SANTE 230 2010 ballast upgrade. hard tank piggy back vs. fat-sac

[moto822]

Hey All,

I am in the process of deciding how to upgrade my SANTE's ballast system. I have been looking at wakemakers piggy back system and I am trying to decide if I want to keep my hard tanks and just add the piggy back or remove them and go with straight up fat-sac's. I am wondering what others have done in the 230?

I was looking at the 1600lbs addon. my other thought was to ax the hard tanks and put some 1500 lbs blocks on each side. If someone has removed the hard tanks I would like to understand what the process was to remove them.

Thoughts?

[msbowhunter]

I am planning to remove the hard tank on port side of my 210. Tired of having to mess with venting the 750 and add 450 on seat with a pump. Not sure I can get the same weight on that side as i am currently running but will certainly be easier to fill and drain with just one big sac.

[moto822]

Hey,

I am thinking of doing the same thing with all my hard tanks. The challenge will be the bow tank. I have been reading people had to cut them out or remove the gas tank.

[grnking]

I took my hard tanks out of the back. It works great. Just adjust the timer setting on the ballast pump to run longer. As for removing tanks just requires a a socket and flat screw driver. Once you do it you will love it.

[scottb7]

How do you adjust the timer?

I just took out hard tanks in back of 210. It was not so easy to get them out. Had to pull them forward and kind of wedge them pointed straight up to get out. Scrubbed carpet, dried out and replaced with jumbo vdrive sac's 1100 lbs capacity. I put old tanks in attic to save for next owner...Maybe I am wrong, but I really don't see missing them. Time will tell. Of course the gauges next to dash don't work...

The sac's fit really well. Can be rolled up, taken out with the quick connects, and you have ton's of space when not full. Even when full I think the sac is only like a foot taller then hard tank.

I have an extra sac from old boat that i plan on putting in ski locker piggy back style.

I guess I got all winter long to look for a surf board...

[moto822]

I took my hard tanks out of the back. It works great. Just adjust the timer setting on the ballast pump to run longer. As for removing tanks just requires a a socket and flat screw driver. Once you do it you will love it.

Grnking,

Did you remove the bow tank or just port and star? also, what did you replace them with? did you do the 400/750/1000? Where did you adjust the timer setting? is it in the linc system?

[swankster]

In my 230 I have 750s on top of the hard tanks on both sides and integrated them with the quick connects from wakemakers. It an easy install and to take out the sacks is easy too. I like having the gages to let me know when the tanks are empty. If you thread a 1/4 plastic line through the sack into the in and out lines you don't have to worry about the factroy tank not getting air when you empty them. I use 5 - 60lb lead weights in the bow. With everything full it takes about 20 seconds for the 343hp to get to 22 mph.

[moto822]

HI Swankster,

I have been looking at that same setup, I already own the 750's. My only issue is space, with them full I lose all storage space in my compartments. That was why I was thinking of removing the hard tanks and just use the sacs.I do like the gauges to give me so idea where I am at.

I have been reading about the vacuum issue, I am not 100% sure I am following what you did to prevent. if you could give me a bit more explanation it would be much appreciated.

Also, what are you doing in the bow for more weight? Do you run anything else other then the 2 750's? For surfing I put one 750 in the port locker, one 750 on the seat and all tanks full. I can remove the star ballast but I lose some of the push that I like. My overall thought for surfing was going to be 1 - 1100 in the back locker, 1 400 under the seats along side and a bow tank. then for wakeboarding, have a 750 in the star locker and the 1100 somewhat full to try and match the 750. Then a bow sac full. Not 100% yet, been talking to a lot of people to get idea's.

[grnking]

I put 1100 sacs in the back. And yes I adjusted it threw the dash. Instructions in owners manual. I haven't done anything to the front yet.

[xrichard]

Given that the vacuum lock issue is fairly easy to address, it seems like the biggest advantage to pulling the hard tanks is additional storage both empty and when running ballast. The hard tanks are pretty inefficient wrt use of space. I'm thinking I'll do this on my 210 (currently running hard + v-drive sacks...will likely switch to 750 sack on each side and remove the hard tanks).

For the bow tank, I believe the set up is similar 210 v. 230. One of mine leaked and had to be replaced. The dealer did the work...had to pull the gas tank and then slide the leaking bow tank back and out (bow tanks in 2008 are two-piece, one port and one starboard). After the gas tank was removed, he said it wasn't too difficult. The hardest part was that the replacement tank didn't have the same mounting bracket location...so he had to mess around with that for a bit.

Are the ballast timers adjustable? Where are they and how to adjust?

[HS]

Without the hard tanks, what does the cavity look like that would hold the 1,100 lb. sac? What is there below the comaprtment divider between the engine and storage locker to keep the sac in place?

[scottb7]

Take a look when you get a chance. Take cover off of hard tank and hop in on top of the hard tank with a flashlight. You can see down all sides of hard tank. You will see that the pull out divider between the engine and the either side storage goes all the way down past hard tank to "floor". So the sac actually fills in space a bit better since there was wasted space in back and sides of hard tank. I have the 1100 lb and it fits pretty well and when full will still have space on top. Sac is held by divder, back of boat, and outside of boat.

I added a few feet of hose to route overflow to opposite side to prevent the siphoning problem when leaning over surfing. I also plan to add as a few have done a support from back of boat (there is already a screw right there) to front of storage to prevent bowing of the divider. Not sure if this is huge issue as lean is away from engine when surfing.

I am more concerned (although never surfed yet) about water flowing into vent and onto electrical on port side where battery switch is.

[obd666]

Maybe I am wrong, but I really don't see missing them. Time will tell. Of course the gauges next to dash don't work...

will be going to 750 sacks in the lockers this winter, and that was a concern of mine also ... i guess if your rider only wants them half full, you'll have to get used to visually dialing in the wake, and/or know how long it takes your pumps to get however full you want them

or, only ride with it slammed out

[Miljack]

I removed the tanks in my old boat, but on the 230, I'm not planning on removing the tanks. For our wakeboarding, we like the stock tanks full, and only use Flyhi to balance out the wake. I don't want to get into checking the sacks to determine how full they are, for us we have so much more storage, we're not even close to using it all!

[wakerider107]

i ran with 750s in the back of my 12' 230 and didnt like how the 750s fit. so i swapped to 400s and put 180lbs of sand bags in each to keep the bags from sliding back. since the 750s wouldnt even fill all the way im guessing the 580 i have now is fairly close. also filling the 750 popped off the starboard compartment piece (under the latch just above the platform) which needs to be re glued.
now i just fill everything up and the wake is nearly perfect. the 725lb bow sac isnt quite enough. i plan on adding about 100 in lead under the bow filler cushion

also i use a valve in the middle of my vent line to prevent siphoning. just remember to open it when emptying!

my buddy who has an '11 210 use the wakemakers setup also.
he then uses pop-products to add a little weight to the bow and under port/starboard flip up seats.
with a 350 tube sac in the ski locker and a fly high fat brick on the passenger seat, his 210 throws the best wake ive seen from a 21' boat