02 Air New Owner - Ballast Question

[novaair]

I was finally able to pick up an 02 Air Nautique SE with 195 hours on it. After taking it out several times I have noticed that the port side ballast tank will not fill all the way. It will fill about half way and then noticed that it was coming out of the drain or vent (dont know) hole from the hull.

This system has two fill pumps on each side of the motor and two manual valves right before the fill pumps. I have searched on this but seems that this may be a fairly unique setup to some of the previous Air and Pro Air versions. I do not have the white knobs under the LCS key pad (no key pad or whatever you want to refer to it as). I have a single rocker switch in the dash which operates both pumps.

Is there another vent valve on this setup that I am not turning on? Thoughts?

[MHayes]

Re: 02 Air New Owner - Ballast Question

After taking it out several times I have noticed that the port side ballast tank will not fill all the way. It will fill about half way and then noticed that it was coming out of the drain or vent (dont know) hole from the hull.

How do you know the tank is not filled all the way? Did you actually go back there and look at it or are you relying upon the gauge? The reason I ask is that if water is coming out of the vent, that's a pretty good indication that the tank is full...at least that's the case for our 2001 Air. If your gauge is reading that it's only halfway full, then you may have a gauge or sending unit issue. Just a thought.

[novaair]

RE: Re: 02 Air New Owner - Ballast Question

That was my first thought so I shut the valves (even though the gauge said that it was not full) and went on my way but noticed that the starboard side was sitting lower in the water, so I pulled the carpet in the rear storage area and the tank was only about 1/3 to 1/2 full.

Do you only have one valve in your 01? I noticed that the owners manual says there should be a valve in the rear storage compartment, but does not mention the valves on each side of the motor.

[MHayes]

RE: Re: 02 Air New Owner - Ballast Question

No, we have 2 valves in our 01; one for each ballast tank. I'm going to have to give this some more thought....in the mean time, hopefully someone with an 02 can chime in with more info.