Ballast for 06 24ve

[eks]

Actually, the reliability of the ballast puppy is my biggest beef. Hopefully they have gotten better, but the stories are still out there of multiple replacements per year. Always break at the worst time. They have them on my friend's Supreme, and they went out for him several times last summer. Something about a new impeller in it was supposed to fix all that, but we'll see.

I have yet to have one of my aerator pumps go out. Knock on wood.

Plus, it is just so much the cool factor to have water peeing out of the side of the boat...like a man...not out the bottom like a girl.

I actually like to think of my boat as a girl. She is a beauty!!

[live2dive]

Thanks for the advice. I can see this portal is a great resource for a "newby." I think I will start with a couple of 400-500 lb sacs in the back storage and a couple of bricks with a tsunami pump...then see how annoying it gets to fill before taking on the full integrated project. I have the distinct advantage when the time comes of sharing the office and lake with Talltige - he is the man when it comes to "how do ya git er done."

[ragboy]

If you have 5 girls, just teach them how to do it, and there you go, good all summer. If you really want AUTO, put a toggle switch under the dash and hook it up to a light or something. When you flip it, your girls no to go fill the tanks, when it goes off they empty. If that makes you feel better. ;-)

[dogbert]

Actually, the reliability of the ballast puppy is my biggest beef. Hopefully they have gotten better, but the stories are still out there of multiple replacements per year. Always break at the worst time. They have them on my friend's Supreme, and they went out for him several times last summer. Something about a new impeller in it was supposed to fix all that, but we'll see.

I have yet to have one of my aerator pumps go out. Knock on wood.

Plus, it is just so much the cool factor to have water peeing out of the side of the boat...like a man...not out the bottom like a girl.

Actually, I have to question how cool that really is. My son had to ride behind a Malibu this past weekend (Texas INT tour stop #1) and it had water streaming out of all sorts of orifices. It looked like a friggin Schlitterbahn ride. He was complaining about the wake as well and I made the observation about the water coming out of the side. We both got a chuckle when we nicknamed the boat the master blaster. The water continuously streaming out of at least 7 or 8 different holes. If they had that much ballast, why was the wake so weak?

But, if you absolutely need to go head-to-head, you're on your own buddy...nobody's giving credit for how much your boat can pee

Ok, so now we're seriously

[live2dive]

Ragboy - LOL, I like it! Of course, my girls are so well trained I don't need a light...I just snap my fingers and they do waterever I want - not! I do agree with the idea of everyone on the boat having a responsibility - not much into the free-ride concept. Fillin the sacs is a perfect job for them.

[ragboy]

Ragboy - LOL, I like it! Of course, my girls are so well trained I don't need a light...I just snap my fingers and they do waterever I want - not! I do agree with the idea of everyone on the boat having a responsibility - not much into the free-ride concept. Fillin the sacs is a perfect job for them.

I don't do anything anymore. Of course I used to do it all, but as they got older I slowly taught them how to do everything, and EVERYONE has something they can manage. We went to the lake yesterday, and my wife was not there. This is extremely rare, but she had a class. I have been teaching my 17 yr old daughter how to back the boat in. Well, we get to the warehouse and I back up close to the door. They all scurry except the 3 yr old. They open up the door, get around the boat and UN-angle it, it is on trailer dollies. RJ unfolds the tongue and they push it partially out the door. Then 2 of them are putting on the rear swimstep while another 2 are removing the trailer jacks, and RJ is guiding me to back up the truck on to the trailer. By the time he hooks me up, I never get out of the truck - he does it all, the trailer is ready to move. I pull forward until the trailer is all the way out the door. One is handing in wakeboards and the drinks and snacks and stuff. One is getting them and storing them in the boat. While RJ and ashley jump in and raise the tower in less than a minute or so. Someone puts on the trailer guides, it doesn't fit through the door with the guides on, while the warehouse is being closed down and locked up. They all get in the car, this whole process takes about 7 mins. We head to the gas station.

I pull up to the pump and say "go". RJ grabs my wallet and goes to fill up the boat, he is completely trained in the method to gingerly fill up the tige. Maddie (10) goes and opens the other side of the boat gas tank and then gets napkins. She stands by RJ in case some comes out, and also when he is done to help wipe it down. While this is going on, Ash and Whit, 17 & 16 have got my wallet from RJ and are in the store buying ice, a big diet coke for dad, and anything else we need. By the time RJ is done, the cooler is loaded. RJ finishes and he and maddie make sure its all clean and we leave to the lake. Again, I never left the car, and other than a brief RJ!, or Whitney! or whatever, no one is arguing, they get it done.

