24ve Ballast Questions

[rgjheart]

I just purchased a new 07 24ve and I love it but it had no ballast installed in it. I have been doing the bag thing but it is getting old fast. I have read most of the ballast install threads and have decided to get one put in. (1)This is the system I’m going with and would like any suggestions from anyone if they have a similar system and wish they would have done anything different. I will not be installing it as I will have it done by my dealer, but they are very good to do as I ask them, so let me know your thoughts.
Rival System but instead of the rear bags I will use Enzo Sacs on both sides. (2)With the enzo sacs will I need bigger pumps or will the ones in the rival system be okay?
(3)Should I get the pro x series integrated bow sac, also instead of the ones that comes with the Rival System? It gives more weight 650# vs. 400# but I have read you can’t fill it all the way? (4)Any thoughts or suggestions? Plus I guess in the Rival system there are 2 separate bags so this means more control but also means more pumps and fittings. (5)Is it best just to have the front weight on one side when surfing or do you think the one bag is okay?
I also read something about switch placement but now I can’t find it. One person said they always hit their knee on it but I don’t remember where those switches were located. I see where one person put it under the speed set controls and some boats I have seen have it on the side in front of the throttle. (6)Which is better?
(7)How do you tell how full your sacs are? Do you look in the compartments and watch them fill? Do you just know by time? (8)If you want equal wait on both sides do you turn both pumps on and off at the same time?
(9)Did you have to move your battery shut off switch and if so where did you move it? Mine is in the back compartment at the bottom on the passenger’s side of the boat, so the enzo sac will be sitting on it.
I know I have asked many different questions, but I know there is a lot of knowledge out here so I would appreciate any answers you have and any thoughts or suggestions. This is going to cost a lot and I only want to have to do it one time and I want to make sure I get it done right with no regrets. Thanks for your time.

[talltigeguy]

I just purchased a new 07 24ve and I love it but it had no ballast installed in it. I have been doing the bag thing but it is getting old fast. I have read most of the ballast install threads and have decided to get one put in. (1)This is the system I’m going with and would like any suggestions from anyone if they have a similar system and wish they would have done anything different. I will not be installing it as I will have it done by my dealer, but they are very good to do as I ask them, so let me know your thoughts.
Rival System but instead of the rear bags I will use Enzo Sacs on both sides. (2)With the enzo sacs will I need bigger pumps or will the ones in the rival system be okay?
(3)Should I get the pro x series integrated bow sac, also instead of the ones that comes with the Rival System? It gives more weight 650# vs. 400# but I have read you can’t fill it all the way? (4)Any thoughts or suggestions? Plus I guess in the Rival system there are 2 separate bags so this means more control but also means more pumps and fittings. (5)Is it best just to have the front weight on one side when surfing or do you think the one bag is okay?
I also read something about switch placement but now I can’t find it. One person said they always hit their knee on it but I don’t remember where those switches were located. I see where one person put it under the speed set controls and some boats I have seen have it on the side in front of the throttle. (6)Which is better?
(7)How do you tell how full your sacs are? Do you look in the compartments and watch them fill? Do you just know by time? (8)If you want equal wait on both sides do you turn both pumps on and off at the same time?
(9)Did you have to move your battery shut off switch and if so where did you move it? Mine is in the back compartment at the bottom on the passenger’s side of the boat, so the enzo sac will be sitting on it.
I know I have asked many different questions, but I know there is a lot of knowledge out here so I would appreciate any answers you have and any thoughts or suggestions. This is going to cost a lot and I only want to have to do it one time and I want to make sure I get it done right with no regrets. Thanks for your time.

Lots of good questions. Let me stab at a few.

The fly high sacks are thicker and will about never puncture unless you try hard. They are better quality than anything else out there. Use them whenever possible.

If your nose is big enough, do separate bags, but I think many of us just went with a single U shaped bag because it is only about 400 pounds you can get up there, and just filling up 200 pounds on one side is not going to be a huge difference for your surf wake. THere simply is not much space up there for a huge amount of ballast.

THe sacks should have a vent hose that will discharge over the side when you are full, then you know the bag is full when it is peeing over the side. They usually fill about the same speed.

You will probably be fine with just one pump. The enzo sack should fill in about 9-10 minutes. I am OK with that. If you are impatient, put an extra pump in. It seems we usually board or tube first, then surf. By the time we get the ropes all switched over and such, the surf sack has got us about full.

HOpe that helps. I did the first thread that detailed how to do a Rival install.

Don't forget to figure out if you are going with a mushroom, scoop or transom entry...YOu also will want to decide on what kind of gate valve to use. The electric ones have been prone to seizing up, so most go with a manual valve and leave it open with the scoop rear facing, or I used a mushroom and it does not fill on it's own.

[jake's02-22i]

i would get two Rule 3800's for the back and that would fill in no time.

[wakeboarder247]

The factory switch placement on our '07 22Vé is the one you're talking about with the knee-hitting-problem. It is down low below the throttle.. right about knee height. It was a problem at first because we weren't used to it but it's no problem now. If I had the choice I would definitely put them below the speedset controls on the dash. Our dash has a nice empty space right there that would have been perfect for the ballast switches but that wasn't the factory location.

[rgjheart]

Thanks for the replies. Keep them coming as I still have many unanswered questions and it looks like now I have another one with the gate valve problem. It looks like manual is the best way to go.