2020 G21 Ballast Reading Issues

[morrow]

I seem to be having ballast issues with my Port & Starboard pumps. I feel like they've been giving bad readings (saying they're either full or empty when they're not...)

Example 1: When boat is sitting idle in water it takes on water on the Port side, it's obvious as the boat lists to the port side significantly, swim deck is under on the port side, etc. However, the dash says the tank is empty. If I tell it to run and empty the pump, even though it shows 0% after a few minutes the boat levels out. This indicates to me that it isn't getting a good reading.

Example 2: I drained all my pumps before trailering a week ago. All showed 0%. Today, within a minute or so of launching my boat, the starboard side pump says it's at 93% even though I hadn't run any pumps yet. I drained it to 0% and then it appeared to run fine again.

Example 3: I ran all drained all the tanks to 0%. Then I manually turned the handles to close off the water hoses to the tanks in the base of the boat. Sat in the water all night, and in the morning, the port side was full again.

So now I have trust issues with what is really in my tanks. I've noticed the surf and wakeboard wake haven't been as predictable, and whenever I'm not sure I empty the tanks for 5-10 minutes (even if they show 0% ) and then fill back and up and everything is good.

How do the ballast tanks measure capacity? Is there a sensor somewhere I need to replace, or do I need to replace the Jabasco Ballast King pumps.
It's a 2020 G21 with about 450 hours on it.

Thanks

[GMLIII]

Your ballast pressure sensors are toast . Go on and replace all three sensors . Known problem on these boats . I have a 2017 G23 and have replaced them twice thus far . Poor faulty design IMHO

[morrow]

Your ballast pressure sensors are toast . Go on and replace all three sensors . Known problem on these boats . I have a 2017 G23 and have replaced them twice thus far . Poor faulty design IMHO

Thanks!!

[jpwhit]

Your ballast pressure sensors are toast . Go on and replace all three sensors . Known problem on these boats . I have a 2017 G23 and have replaced them twice thus far . Poor faulty design IMHO

Agreed, poor design in general. But what really makes it bad IMO, is they have the software / ballast control designed such that it the renders the system inoperative when the sensor fails. It would be so easy to design the software / ballast control system to fail to a degraded but working state. That's how it would be designed in the automotive industry.

[Scooter G]

Hey morrow, just run a quick search for "ballast sensors" on the PN main page. You'll know more than you want to at that point, lol.
If you are the original owner and made it to 450 hours without replacing a sensor yet, you done good kid.

[morrow]

Hey morrow, just run a quick search for "ballast sensors" on the PN main page. You'll know more than you want to at that point, lol.
If you are the original owner and made it to 450 hours without replacing a sensor yet, you done good kid.

Hah, I noticed! I wasn't sure what they were called, I'm finding all kinds of info on it now. Sounds like it's kind of a miserable replacement process. I'm trying to decide if I'm going to attempt myself or haul to the dealer. (My dealer is 3 /12 hours away...so that makes it a 14 hour grind by the time I make 2 trips there...not fun...)

[Scooter G]

The rear ballast sensors are indeed a challenge, but doable. If you plan on keeping the boat for a while, you might want to try to figure it out, for the next time.
I would do what I rendered 1000 times over just to simplify the process, takes about the same amount of time initially, and then a breeze there after:
https://www.planetnautique.com/vb5/f...a-new-approach

The front sensor, as we found out recently is located under the dash, piece of cake.

[morrow]

The rear ballast sensors are indeed a challenge, but doable. If you plan on keeping the boat for a while, you might want to try to figure it out, for the next time.
I would do what I rendered 1000 times over just to simplify the process, takes about the same amount of time initially, and then a breeze there after:
https://www.planetnautique.com/vb5/f...a-new-approach

The front sensor, as we found out recently is located under the dash, piece of cake.

Thanks! Super helpful. Only caveat is I'm assuming for those of us who do have the warranty, this would probably void it? After looking at it I'm not sure how in the world you get down there without cutting a hole unless you're a contortionist!

[Scooter G]

Ya no, they tend to frown when pulling out the chainsaw and ripping holes under warranty, lol.
Today would be a good day to start your yoga routine...

[BasaltRMK]

It's a pain (I also have a 2020 G21), but doable. The second one (starboard) went a lot more smoothly than the first (port). Just be sure to remove the bolted in rear divider panels (and parts that mount to them), and have a flexible/extendible magnet for _when_ you inevitably drop a wrench down the ballast bag access port. Take your time and you'll get 'er done. And Scooter G isn't joking - flexibility helps!

- bob

[GMLIII]

morrow PITA to change. For your sanity I would get your dealer to change. Your boat should be under warranty anyway.