Ballast puppy, time to fill?

[surroundsound64]

How long should it take a ballast puppy to fill a 750# sack? I have one pump filling a 375# sack in under 3 min, while another pump takes 7 min to fill a 750# sack. I don't know if one works really well or the other is slow.

[Mikeski]

Wakemaker lists the fill rate as 89lbs/minute, seems like they are performing right at the expectation.

[surroundsound64]

Thanks! I must have missed that on their website.

[Mikeski]

The Johnson is a tad faster at 100lbs/minute. Maybe trade up to the Johnson for the big daddy 750?

[surroundsound64]

I almost went with them when I ordered the whole set up (3 pumps, 2 750# sacks (haven't even filled the other one up yet as we always surf the port side,) and a 375# sack. I went with the puppies because they came with switches and that was one less thing I would have to order and that's what nautique uses... Not much of a reason... Seeing their 89ppm rate now, I'm sufficed with 7 min. The 375# in under 3 min is just a bonus. Probably because it's low in the boat and isn't being pumped up. If anything, maybe down.

[Scoobie2]

You could change your plumbing and run 3 pumps to speed up the fill. I've got 3 Johnson pumps filling either port or starboard 750's in about 3 1/2 minutes. Since the pumps are reversable, by grabbing the water flow going, in your case to starboard bag, and redirect it to port through a "T", I can double up on the volume of water.

[surroundsound64]

If I plumbed them all together, I would have to add more valves to shut off tanks I didn't want filled. Interesting concept though.

[Scoobie2]

I dont know your set up, but as mentioned, i have three of my pumps running two tanks. I suspect you have your two rear tanks wth their own separate water inlets. by adding a third pump to that configuration, you can nearly double your fill speed. just your existing shut off valves, and no others are required. THe third pump can grap the water being pumped towards your starboard tank and push it towards your port tank, and vise versa. The Johnson, or Ballast Puppys act as the valves. I've run this for three years now and it works great. Only draw back is at the beginning of the season getting your head around the switch operation to make it work. I could provide a drawing if your interested.