At the lake, I pull to the ready line, and just before give a few instructions on what we are doing since mom is gone, and its a bit different. Everyone knows to listen, because I don't repeat myself. Ash removes the straps, whit jumps in the boat and hands out the wrench and the plug to RJ, he puts the plug in. Everyone else gets in the boat and starts putting boards in racks and stuff, puts on life jackets, including the 3 yr old. Since ash is still learning, I take the boat down the ramp with RJ and Ash in the car, the rest are in the boat calmly sitting down. There are 5 kids in there, cuz we bought a cousin with us. I show ashley how to go down the ramp, where to turn around and how to back up. She already knows, but still teaching, she is not quite ready to do on her own. I back up til the boat has about 15 ft to go and I get out and get in the boat. She backs up the rest of the way, RJ unhooks, I start and go to dock while they go to park the trailer.

Whitney is in charge now. Whit and Maddie have tied off the boat to the dock, and Thomas (6) is the bumper. His job is to always sit on the dock, and he puts his bare feet on the boat, holding it off the dock. Maddie has the babes out, making sure the upholstery is all good, and also puts away everything in the storage. Whitney is putting the boards, 4 wakeboards and 3 surfboards, in the racks, then she puts the quick disconnect speakers up, then she puts the bimini top with help from maddie. By this time ash and rj are down and we start pulling from the dock, doing no wake til the buoys. Now they scurry again, because they know they have to have the ballast filled up before we hit the end of the no wake zone. So they pull out both pumps and rj and whit hook them up while thomas plugs them in as needed. Hand gestures are mainly needed at this point, because we always crank the music. I think the playlist was a mixture of the ting tings and the kooks this time. At the same time ash is putting sunscreen on everyone including me. Being the well browned beaner I am, I only need it on my face. She just comes over and I take off my glasses and she quickly rubs it all on my face while we no wake it. By the time we hit the buoys, all are suncreened, ballast is ready, and everyone is sat down and ready to go. I hit it and may have to point out a seat change or 2 to balance the weight. Again, I did nothing but drive and adjust volume and skip songs as needed.

On our way in, the same thing happens in reverse. This time I actually bought my portable humidor with me, and once we were docked, I pulled out a stogie while ash and rj were going to get truck, and whit and the rest were pulling the boards down and getting all ready. So I get out a Padron Anniversarie 1926 #1, and begin to cut and light. If you don't know what that cigar is, just trust me, its a thing of beauty. I light up, because:

1. I want to
2. Ash is learning, and there is NO one on the ramp, so I am going to relax and just let her learn.

So she struggles, but she doesn't hit anything, and I know she won't. Takes a long time. Has to pull up to straighten many times. I have shown her everything. She knows what to do, but just needs to work it all out herself at this point, and doesn't need dad trying to talk her through and making her nervous. So I just enjoy my incredible smoke. She makes it all the way down and pulls in water, and RJ comes out to guide me. I tell him, get in the car, and tell ashley to go all the way out, and come in from the parking lot and do all again. I did this because the ramp was clear, and you don't get that opportunity much. So she did, and I just patiently toked. Never doing anything, whitney had all done. Finally maddie and whit push me off and I drive up the trailer and RJ hooks me up. Ash pulls up to the trash and clean up area and I get out of the boat. I still don't do anything. I just stand there and watch, enjoying my cigar. I don't even have to tell anyone anything. They all know what to do. Everything gets put away, stuff in car, jess (3) in car seat, top down, speakers off (last of course), babes wipe down, plug out, straps on. They do it all and I just enjoy my smoke, and no one is arguing. Other people on the ramp just stare and sometimes ask me about my boat or how I get my kids to work together.

I head over and take a squirt, come back, a few more tokes and we are done. I take the kids to subway, let them get whatever they want, and then to baskin robbins next door for a great day on the lake.

That is how it is every time we do anything, and especially the lake, which is rehearsed many times. Its a thing of beauty, and I wish you could see it. My crew is the best out there. Its amazing when you work hard with your kids, and then get to enjoy the results. They aren't just my kids anymore, they are my crew, my buds.

[dogbert]

Sounds kinda like our routine, except my 13 year old son is too young to drive the truck. So, he loads and unloads the boat from the trailer and then comes and picks me up. Both boys are in charge of their friends and know that ultimately, I hold them responsible for getting things done, so they are more than eager to delegate to their friends. The mom never has to lift a finger...ever (but she can help out in a pinch).

