Ballast for '01 21V Limited

[Big Fire]

I am in the planning stages of installing a ballast system on my tige 21V limited. I love the boat, and I love the wake when I put some weight on board.

So some info about my system plans. I am planning on using 3 Jabsco Ballast puppies, to pump to my Tanks. I have a friend in the plastics industry who custom made me poly hard tanks for the front and two back compartments, so I will have about 1100lbs of ballast.

My primary problem is where to drill my pick-up hole. If I drill in the bottom, (like the fresh water intake) I can fill and drain while moving or stationary. But I have been hearing a lot of tige owners drilling holes by the Taps plate. So the questions are: Where have you guys drilled and do you have pics? Can I fill and drain if I drill by the Taps plate? and what does putting this system in do to my warranty on the hull etc?

Thanks for the help.

[Bog]

I have the same boat. I drilled a hole under the boat on the opposite side of the engine from the fresh water pickup. It has worked great no problems. I dont have any pics though.

[Big Fire]

Thanks for the reply. I like the idea of drilling through the bottom better because you can pic up and drain on the move. How did you drill through? If you have any other info on your system I'd love to hear it. This is my $50k baby and I want to get it right the first time.

[Bog]

first use a drill bit to drill from the inside out. Then get underneath the boat with the appropriate size hole saw to drill up through. Make sure your placement of the the scoop leaves you enough room to tighten the nut and attach the elbow and piping. Mine was almost too close to the engine it was hard to manuever in there. I will try to post pics if I find time.

[Bog]

My system uses two pumps. A rule 2000 GPH to fill and a jabsco macerator pump to empty (self priming) I made a PVC manifold with ball valves to divert the water to the three sacks I use. Feel free to ask any questions!

[talltigeguy]

BOG,

You've then just went with one pump and a series of valves in order to fill your system. Do you then need to reach down in the engine compartment to individually fill each sack? That would work great if you usually just fill all of your bags.

[Bog]

TallTige,

I have the ability to isolate which of the three sacks it fills. It gives me the ability to set it up for wakesurfing better. Right now I dont have overflows installed so I have to shut off each section before the sacks pop which has happened before My system is kinda ghetto but effective and cheap so it works for me!

[talltigeguy]

Bog,
Maybe my question wasn't clear - So how did you isolate the valves to each sack? I would imagine a manual switch that you turn on the intake manifold? Or do you have something electrical that you can do on your dash...

[Bog]

I have a manifold made out of PVC with PVC ball valves to open and close the line. It is kinda ghetto looking but effective. Eventually I would like to use solenoid valves but being a newlywed I am just too damn busy!!

[Big Fire]

Here are some more details about my system:

1) a 2" thru hull pick-up, that flows through an electric gate valve into a PVC manifold. I also have a manual ball balve before the electric gate in case of some kind of electrical failure, etc.

2) The PVC manifold supplies 3 Jabsco Ballast puppies. I went with the Ballast puppies because they are reversible, allowing me to both fill and drain through the same pick-up, while moving or standing still.

3) The Jabsco's are pumping to 4 poly tanks, similar to the Tige manufactured tanks. Each tank has an overfill connected into my bilge drain. I have check valves on the overfill lines to prevent back flow.

4) My switches are located just under the dash, on the left side. I hade to make a little plastic box so it looked clean, but overall it came out well. I have 3 pump switches (which came with the pumps, a nice feature) and one to control the gate valve.

So far I have just set up the system in my garage and not installed it yet. I am filling the tanks up in a little over 5 min. and draining about the same. Let me know what you guys think...I am nervous as hell about drilling a hole in my boat. Doesn't seem natural.

[talltigeguy]

Big Fire,

It's a small detail, but you won't know which tank is full when you start to see water overflow because you have them all tied together. I don't think it would be that difficult to have each tank with their own overflow. It wouldn't be quite as nerve-wracking to drill the holes, since the hole isn't in the bottom of the boat.

[Bog]

one thing in terms of safety is you need a ballcock as the first part of your plumbing from the intake scoop. I am sure you already thought of it but just wanted to remind you.

[Big Fire]

Thanks for the reminder Bog...I actually do have a seacock put in before the electric gate valve as a safety measure.

I will try and post some pictures of the whole process from start to finish. Hopefully, all will go well.