Ballast Question

[erikj]

New to the forum and new to owning a 2000 SAN. I have some questions about the ballast and how to make it work with some landing pads that came with the boat. I have a 540# and two 350# and some weird plumbing that comes out of the stock ballast tanks. The issue is that I just got it all in a bundle and have no idea how it goes back together.. The goal is to be able to have a decent surf wave.

Also, what are these planks for? I would have assumed they go in the back next to the engine but don't seem to fit right.

This is my first v-drive so please excuse the ignorance..

Thanks in advance!

[a.klos]

Those planks are engine dividers, fit between engine and storage lockers. Two per side, one on top of the other one. Ballast-wise, it looks like unfinished custom overflow or fill line to me, depends on which pumps are you using.

[erikj]

Cool, thanks for that. So you dont think the extra plumbing would be for the add on landing pad? Meaning is it possible to fill your onboard then keep ot flowing to the extra bags? Also, what do you mean by pumps Im using, like the pumps for the ballast? I have several but i think they are tsunami 500 or something, i can take a pic later.

[homer12]

Erik, x2 on the engine dividers being those planks. They can be a bit tricky and depending on your boat are not interchangeable between sides. They need to stay with the side they were cut to go with.
On the ballast pumps on board - you will either have original aerator style pumps (which is what tsunami's are) or may have been changed to impeller style ballast pumps. Impeller pumps are reversible, capable of fill and draining the tanks. Aerator pumps are one direction and you have to have a fill pump and drain pump per tank. I agree the PVC looks like either unfinished work or something custom no one is going to be able to help with without showing a lot more pics of fittings and bags.
The idea the previous boat owner was going for was most likely a "piggy back" setup where you fill the extra sacs off the overflow vent of the tank and then vent the sac overboard for overflow. You're going to have to do some searching to see what kinds of setups people have done. Lots of info here on that.

[erikj]

Thanks guys, I really appreciate it, I will add some pics later and it sounds like the piggyback would be a great option if possible, otherwise I might have to do it the old fashion way..

[DW SD]

I have a pretty good surf setup with the same ballast. Piggyback bags on top of hard tanks and about 450lbs in the locker. With a mission delta suck gate and a little tuning both waves clean up and have solid push. I run about 350 lbs across the port side seat base with two guys in the boat and one surfer. That bag offsets the driver. The second guy in the boat sits on whatever side the surfer is.

As for getting you going....
Buy the piggyback kit from wakemakers to adapt the new bags to the old tanks. I used 1" soft lines vs hard PVC. I'd be afraid those would break give. They aren't so flexible. If you look closely for model info sizing or photo the new bags and send to wakemakers they'll give you the connections.

As noted you'll want to verify which pump(s) you have. And possibly upgrade. Wakemakers can set you straight on that too.

Upgrading to an impeller pump is great but will take some extra plumbing and wiring. You will add some check valves and relays to make sure the pump gets proper voltage.


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[DW SD]

Sorry. I used paragraph returns but the mobile app removed that punctuation


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[erikj]

Dw, you da man, that helps a ton, Ill reach out to them and see if they can help with the piggyback kit. Ill probably start off with a suck gate and hope for the best.. thanks for the input

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[DW SD]

Glad to help!

[erikj]

Yeah it sounds like i have to just replace the stock ballast and do the ballast upgrade kit instead. $450ish total which isnt bad to get 2 720# the fittings and the divider protectors. Wavemakers was def the way to go.. anyone have any experience with removing the stock tanks?

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[DW SD]

Pretty sure I have these, which sit on top of stock tanks. https://www.wakemakers.com/fly-high-v-drive-sacs.html

This set is called V-drive. $229

42"L x 16"W x 16"H

400 each / 800 total lbs.

[DW SD]

some just cut up the tanks to remove. They aren't worth much and are a fortune to ship.

[erikj]

So hey with the stock tanks and pumps you have the added sacks with the piggyback? Just wondering why that isnt an option for me, would like to save the money if possible.

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[ScooterMcgavin]

[QUOTE=erikj;n515477]So hey with the stock tanks and pumps you have the added sacks with the piggyback? Just wondering why that isnt an option for me, would like to save the money if possible.

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[/QUOTE

Did you figure out what ballast pumps you have in your boat? Were they upgraded to the impeller style pumps?

[DW SD]

I think it is a viable option. You will need to adapt the stock tanks to the bags which sit on top. Wakemakers can prescribe what you need. I think the hard tank top it 1 1/2" NPT thread. Might be wrong. I used a bushing to a NPT to nipple hose adapter for 1" hose.

In the end there isn't much more room in the storage locker when the bags and tanks are full. I'm sure we are maxing out the ballast.


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