Ballast set up

[Agent banks]

So I have an 01 San and I'm going to re plumb this boy this winter. Going to put 750s on port and starboard and 500 in locker. Can I use just to ballast puppy's. One for rear and one fore front. Rear using a T with shut offs just in case I want to surf some. Not that I really like surfing but rough water it's something to do. Any suggestions would help.

[xrichard]

I don't see why that wouldn't work...but your fill and empty times will be long. I have an 08 (w/ballast puppy pumps) and replaced the hard tanks with 750s in each rear locker. With one pump per bag, it takes me close to two full cycles to fill the bags...I believe each cycle is 5 min. So you could be looking at 20 min to fill....and another 20 to empty.

[seth]

Are you planning on using more sacs in the nose? You will never be able to fill the 750's all the way if you just have a 500 in the ski locker, you will just porpoise down the lake. What are your goals? Mackin wakeboard wake or just bigger than it gets now? If your looking to max out the wake, you should just do it right the first time and save yourself money in the long run unless you dont mind running a sac on top of your seats in the nose. Let me know and ill gladly help you out.

If you are set on running as stated in your post, I would set it up so the 750's each have their own pump and then T into the 500 from one pump or both. Your overall fill time will be faster. I run 3 pumps to 4 bags. The two front bags run off of one pump and take just a bit longer to fill than the 750's in back on their own pumps.

[Chexi]

What Seth said... unless you run lead in the bow, in which case you don't need the T. It is so much more convenient to have a pump for each zone (and I consider bow and belly 1 zone).

Note, if you run with the 750s full and the 500 belly full and what you need to run in the bow to make the wake right (40:60 front to rear ratio of ballast), you are going to have a massive wakeboard wake. Scary massive. You ware also going to need a high torque prop.

[swatguy]

I am with everyone here. Since you're going to do it, do it right the first time. I also agree you'll need way more weight in the bow area if you plan on running with the 750's remotely close to full. As mentioned ballast fill times with one single pump to fill (2)750's will be near the 15 min mark.

If you want to cut cost 3 pumps minimal and piggy back the bow weight off the ski locker to save on a 4th pump, but if you ask me any basic ballast system needs 3 pumps/zones minimal.

[MI-Nick]

i would recommend 3 pumps also. if you plan to fill the 750's, you'll probably want more bow weight. i have 3 bags and 3 ballast puppies in my '99 SAN + ~150lbs of lead...this summer i switched from 400lbs on each side of the engine to SL 600lbs and with driver and spotter it's well balanced...i guess my point is that if you're not gonna fill the 750's all the way, you might be OK with just the 500lb (fly high rr seat sac?? if so, more like 600lb) in the locker...and maybe consider the 600lb SL sacks as an alternative to the 750's...either way, 3 pumps will give you more options down the road.

[Agent banks]

Thanks guys... What about plumbing are there any pointers I should know before tackling this winter project. I'll post pics. I'm super pumped about this upgrade