, they want to be loaded up and ready to go when they get there. From my experience, a 1-1/4" thru-hull will supply 3 pumps just fine. 2" bronze is pretty $$$.

PM sent. Welcome to the Tige forum.

[dogbert]

Amazing job Dogbert, you boat looks awesome. I just got my boat and it is pretty much bare right now and I am looking to put a stereo system and ballast in. I have a couple of questions on your systme.

In the pics I see the vent hose connected at the top of the bags but where is the pump hose? Were they just not connected in the pic?

Why could you not use the 2" thru on your boat? I have a 2000 would this be the same for me?

I see you have a dual batter switch, where do you store your other battery?

Where did you mount the pump switches?

About how much would I expect to fork out for a system like this?

Really awesome job. Looks like I have a lot of work ahead of me.

There's no room for a 2" thru hull so I had to go with 3 1" thru hulls thru the transom. The newer boats have more room to work with. The hoses are there, they are just coming from backs of the bags. The 2nd battery is on the opposite side of the primary battery. I had to move the TAPS reservoir to make it work. The pump switches are just below the Throttle by the driver's seat.

PM me if you have questions. Installing a system in a 21v is a bit different than the newer V-Drive because it's a much shallower boat.

[dogbert]

Someone requested pictures of my switch placement. Here you go:

[laserfish]

Thanks for the pics and write up. We just started surfing this summer so I Hope this is our winter project. Sure helps to follow someone who has already done it. Anything you would do differently now that you have used it for a while?

[dogbert]

Thanks for the pics and write up. We just started surfing this summer so I Hope this is our winter project. Sure helps to follow someone who has already done it. Anything you would do differently now that you have used it for a while?

Actually, no. We did get to thinking about adding on to this:

• connect another ballast bag to the front of the one in the port V-Drive locker to counterbalance the driver's weight when we don't have a lot of peeps in the boat
• add another pump that does nothing but move water between the bags in the V-Drive lockers (makes switching surf sides go faster)

[lohe]

on my to do list for the winter...