Ballast Questions

[mcrowe]

Hey everyone although the use of ballast is nothing new to me, Over the years and over 1500hrs since 2001 every pump on my boat has stopped working. My question is this, If I install some scoops on the underside of my hull, and have the boat moving say 15mph using for example 1 1/2" lines, Will this be sufficient to fill my bags in comparable time to running pumps? I have a pretty good plan if this is possible, I just wanted to hear others thoughts on this idea....Obviously to empty I would have pumps for that....

Here is an example of the scoops I was looking at : http://www.cassellmarine.com.au/p/815206/through-hull-skin-fitting-scoop.html


Thanks,
Matt Crowe

[mcrowe]

By the way: I would really appreciate some feedback since not 1 person responded on wakeworld haha!

[frosty]

1st. 8p

I just purchased one shaped exactly like another on that website:
http://www.cassellmarine.com.au/p/404637/water-scoop-stainless.html
Except mine is bronze... I would have sprung for the bling-bling had they had it. :cool:

I am planning on mounting mine as a scoop, I am thinking that this would help prime & keep a 'head pressure' on my pump manifold, and allow me to fill while cruising to the wakeboarding cove.
I am not sure if this would cause my bags to 'auto fill' by themselves while cruising, we will see. (ballast puppy pumps)

There are only 2 mounting screws on one side of it.
I am not going to drill the 2 exterior screws in until after doing some testing.
That way I can turn it around if it catches too many weeds, etc.

If I were you, I would plumb everything so that you have room to mount both fill / empty pumps in the future (flexibility!).
I am not sure how fast they would fill without a pump, and how full it would get.
Or, just put one of those cheap ballast pump style pumps in as a fill pump, they are only $25 - $35 dollars, and would positively fill up the ballast. I think you would be happier.

Plus, how much gas are you going to waste, if after a day of boarding, you empty your tanks... then someone else shows up... and wants to board?
With a pump, you just flip a switch while they are getting the vest on, board on, etc. and it will be pretty much full when you are ready to pull.

Let us know how it works out!

David

[mcrowe]

thanks for the reply! Well I fill about 3350 in bags in my boat..and have had pumps and yes it is nice to fill with pumps. I was just thinking that the flow generated by having a scoop while up on plane has to be similar to the flow create by a 1200gph pump. Maybe I am wrong! I guess i need to do some testing as well. My boat already has the thru-hulls in the transom btu they are only 3/4" so I need to replace them with 1" no matter what...I was only looking at the scoops if this option worked because if this did work, I would have to do some filling/cutting! looks like I need to do some testing!