It's kinda cool having your 13 year old driving the boat. He's a better driver than probably 80% of the people on the water.

[ragboy]

RJ and ashley both drive the boat pretty well, RJ is only 12, but a big strong kid, so we always treat him older. But I love driving.

[live2dive]

sounds like a great system...you could probably patent your routine and sell it on ebay (or tigeomners ) - I can only aspire to reach such orchestrated perfection. The best part is the vision of you in almost "slow-mo" mode while your kids scurry quickly around with their individual tasks. You have become my mentor

[TigeDuner]

Rag, you have alot of trust in your children. Took me awhile to let loose, but now everybody has their own thing to do. Would look to see your crew in action some time.

[da.bell]

Rag, you have alot of trust in your children. Took me awhile to let loose, but now everybody has their own thing to do. Would look to see your crew in action some time.

YouTube video!!!!

[dogbert]

sounds like a great system...you could probably patent your routine and sell it on ebay (or tigeomners ) - I can only aspire to reach such orchestrated perfection. The best part is the vision of you in almost "slow-mo" mode while your kids scurry quickly around with their individual tasks. You have become my mentor

It's actually a lot easier than it sounds. I used the bait and switch method (really whatever works for you). I baited my children into loving to go out on the boat and sometimes take their friends. Once hooked, I came up with the "too much work" excuse not to go. Initially, I was chastised for being lazy. Then, once they realized that this might be a permanent situation, they said, "How can we help?" So, I offered to train them on the jobs that wore me out (pretty much anything that would cause me to break a sweat) and told them that since I don't really get to ride much, it's really not fair to me to have to pay for all the gas *and* do all the work.

My kids learned very quickly and appear to be even smarter than I gave them credit for. They've since delegated the really crappy work (wiping down the boat and cleaning the cushions) to their friends while they tend to various other setup and tear down issues.

Their friends are pretty smart as well. They offer their services without me even having to ask because they know that that will get them to ride for another day.

They even pack the cooler with my favorite frosty beverages

[ragboy]

YouTube video!!!!

I was actually thinking of posting a video of putting our boat in and out of the warehouse, with everybody working, it is very cool. So maybe soon.

It's actually a lot easier than it sounds. I used the bait and switch method (really whatever works for you). I baited my children into loving to go out on the boat and sometimes take their friends. Once hooked, I came up with the "too much work" excuse not to go. Initially, I was chastised for being lazy. Then, once they realized that this might be a permanent situation, they said, "How can we help?" So, I offered to train them on the jobs that wore me out (pretty much anything that would cause me to break a sweat) and told them that since I don't really get to ride much, it's really not fair to me to have to pay for all the gas *and* do all the work.

My kids learned very quickly and appear to be even smarter than I gave them credit for. They've since delegated the really crappy work (wiping down the boat and cleaning the cushions) to their friends while they tend to various other setup and tear down issues.

Their friends are pretty smart as well. They offer their services without me even having to ask because they know that that will get them to ride for another day.

They even pack the cooler with my favorite frosty beverages

Before I had my own kids, I used to work with troubled teenagers, and I was tough. I did it for about 10 yrs through our church. Even going to week long camps where I had a cabin of like 10 young boys. I got a rep for being tough, and so I always got all the head case kids. The first few days of those camps were tough. But in the end, they not only completely obeyed me, but loved me. And I still hear from many of them to this day. But during that time, I think it kinda molded me into the Sergeant I am today. With 6 kids, I think I kinda have to be. But believe it or not, I am actually a very patient teacher, but once they know how to do it, they are held to that standard. I think they love most to know that when they do a good job, I am proud/pleased with them. They know we are a strange family, all the crazy stuff we do. But they know we have awesome memories, and it takes work to make all of those. I have lots of toys, there is no question. And I firmly believe that they worthless in the end, I can't take them with me when I die. But its the memories. Those I get to keep. All of the stuff we have, and the work to use it, and the fun, and all of that is for the memories, and to teach them to do the same with their families.

Anyway, I picture myself 80 yrs old sitting with my wife on a porch in the mountains somewhere. We will be that weird couple that just sits there and stares off in the distance, but always with a little smile, and an occasional chuckle. Even now, I can sit with my kids around the campfire and laugh for HOURS on the memories we already have.

Sorry for getting so EMO. ;-) But this could be my last summer with all my kids. Ashley is 17, she may be home for part of her first 2 years of college, but I feel like this is my last summer to really make my last memories as an entire family.