Ballast won't drain

[auburntigegal]

We had a great day out today, had some friends for a total of 13!! Tubed for the friends, wakeboarded, surfed. Had both front ballast full and my port side 1300 lbs full as we were calling it a day. Surfed almost up to the no wake zone, started draining as we were idling toward dock. Both front started draining and at the time I didn't know it (noisy with stereo and everyone yacking) but the port rear wasn't draining.
As I was docking, I could tell I was still leaning way too much!
Got docked, turned the boat off, and got everyone unloading and I started double checking the Tige Touch (hit "drain" again on all 3) and nothing. Now the front isn't draining (thought maybe they were empty) and the back is definitely not draining. Put the key in off position and hit the switch under the helm and the left front started draining but nothing else, and it only drained for a sec (empty? Not sure).
I noticed the Tige Touch screen felt really really hot to the touch. I left key off for a bit.
When I went back to the Tige Touch after a bit of messing around with bimini and rest of unloading, it felt cooler but still fairly warm (maybe only 7-8 minutes had passed - we were ready to wrap it up and getting rather frustrated)! I hit drain on each ballast one at a time (it was finally really quiet so I could hear), the only ballast that I hear trying to drain is the starboard rear, there is no noise with the other 3 on draining. They will all fill.
I checked the fuses under the helm and they were fine, but I can see a blinking red light off to the left and sort of towards the rear of that fuse panel.
When I put the key back in off and hit the switch below the helm again a little water came out of left front but nowhere else. But it stops after a sec (may be cause it's pretty much empty).
So we went ahead and had them lift it out and just put the boat up with that ballast full.
Anyone know what might be happening? Thanks!!

[tnvolgrad]

This may be a stupid question, but did you hit the reset timer? Typically I start the day off by empty all and reset timer.

The other things to check would be perhaps something that clogged up the pumps when you were filling - odd that all three are not working, but worth a look. Other than that I am interested in what you find.

[auburntigegal]

This may be a stupid question, but did you hit the reset timer? Typically I start the day off by empty all and reset

No, but we did disconnect and reconnect the batteries to see if that would do any kind of reset and still had same issue.

[Nobody]

My opinion on the digital display thing is its ridiculous. As for ballast pumps, they don't last long. At two years get ready to replace all of them over the next 2 years. Buy 4 or 5 at a time on Amazon and remember to buy heat shrink butt connectors.

[murphini]

After two seasons my Jabsco ballast puppies needed new impellers. I got the green ones, replaced the yellow ones they came with. The green ones work much better getting the water in/out. Especially in draining. I got mine at a marina.

[auburntigegal]

So you think I had 3 pumps go bad at the same time??

[auburntigegal]

So we have pulled the boat to the house so we can check this drain pump out.
The problem is in the port rear ballast drain only. The other three are working. Fuse is good, but in the fuse box under the helm, there is a red flashing light towards the rear on the left side. What is that? I can't really see the light, it's behind some of the plastic, but it's flashing red.
Then if it is the pump bad, how in the heck to you get to it?? Remove the batteries and the whole freakin floor under that ballast bag???? There's like a hundred things to unhook and unscrew!!
Is there a way to tell if it's electrical vs the pump itself?

[Ewok]

Do your bags have their own fill and drain pumps or is it a piggy back from the hard tank? If its piggy back from the hard tank your going to have to try to remove as much as you can in that corner so you can see and reach the drain pump. My factory ballast pumps used rule 1000 cartridge pumps. If it is a bad pump you should be able to pull the cartridge out of the top of the pump and replace with a new cartridge. Chpthrill might have more exact info for you but that is the basic knowledge that I have.

[auburntigegal]

Each bag has its own fill and drain pump. The fill pumps are easy to get to, just lift up the floor. The drain pumps are in the very back on each side under the floor (under the batteries on the left side). I thought I would switch the left and right pump so I could tell if it's the pump, but that's gonna be easier said than done..
We have got all the water out of the bag (did it at the marina while on the lift - siphoned it)
I can reach the pumps (and by reach I mean just get my fingers on it to feel it) without removing the floor under the bags and batteries, but I'm laying flat in the compartment with the empty bag and reaching around and down and can't see what I'm doing at all. I could probably unscrew it, but it's by feel only.
There is NO sound at all coming from that pump when I switch it on. Is that what would happen if the pump went out - no noise at all?

[Iwndr]

I had one drain pump lock up the first time out this season, I opened it up and gave the impeller a spin by hand and it took off and has been working ever since

[auburntigegal]

If it was the impeller wouldn't I still hear some noise of the pump trying to work?

[skippabcool]

So we have pulled the boat to the house so we can check this drain pump out.
The problem is in the port rear ballast drain only. The other three are working. Fuse is good, but in the fuse box under the helm, there is a red flashing light towards the rear on the left side. What is that? I can't really see the light, it's behind some of the plastic, but it's flashing red.
Then if it is the pump bad, how in the heck to you get to it?? Remove the batteries and the whole freakin floor under that ballast bag???? There's like a hundred things to unhook and unscrew!!
Is there a way to tell if it's electrical vs the pump itself?

Isn't your boat still under warranty?

[auburntigegal]

Isn't your boat still under warranty?

It was a dealer demo and I was told it had a 1 year warranty.... Which was up last September.

[Iwndr]

If it was the impeller wouldn't I still hear some noise of the pump trying to work?

I couldn't on mine, but my wife keeps saying I'm going deaf.

[auburntigegal]

Okay, it's working!! Managed to get it unscrewed and just like iwndr said, the impeller wasn't turning.
What a pain in the rear spot for these pumps to be located!!