SAN aerator ballast system, anyone?

[jhiestand]

I've rigged a pretty decent 4-bag ballast system into my '01 SAN using two self-priming Simer pumps and a bunch of valves, but I'm disappointed in the electrical draw of the system. I'd really like to scrap the Simers and run fill/empty aerator-style pumps. Has anyone used aerators in their SAN with success? I know placement is critical and there isn't much room below the waterline for pump placement. Just wondering if anyone has had any direct experience?

[Mikeski]

RE: SAN aerator ballast system, anyone?

I know what you mean about the Simer's, I had them in my last boat, slow, noisy, succeptible to impeller failure, etc. Surprisingly the 06 ballast systems are back to using impeller pumps, Jabsco Ballast Puppies.

Most of the factory systems use aerator pumps. I am considering replacing my factory aerator system with something similar to the Rival Download system. www.rivaldownload.com

[Flux]

RE: SAN aerator ballast system, anyone?

My 02 SANTE came stock with the rule 1100 gph aerator pumps. Works fine thus far. We have two batteries on board and run 3 pumps plus a 4th for a large bag in the bow simultaneously. I have not had a problem aside from them not priming, but all you have to do is idle the boat forward and that issue is resolved.

Biggest bonus is they are inexpensive to replace if they should crap out. The plumbing is fairly simple, although we have to open the ski locker to open and shut the seacocks. If you go this route, make sure you have seacocks before the pumps so you can close them off when you are running, otherwise water will flow right through.

Aerator pumps are small and work like crazy, keep a replacement around and have a back up plan to empty or fill the badfs just in case. I am not completely sold on the impeller style ballast pumps. They are heavy and don't fill as fast according to the specs. I know people have them and are happy with them though, less wiring for the reversible pumps. Aerators take 1 to fill, 1 to empty, so there you have it.

[patoloco]

Is this the link you were shooting for?

http://www.rivalindustry.com/download.htm

I am happy to know if I burn up a areator pump in my ballast system its $20 from walmart and installed in about 10 minutes...or for that matter, replace it on the water with my fat sac pump.

[jhiestand]

I still have the stock rear tanks in my boat and they fill/empty via aerators, but it's a clunky setup. Priming is a major concern for aerators and from what I've read, it's very important to have the fill pumps below the waterline and not too far from the water intake. There's just not much room that low in my boat so I wouldn't know where to locate the fill pumps.

The Rival system is pretty cool, but once again I don't know where I'd locate it. Plus, I could probably do a similar system for significantly less $$.

[mike-d]

tsnami pumps

Joe,
I have the tsnami pumps plumbed into my 2001 san. I run over 2500pds of water, took the stock plastic tanks out. I bought the new flyhigh red 750's, for the system, and kept my 1000 pder in the ski locker. , Have lead in the bow etc. etc. I find this system the best at filling and emptying, I am trying to get a new larger manual valve made up, so I can control the flow at the helms. The smaller th marine valves just restrict the flow too much from the tsnami pumps. All plumbing is 1 inch braided vinyl. etc.

Mike
2001
Have three jabsco ballast puppies sitting in my garage, simers too. :evil:

[Mikeski]

RE: tsnami pumps

Mike-d,

Which tsunami's do you use? I have a 1200 in my garage but the 1 1/8" fittings are all but non existent so I might switch to the rule 1100's or something else.

Like everybody else's my flo-rite on my 05 211 just flow, plus the system is too slow for my liking. I am thinking of swapping one of the intakes for a 1.5" scoop to feed a main water intake header. Between the scoop and the pumps I will install a cable actuated gate valve:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eB...tem=4569915640

then probably add flapper check valves after the pumps to prevent cross filling/draining, a high loop with vacuum breaking vent might also do the trick?

I also have the TH Valves ready to be installed but I don't think they are the solution since they are so small. Possibly OK if I used a pair of TH's on each line?

Had Simer's in my last boat, was happy to see them go (noisy).

[jhiestand]

RE: tsnami pumps

mike-d, where did you locate your tsunami pumps for the rears and for the locker, plus, where is their water intake?

I might even consider taking my rear tanks out if it isn't TOO much work. Was removing the tanks difficult? I'd love to see some pics of your setup, if you have any!

[lucey]

ditto

[Flux]

On my 02, the rear through-hulls are down near the front of the engine opposite to the wire cluster, there is deinately not alot of room down there. One of the scoops is also pretty close to the bunk on the trailer, It hit's it if you come in crooked, but aligns fine. I could take some pics of the rear aerators and through hulls if you need them.

I am not sure you could put a tsunami on my stock rear intakes, they are right next to each other. They have rule 1100's on them now and it fills pretty quickly as is. Because the valves are manual, I am considering putting some 12v solenoid valves in front of the pumps so I don't have to open the hatch to fill during wakeboard time. Someone used these on this site:

http://www.stcvalve.com/I-Solenoid-spec-2W-2S.htm

I would call them and make sure they don't spark though, I have had fumes in my bilge and it's a concern.

[ag4ever]

Flux, it is funny you say your intake hits a bunk. My intake for the engine cooling hit a bunk, tore a piece of wood off, ripped the metal protection intake screens off, and lodged in the intake. I had to get under the boat with pliers to get it out while on the water b/c I did not know it happened the previous time when loading it. Now I am very carefull to try and come on straight.

Also I think there is plenty of room under the rear ballast tanks for extra pumps. That is where the two pumps are for the rear tanks on my boat. If CC had the tanks made to fit that space, there would have been an extra 150 punds of water at least added to the ballast system.

[Flux]

Yep, both my inside bunks are dinged at the rear, luckily I never did what you did. We are fairly cautious when trailering. On straight, one of the scoops has only an inch or two clearance.

The empty pumps are down below the tanks in my 02, and probably yours too. I took out my tanks and absolutely marveled at the amount of unused space. I doubt there is a way to make a hard tank that conforms to the hull shape, at least not a cheap one anyway. I took mine out, reinforced the sidewall between the engine, and did a mild bit of plumbing. I put 750# pro-X sacs in there and it was pretty simple really. 500 lbs in them is no problem and there is still like 6" of height left. I had to invert the empty and vent lines so the sacks would not drain and we could fill them more.

Again, alot of room in there that was not used. I like the sacks over the tanks as we can put 4 boards and alot of gear in the hatches for trailering. Then we just dunk the boat and get going instead of transfering all the gear from the truck. Oh yeah, we also get as much weight in there as we can handle, close to 2000 lbs.

[Seattle]

You may want to keep one of the Simer's in your system to insure quick prime for the aerators'. I tapped into the stock aerator system that was filling the rear tanks when I added a 400lb Fly High to the ski locker. The Simer signifigantly improved the prime for filling and increased the drain time of the stock system as well. A big benefit of having the Simer in the system, I no longer have to sit and wait to drain the stock system as I did prior.