2003 210 SANTE Ballast Upgrade

[Rockymtnsurfer]

Hi all.....I have a couple questions I know this crowd can answer. There are a ton of article on what people have done for this year boat......I have narrowed it down, but have a few comments.

I have pulled the rear stock tanks and would like to go with just fat sacks. Consensus seems to be the wave maker 750lbs in each rear compartment. Measurments are 50x20x20. Seems to me the measurements in the compartments are more like 46x18x18...with a taper in the rear.
Do you fill the bag not to full capacity and let it scrunch in? Fill it full? any worries about poking holes or pushing in engine wall sliders?
Seems like a FULL fit?

or do I go down to the 650lbs that are 40x20x20 Sumo?

Center Tank I am going to leave....seems like a pain.

Bow? relocate battery and take out cooler and try to squeeze in v bag? People and lead? Thoughts.

I know this last question has been discussed....but....would you hook these up to the original pumps and valve controls, or scrap all the old stuff.....and use 12v pumps?

Very little wake boarding ....90 percent surfing. I know there is a nice ideal set up for this old classic. Thank you for your help in advance. D

[Luebowski]

I am doing the same install you are in my 04 210. Just ripped out everything from the factory and will be using Wake Makers reversible pumps. I didn't like the idea of still having 4 pumps + check valves since the original owner never got rid of the flow wrongs. I went with the 650 bags as recommended by Wake Makers even though I know people throw 750's in there all the time. I have lead to add if necessary plus we usually have a full boat of adults/kids. I will need to do something in the bow eventually but for now I plan to use a sumo bag or people + lead. We are more like 70% wakeboard/30% surf.

With the next week off work I hope to install done, will be adding more pics to my thread.

[Rockymtnsurfer]

Thanks Luebowski.......I measured again yesterday and it seem the 650 will fit a lot cleaner. Does anyone ever get concerned with scores bolts etc poking a hole in the bag when its full. There are bolts in the rear hull and the engine boards have pointed metal on certain angles.......maybe its not a concern. D

[DW SD]

I think a legitimate concern. Either cut off bolt heads or use vacuum plugs to cover the sharp exposed ends. Or do both.
Bags are tough but no sense tempting fate.


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[peter43]

I did the same ballast upgrade on my 04 210. I went with 750's in the rear and a 580 in belly. You can fill the 750's all the way up with no problems. The center tank is not hard to remove if you run the fuel tank empty first. Since you are investing the time to do the work it is worth it to make the change. You will want the extra weight in the belly and bow with all the weight in the rear. I went with the jabsco ballast puppies and upgrade everything to the 1" tubing. Run new ballast switches. I thought there would be more issues trying to adapt the existing ones.