Ballast taking on water

[themaestro]

2003 Air Nautique 216 DD

With the Ball valves closed (engine compartment with the blue handles) I will get one side (usually port) that will partially fill with water. We will be sitting in one place for a while, and when we take off, the boat lists and I know one of the tanks started filling. (the water gauge shows its 1/4 or so full) So I then switch the pumps on to drain, and water will pump out for 30 sec- 1 min.

Same thing will happen 3-4 times over the course of a day.
Why is this??

Side note: My pumps are not working to pump water in. Apparently they can pump water out though?

[Kmayotte]

First there are separate pumps for in and out. Second, the handles on the through hull ball valves won't close the valve all the way. Atleast they don't on my boat, there's too much flex in the rod. I put a wrench on to make sure they're all the way closed when I need them to be. Last, to close the intake so the don't fill, close the line/cable valves by the drivers seat. There will be one for each tank. I have a 210 but it should be the same on your boat.

[themaestro]

OK, I thought the ball valves bypassed the under drivers dash levers. I have been doing the ball valves because the under dash ones are stuck. So they BOTH have to be closed?

[engkid_486]

If you are closing the thru-hull brass valves you should not have any water entering the tanks. The thru-hull valves should loosen up from working them back and forth, so you can have either fully open or fully closed (depending on the direction). I would try working them with back and forth till you feel that they are reaching the fully open and fully closed positions.

[Kmayotte]

The thru-hull does cut off water to the whole system. You definitely don't if you closed all the way if your still take on water. Mine won't close all the way even from working back and forth, the long thin handles are poor design IMO.

Sounds like the system could use a little TLC. New aerator pumps are under $30 and very easy to change. See HERE I'd try lubing the dash valves at the actual open/close spot by the tanks and see if you can get those working. Or get new ones HERE

[Shooter]

The thru-hull ball valves are very reliable. Try working them, they should turn a full 90 degrees to open and close.

You shouldn't need the under-dash valves if you are using the thru-hulls or vice versa. there was a recall on those "flowright" valves if you decide to swap them out.

As for the pumps not pumping in. I some time need to drive forward to prime the pumps to get them to start pumping. Can you here them running when filling?

[NautiqueJeff]

My 2003 210 had the same problem. Most boats from that era do.

Here's what I did to finally fix it once and for all. Read through the whole thread (if you have time). The electric valves wired into the ballast switch ended up being a great solution to this issue.

http://www.planetnautique.com/vb3/sh...Ballast-Valves

Post #68 (page 7) has my final solution that worked perfectly.

[shag]

I think the 2001 SAN I had did the same thing. The valves were recalled if I remember right.....

[themaestro]

Wow, this is getting pretty complicated for a newb like me. What is the first step? Check the main through hull valves? I'm not even sure where to start.