plumbing ballasts on a 2009 SANTE

[airhuck]

can you plumb ballasts off the stock rear tanks to overflow into fly highs nautique bags? fly high makes a package that comes with everything you need (bags, hoses, fittings). i spoke to my dealer today and they say that when you drain that theres no air flow and the stock ballast can suck in and break. anyone have experience with this?

also, do the "fill' pumps work off a timer or off the ballast guages? if plumbed will the pumps stop when just the stock tanks are filled? if i hit "fill" again will it continue to fill until the extra bags are full?? will the guages say its full stop it from pumping further?

thanks for the help!

[Nautiquehunter]

I cut the vent hose and put the bag in line so as the tank overfills it fills the bag if it overfills it will vent out the original vent port . You will have to push the fill button a second time to reset the timer. Works great third season no problems so far.

[airhuck]

the issue the dealer told me was more for draining. he said the lack air flow could make the hard tank suck in (kinda like leaving a gas tank unvented). any experience with this?

[WakeSlayer]

I would think that if installed properly, and there is no obstruction, or kinking in the vent line and the line in between the tanks and auxiliary bag, there couldn't be a problem.

[airhuck]

the dealer is saying that when the bags drain theyll close up and restrict air from flowing into the hard tanks. therefore, sucking them in. i know some ppl on here have plumbed this rig. i was hoping someone could shed some light from experience.

[d_nodixon]

I installed check valves on the line between the tank and bag, works well. Used a T-fitting with one threaded end to install the valve. One plastic and one brass, both works well, the plastic one make an anoying 'sucking" sound.

[jimmyj]

3-4 guys at the lake have done this exact same thign. works like a champ. dealer is trying to hose you into buying something prolly. some special pump or something stupid that you dont need

[airhuck]

I installed check valves on the line between the tank and bag, works well. Used a T-fitting with one threaded end to install the valve. One plastic and one brass, both works well, the plastic one make an anoying 'sucking" sound.

is there anyway you can email me a pic of the T fitting and valve?? solkitchen@aol.com much appreciated if you can! it can even be a cell phone pic.

[JWAT]

The dealer is somewhat right. This is a potential problem, but you do not have to buy check valves or anything else in order to solve the issue. All you need to do is make sure that the vent lines from the vents to the additional fly high sacs are short enough so they just slightly pull up on the sacs when they are empty. This way there is always a little air in the sac and the tanks will not collapse. I put this system in my 2008 SAN 210 as soon as I got it and have not had any problems at all.

Also, to answer your other question...the pumps are on timers. They will shut off before the fly high sacs are completely full, so you will need to hit the button to start them up a second time in order to get the sacs completely full. Once they start overflowing out the side of the boat, shut them off.

[JWAT]

Btw, in my 2008 SAN 210, I have an additional fly high sac in the ski locker that ties into the stock center tank and then that sac overflows into an under-the-bow sac which then overflows out the side of the boat. I have to hit my front pump three times in order for it to fill up all three tank/sacs.

[rv6fly]

I have the fly high nautique system in my 2008 220. The instructions show clearly how to install the bags and vents and should only take you a couple hours to do. Don't waste your money on the timer override, just keep pushing the fill/drain button. Just a note if you surf a lot you need to put the 750 lb bags in the ski lockers instead of the 400 lb bags that come with the package. I'm changing mine out soon and adding the arrow sac as well.

[xrichard]

I have that set up in my 2008. If the FlyHigh sack collapses flat, then air cannot enter the stock tank and the stock tank will compress. Perhaps the tank could break, but I haven't had that issue....the issue I've had is the sender gets bent and can break.

The check valve is a great idea--I almost did that but then got lazy. I ended up looping a black bungie around the rear fitting on the FatSac (and attached to the top of the black plastic panel by the side of the ballast pumps) to pull the top of the sack up a bit so air will always flow through the FatSac to the stock tank. Cutting the vent hose a bit short on the FatSac->Thru-hull fitting will do the same thing.

[airhuck]

thanks for the info. the ones of yall who have plumbed these, are yall using the fly high rig?

[gride]

Got to go fly high. I can help you do this. I did it on my old mc and my nautique. I don't see it taking more than an hour. We can always try one side first.

[Fwat220]

I have this set up in my 2007 220. if the fly high sack is being filled up by the overflow from the hard tank and the fly high sac overflow is tied into the side vent then there is no air problems. I have no problem with my front sac and my rears. Works great. Fly high has pdf instructions for the set up. Just email them asking for the instructions.