Thoughts on replacing 220 belly tank with a bag

[pSchwade]

The new (to me) boat is still in the shrink wrap, so I havent has a chance to see what my options are - but the current setup is the stock hard tank and a piggy back'd arrow sack. I plan on using the boat in lake Tahoe 30-50% of the time and it requires decontamination for all hard tanks so its a real pain any time you go to another lake (they let you skip the decontamination if your boat is dry when it is inspected and all ballast bags have been removed). Is there a good bag option for replacing both the belly hard tank and arrow sack that will give the same, or more, capacity? I know I will lose the gauges if I remove the hard tanks, but thats not a big deal to me.

[Neverenough]

It maybe be a bigger pita to pull tanks than getting permits. I had the deck out of ours and I'm not sure you can get it out without cutting it out. I feel pretty sure you'll have to pull the fuel tank but it's been awhile since I've seen it. Good luck!

[vvfdfirefighter]

The new (to me) boat is still in the shrink wrap, so I havent has a chance to see what my options are - but the current setup is the stock hard tank and a piggy back'd arrow sack. I plan on using the boat in lake Tahoe 30-50% of the time and it requires decontamination for all hard tanks so its a real pain any time you go to another lake (they let you skip the decontamination if your boat is dry when it is inspected and all ballast bags have been removed). Is there a good bag option for replacing both the belly hard tank and arrow sack that will give the same, or more, capacity? I know I will lose the gauges if I remove the hard tanks, but thats not a big deal to me.

I'd probably look into this route if I were you. They worked with the Water Sports Industry Association. I'm thinking you attach one of these bad boys to the output of every ballast pump and boom....

http://www.wake-worx.com/Mussel_Mast_R.html

[vvfdfirefighter]

My question is will you be using ballast on Lake Tahoe? Or just removing all the bags, if you convert over to all bags, just to joy ride on the lake?

[pSchwade]

The Muscle Mast'r seems like a good idea, but it will probably take a couple of seasons before they make an exception for boats with ballast filters. Currently the rule is any boat with hard tanks needs to run through decontamination regardless of how clean and dry the rest of the boat is. Its not a huge cost (something like $35 each time, after you pay your Tahoe fees) but it can take up to 4 hours to get through the line if they are busy. If you have removable ballast bags (and you remove them before the inspection) they will just do a visual check (no long line) to make sure the bilge, exhaust, and raw water intakes are dry and they will take you at your word that you made sure all of your bags are clean and dry.

When the boat is actually out on Tahoe I will definitely take the bags and see how it goes, but all of the serious boarding will be done at one of the smaller lakes - which leads to the problem of needing to go between Tahoe and other lakes...

one question though: how well do those Muscle Mast'r filters work with reversible pumps?

[vvfdfirefighter]

I've never dealt with actually having to go through decontamination. Thanks for the information. I understand their need to keep out these species but I feel like they're skimping if they only check hard tanks and not soft. Although, I assume one can easily run some Clorox water through them. However, I'm sure there's a lot of people who don't and I'm equally sure they don't always get 100% drained.

If you can actually use the bags on the lake I say go for it! As for using the filters with the reversible pumps I'd say they should work fine. I don't have any myself but considering being in the military I move a lot, I've looked into them and want to slowly upgrade to them eventually. As long as lakes and such allow them and have an exception for them. By design, I would assume they would work like any strainer. One would just put a filter on each tank output of the pump. When using the pump in reverse to empty I would again assume they wouldn't have any restriction and would possibly act as a reverse flush for the filter, making it almost completely self cleaning. Of course after using it in a "non-certified" lake, I would probably take the strainers apart and clean them. Of course these may be like ceramic water filters and the pumps may have a difficult time drawling water through them too. I'd have to look into that myself.

I did read on their page that they are available as an upgrade option on all new Nautique and Centurion boats. Knowing these boats use the Pup style reversible pumps they must work pretty good, I hope.