216 Ballast Install

[cama]

Hi All

Just wanted some advice and hints for a good ballst install on my Air 216 Team.

I have ordered all the gear needed from wakemakers.com and hope to see it soon.

I have ordered 2 x Fly High Pro X Series Gravity Games Rear Sacs, so I will remove the factory and install these in there place.
I also ordered 1 x Fly High Pro X Series Rear Seat Sac for the ski locker which will have a new 1" thru hull and ballast puppy to fill and drain this bag.

I just want to know what is the best position for the new thru hull and if there is a special way you should drill the hole.

And 2nd how to wire up the ballast puppy to the belly ballast button that is not used at the helm control pad.

any advise would be great.
I know there is a heap of ballast install threads already and I have looked through most but hey... Here's another

[cedarcreek216]

Do you have a 216V?

[cama]

No its a DD 2007 Air 216 Team

[AbunDiga909]

I am just wondering why you are going to replace the factory ones? It sounds like you're only replacing the factory ones with soft sacks of the same size, but correct me if I'm wrong.

As for your other question, I can't offer any advice on how to drill through your hull safely, except for be careful since you'll be voiding your hull warantee for your last two years. However, if you are mechanically inclined (which you sound like you are), why don't you try splitting one of the factory intake tubes for either the port or starboard hard tanks to your aftermarket ski-locker sack? That side would obviously take twice as long to fill, but you wouldn't have to touch your hull. Just an idea...

[Chopper]

I can't offer any advice on how to drill through your hull safely, except for be careful since you'll be voiding your hull warantee for your last two years.

You wont void your hull warantee by drilling a hole in it. The exception is if the hole you have drilled contributes to a defect of some kind.

You will need to use a hole saw sized to suit the thru hull fitting you are using. Drill a small pilot hole first. run the drill backwards until it is through the gel coat. Drill normal direction through the fibre glass. This method reduces the risk of the drill catching up on the gelocat & chipping it out.

Do the same with the hole saw. Drill in reverse until you are through the gel coat. Once you are through the gel coat, remove the drill & jump inside the boat. Drill from inside for a millimeter or so. Then go back to the outside & complete the hole. Drilling from the inside will give you a neater hole cut.

[cama]

Thanks Chopper. Yeah that makes sense. Would I be better with the thru hull forward of the engine or behind in line with the current one.

[AbunDiga909]

Sorry, I was under the impression that if you "touched" the hull pretty much by a non-approved guy than it was void. At least that's what I was told when we put in some lights long ago.

[Slippery]

Hi All

Just wanted some advice and hints for a good ballst install on my Air 216 Team.

I have ordered all the gear needed from wakemakers.com and hope to see it soon.

I have ordered 2 x Fly High Pro X Series Gravity Games Rear Sacs, so I will remove the factory and install these in there place.
I also ordered 1 x Fly High Pro X Series Rear Seat Sac for the ski locker which will have a new 1" thru hull and ballast puppy to fill and drain this bag.

I just want to know what is the best position for the new thru hull and if there is a special way you should drill the hole.

And 2nd how to wire up the ballast puppy to the belly ballast button that is not used at the helm control pad.

any advise would be great.
I know there is a heap of ballast install threads already and I have looked through most but hey... Here's another

I know it's been years but I have a 216DD and would to get some info on how to set it up for surfing.

[rbalan]

I have the 2 gravity games in the rear compartment, I'd do one large bag if I had to do it over again (and I still might) with either a custom bag or the center gg bag 88x19x19. It sounds like you will need at least 800 more pounds on the rear seat and surf side coupled with a shaper. I would also fill the ski locker up and have a small sack to move around in the front. I'm trying to figure it out myself, and keep it as simple as possible.