2009 X-Star 'addition ballast' PWT

[bjames]

Looking at the Fly-high Additional Ballast kit normally sold as the PWT ballast set up. It comes with 4 bags, hoses and all fittings (2600lbs)

Has anyone installed this themselves? Just wondering if its fairly straight forward to install or if I should look at having the dealer install?

[willyt]

I've installed the full fly high kit myself... and honestly, if i were to do it again... i wouldnt get the kit.

A: I think larger sacs will fit in the rear lockers
B: i never, ever use the stock port and strb "rear" tanks, as they're about midship. I would take off the input and vents to those tanks and just plumb them to the soft tanks in the lockers
C: I've had problems with the valves. Not sure if this is the installers fault (mine) or flyhigh, but i'll report more this winter
D: its a PIA to switch the valves if you put them in the locker. I would just plumb the front sacs underneath the gullwing seats to the overflow from the KGB (make sure they're flow balanced)
E: It's pretty expensive vs the alternative

if you do get the kit you'll need about 10 extra feet of hose, or you'll be hosed.

[willyt]

oh. and get rev 10's and don't look back (or stand on the sundeck while they're at full blast)

I initially got rev8's because i thought the 10s would look weird on the tower because they're so big, thing is the xstar tower piping is alot thicker than the rest of the boats so it wouldnt have looked weird.

[bjames]

Originally Posted by willyt

thing is the xstar tower piping is alot thicker than the rest of the boats so it wouldnt have looked weird.

Is the Xstar tower piping larger diameter than the other X Series ZFT3? Im asking becuase for some reason I was asking myself that when i was looking at the star. But I have never seen it beside another ZFT3 to compare.

[XtwentyNot]

I will miss your 25! I'm sure the Star won't disappoint however!

[willyt]

yup, im not sure exactly what diameter, but its much larger than the other models, i can snap a picture today when i'm out on the boat

[XStar08]

willyt, thanks for sharing your thoughts.

What if one usually needs not more than stock ballast and just wants by occasion (for himself) the full package. I'm not a fan of the ad hoc pumps. Think it is really about what your needs are. Or do you see other options?

[bjames]

When I was looking at the 2009 Star today, there was an X15 in the service bay beside it. The Xstar tower dia is certainly larger than the X15 (mayby 1/4 or 1/2 more).

For the ballast set up, Wakemakers does mention connecting the bags to the vent lines fromthe tanks. The idea intrigues me.

[XStar08]

Yep but as I understood he meant using the bags instead of the stock tanks but using bigger bags...

[jason95gt]

I love the Star with the PWT kit in it, with or without the valves. The valves are nice if you want to customize the set up a little more. A friend installed the valves under the rear seat sticking out towards the cockpit for easy access. As far as the tower, it is 3" instead of 2 1/2".