Ballast install on a budget

[Waterski-Rebel]

Well, thanks to Timmy, my family has taken up wake surfing. I ski/surf goofy footed, while my wife skis/surfs normal footed. It is a pain to deal with the ballasts and the tsunami pumps, so I thought I would look into the costs of building in a ballast system.

Well, it looks like that will cost close to $1000, so I have an idea. Could I put a 400-450 sack in each locker, hook up a tsunami pump to the top of each (for filling), then hook another tsunami to the bottom of each for draining, run all the pumps to switches by the dash (or in the back), and just throw the right hose overboard, and hit the switch to fill or drain the sack? It sounds easy enough. If this is feasable, would I need any check valves? Should I drain the system through the hull? Should I connect 12" of tube to the bottom of the sack, then connect the tsunami? That way, the sack wouldn't be laying on the pump.

Please shoot holes in this theory, and/or give me some suggestions on how to improve it.

thanks!

[chpthril]

Sure, but with the above setup, you've spent the bulk of the money, the rest is the cheap stuff. Finish it up, you're almost there!

OH, forgot to add, the aerator style pumps like the tsunami, will not self prime, so in order to fill the pump has to go overboard.

[Waterski-Rebel]

Can you use the tsunami pumps to build it in, or do you need something like the ballast puppy's?

My wife really wants me to watch my spending, that's why I thought doing it with the tsunami's would be a good idea.

[xpjim1]

Yes you can. Talltigeguy, chptril's and my ballast install all used the aerator type pumps
http://www.tigeowners.com/forum/showthread.php?t=3897

[chpthril]

Can you use the tsunami pumps to build it in, or do you need something like the ballast puppy's?

My wife really wants me to watch my spending, that's why I thought doing it with the tsunami's would be a good idea.

Aerator style live-well pumps are cheap and reliable, but are prone to vapor-lock on the fill side, unless care is taken when installing them and the manifold. I had a little vapor lock and reoriented my manifold after the first season.

The impeller type are expensive, but make the system simple but are prone to early impeller failure caused by running dry unless they are watched like a hawk when draining.

Replied to PM.

[MTtigekid]

Aerator style live-well pumps are cheap and reliable, but are prone to vapor-lock on the fill side, unless care is taken when installing them and the manifold. I had a little vapor lock and reoriented my manifold after the first season.

The impeller type are expensive, but make the system simple but are prone to early impeller failure caused by running dry unless they are watched like a hawk when draining.

Replied to PM.

we've got the aerator style and made sure that the were put in correctly and almost never have to deal with vaopr lock on them def. the best low cost solution