Placement of ballast pumps

[ers906]

I am putting a new ballast system in my 2002 supersport and need ideas where to place the pumps. I will be putting in four ballast puppy Jabsco pumps. I have seen some threads regarding placing them either forward or aft of the engine, but with the excaliber 330 hp engine i am not sure if there is enough room. If anyone has experience or ideas of alternate places, pictures, etc.
Thanks
Eric

[RainDog]

I'm in the process of installing 6 Jabscos in my 2002 SAN with a Python. I couldn't make a mounting place that was installed right in front of the engine like other people with older SANs. The ski pylon and associated hardware made this impossible.

I made 2 panels that will be mounted in front of each storage locker. They will slip into a U channel at the base and be attached at the top to the front edge of the bulkhead. Each of these will have 2 pumps (one pump for a 750# in each locker and one for a 400 in the interior for each side) mounted to them, 'facing' into the locker. I'm planning on laying up a fiberglass cover to keep the filled sac from resting against the pumps even though if it does, I don't think it would be a problem.

The other 2 pumps are located in the ski locker. I made a tray that is suspended from the floor. That is where the belly and bow pumps will be mounted.

I'm planning on doing a complete write up when I'm done. Until then, I have pics of the work in progress at home. I'll try to post them tonight. It will be a lot clearer than my description. So far, it laying out very nicely. I'm to the point where all the mounting panels have been fabbed, pumps fitted and all the hoses pulled in. I need to CPES and carpet the new locker panels, final connect the hoses and wire the pumps.

[ers906]

Thanks for the info. I should be able to get a better mental image of it with the pics. Looking forward to them

[RainDog]

Here are some work in progress pictures:

This pic shows how the bracket or tray is suspended from the underneath of the floor. These are the pumps for the belly tank and bow sac.


This is the bracket with the 2 pumps and manifold attached


This pic shows the wood pump mounting panel. I bought some aluminum U channel from McMaster. This will be screwed into the floor and the panel will sit in it. The top of the panel tucks up underneath the bulkhead. I will drive 2 screws from the interior side of the bulkhead into the pump panel to secure it. The panel leans forward when installed. The panel will be saturated in epoxy and covered in carpet. I also made two new one piece side panels (not shown) to replace the crappy 2 piece factory ones. I did the same for the starboard locker also.


Hoping to wrap this up in April. Feel free to ask any questions although I'll be gone until next Wednesday.

[ers906]

So the first pic shows the belly tank and the associated pumps, correct?

The third pic shows the aft stbd area next to the V-drive. Do you also have a hard tank there? or are you going to use only the FLyHigh set up?

[RainDog]

So the first pic shows the belly tank and the associated pumps, correct?

Correct. Factory belly tank and 1 pump for said tank and the second pump for the V sac that will go in the bow.

The third pic shows the aft stbd area next to the V-drive. Do you also have a hard tank there? or are you going to use only the FLyHigh set up?

I removed the hard tanks and will be putting a 750 lb FlyHigh Vdrive Sac. I screwed around with wedge sacs last summer and decided I want nothing to do with piggybacking sacs and tanks.

[ers906]

Couple of questions:

Any problem putting the manifold at the pumps instead of at the thru hull? I would think that it would slow down your fill time considerably.

Did you have a cooler under your starboard bow seat? If so how did you remove it to fit the bow sac in?

Thanks
Eric

[RainDog]

Sorry for the delay. I just returned from a vacation.

Under most circumstances, the maximum water flow will be determined by the point of greatest restriction. With the 1" ID tubing I used, that restriction will be at most of the fittings with an ID of about 3/4". I don't believe it really matters where the restriction resides in the hydro circuit. A restriction point at the through hull or at the bag will _theoretically_ yield the same flow.

That said, I do believe my fill rate will be a little longer since I'm feeding 2 pumps with a circuit with 3/4" fittings (restriction points). Also, the 90 deg 'corners' will also slow down my flow rate. The trade off is really simple piping with the ability to have excellent control over the ballast weight and distribution. At this point, I'll take the minute or two fill time penalty to keep from adding 3 more through-hulls and the associated cost of good fittings and emergency isolation valves. If the fill time is _painfully_ slow, I can easily add more through hulls and feed each pump individually next winter.

I'll be installing 3 check valves on the drain lines. I wanted to make sure I mention this as it might not work without them.

I haven't tested this yet as I also am in the middle of the install.

Yes, I did cut out the cooler in the bow. I used a Fein Multimaster detail sander with a diamond grout wheel. I had to do a few inches with a sawsall where I couldn't reach it with the sander. It will allow the full use of the V bow sac and also allowed me to move my heater forward. In addition to this project, I'm relocating the subwoofer to the kick panel area, cutting in a new battery box, redoing the stereo and a multitude of other projects. FYI, I used the Fein Multimaster to remove the kick panel hump and cut the floor for the new battery box.

[ers906]

My maniforld is going to be in the bilge area, with the two thru hulls feeding four pumps under the back seats. I need to look into cutting for a new battery boxy (or at least enlarging the one that is already there). Do you have the heater behind your kick panel?

[RainDog]

Yes, I have the heater behind the kick panel. It is now moved forward and turned 90 degrees. It made a big difference when stuffing the sub box there.

It is really a wire and hose mess behind the kick panel. I'm trying to clean it up as much as possible, but it isn't easy without splicing a bunch wire harnesses.

You are putting the pumps under your seats?

[ers906]

Yeah. I built a wooden support for them and glassed the wood. I am carpeting the supports then bolting them down to the floor over the open area where the V-drive access is. I have them positioned where water cannot drip on them and the hoses wont have to kink to get to the forward ballast sacs. I will post pictures tonight when I get home since my **** work computer wont let up add anything to them ie download photos. The way I look at it is that if an impeller or pump has a problem while the sacs are full it will be easy to access them. I am also buying a Tsunami pump to keep onboard as an emergency (or to fill up the surf sacs a bit faster)

[ers906]

Here are the pictures. This is the support that I used for the ballast pumps. Three (feeding the bow sac, the belly sac and the port V-drive sac) are under the middle seat just over the V-drive transmission. I have them placed in such a way that water from occupants shouldnt get them wet, and if there is ever a leak I will be able to determine where it is and the majority of the water will flush into the bilge. Also they are oriented for easy access to the impellers if and when I need to replace them (eventuallywith the green version impeller). Same for the starboard pump. The supports were coated with resin and carpeted to match the carpet of the boat. They are giong to sit up slightly on nylon risers so there will be limited mildew underneath the boards. The wiring is tucked away under the side panels (I have the side upholstery out of the boat during the install) My plan is to enlarge the battery box on the port side for both the starting battery and a larger AGM battery that also recieves charge from the alternator with a selector switch attached (and or a SurePower Unit). This second battery is to run the onboard electrical (minus the stereo and amps) and the ballast pumps. The three-way rocker switches (four of them) are going to be placed under the ignition keypad (with the carbon monoxide plate removed and a matching silver plate in its place.

THoughts so far?