Tsunami Pump Questions

[HS]

I read these pumps are rated for 1200 gph. Are you able to guage the weight you are adding by the amount of time you run the pump? For example, if you have a 400# capacity fatsac, and you want to add 250#, if you run the pump for 90 seconds, will you get approx. 250# in the fatsac? (1200 GPH / 60 = 20 gal per minute; 1.5 minutes = 30 gallons @ 8.34 lbs per gallon = 250#) Can you rely on the pumps to predict the weight you are adding to a fatsac?

Also, do those of you who use tsunami pumps have a backup pump in case the tsunami fails?

Thanks.

[WakeSlayer]

RE: Tsunami Pump Questions

Whoa. Can we just say it is a really, really fast portable pump? The Tsunami works great. I want to say mine will fill my 400# sac in 5 minutes max. In reality, I think it is more like 600-700gph I do not have a backup. I used the Rule ones for years and never had one fail unless it got clogged, then you just cleaned it out.

[bchesley]

RE: Tsunami Pump Questions

HS,

its been a cold and long winter hasn't it. You need to just hit the lake and forget all the calculating. It will do wonders for you. The pump is almost bullet proof as I had one last 10 years or so. So No Worries.....

[gride300]

RE: Tsunami Pump Questions

i've had alot of tsunami's crap out, but you get good use out of them. usually it's lack of care for the pump even though they aren't cheap. they don't float so be careful. i experienced that twice.

[WakeSlayer]

RE: Tsunami Pump Questions

^^ Tsunami pumps specifically? or regular fatsac pumps? ^^

[HS]

Yes - a long winter with snow (!) at the house this a.m. and almost 2 feet in the passes over the past 2 days (snowboarding tonight).

OK Here is the deal:

I have a friend who is moving and will give me two 400# fatsacs and a tsunami pump. The fatsacs can go in my aft lockers, but I store other stuff there as well. I also have some pop products bags to put in the ski locker. I have read that when adding ballast, you want to get something close to a 40 front 60 rear split. Obviously, I want the boat to ride well and the wake to be well shaped. Granted, this will take time and experience.

If I fill the bags to capacity, I’ll be 120# short on pop bags to get 40 / 60. But if I go 500# (250 per bag) or 540# or 600# in the fatsacs, I can use either 8 or 9 or 10 pop bags in the locker and get 40 / 60.

So, can you judge when you have 250# or 300# in a 400# fatsac? To get a predictable (and repeatable) ratio, I thought if I knew how much water was being pumped per minute, I could get an approximation of the ballast weight I am adding.

I thought somebody here would have an idea to help me out. Maybe I just have to judge based on the appearance of the wake. If so, what do I look for?

Thanks.

[WakeSlayer]

You will be able to eyeball that really easy. You want a nice long rampy wake at the handle. No washout until past that. You can adjust speed slightly to acheive this along with your ballast. It is not as specific as you are expecting. Plus it is different every time you go out. Passengers, coolers, gear, wind, everything affects this to varying degrees.
You are close enough to the POP guy that you could just get a couple more to leave in the bow and not get killed on shipping.

[jjgag60]

Pump question

who and where is this POP guy. Thanks

[WakeSlayer]

RE: Pump question

He is a guy who makes weight bags full of steel for moveable ballast. He is located in Washington state.

http://www.pop-products.com/

Leadfoots have not been available for some time now, and this is a safer alternative. All metal costs are up significantly the last few years, and shipping is also an issue. Being as HS is from WA, he could likely avoid shipping costs.