2" thru hull for ballast

[rbalan]

I'm getting my plans together for plumbing my ballast this off season and was contemplating using a 2" thru hull to a manifold housing 3 pumps. My boat is a 2000 Sport/Air w/o factory ballast and my initial plan is to mount the manifold just forward the engine. My goal is to be able to run all three 1200 gph pumps at the same time without restricting flow. I have thought of using 2 or 3 thru hulls of smaller size but a single might be best due to limited space. My concern is drillling a 2 and a half inch hole and decreasing the hull's strength. My question is has anyone used a 2" and what are your thoughts? Also, what size is the factory thruhull for LCS?

Thanks

[vortech347]

Pretty sure it is 3/4" or 1" ID

I'm not positive but I believe on my 99 Sport it has a 3/4 or 1" ID fitting for the LCS. I know the soft lines for the system are very small and it's a good 1/2 hour for the single 750gph pump to fill up the two tanks.

I've had intentions of putting an 1100gph pump in and possibly increasing the size of the hoses but I'm not sure the changing the hoses will help much considering how small the thru hull inlet is.

The bigger pump will definitely help though.

[wake_fun]

RE: Pretty sure it is 3/4" or 1" ID

Check out my install pictures in my threads and photo album..........

[WakeSlayer]

RE: Pretty sure it is 3/4" or 1" ID

I put seperate thru hulls for each pump so you can drain and fill independently. This is handy for switching sides for surfing. or balancing for an even wake. I used 1" fittings. That is greater than the ID going thru the pumps so there is no sacrifice there. Pretty sure the Jabsco's are 3/4".

[rbalan]

RE: Pretty sure it is 3/4" or 1" ID

Thanks guys,

Wake fun, I don't think anybody on PN does a ballast system without checking out your install. Definitely nice work!

Wakeslayer, I haven't completely ruled out using 3 thru hulls. Access to 3 valves once bags are full in my DD is an issue. BTW, I am using Tsunami aerator pumps.

Vortech, if you do change out your pump and lines, go with LiveBaitLarry's 1100 Gph pump. It has a 3/4" inlet and 1 1/8" outlet. It's a little larger and more expensive than most aerators, but I believe it will outflow my 1200 Gph Tsunamis any day of the week. I had it plumbed in my old boat and it would fill 2 550 launch pads in 12-13 minutes. Thats with a 3/4" thru hull. If I had the room, I would have used these again.

[wake_fun]

Re: RE: Pretty sure it is 3/4" or 1" ID

Thanks guys,

Wake fun, I don't think anybody on PN does a ballast system without checking out your install. Definitely nice work!

Thanks :mrgreen:

[mcbridek]

RE: Re: RE: Pretty sure it is 3/4" or 1" ID

On my 99 Sport, I used a 1 in thru hole, 1 inch pipe and line, 1600 GPH inbound to a single rear bag - 400 lbs (need a 600 lb bag in the rear locker). Fills in slightly over 2 minutes. Outbound I used a 1200 GPH out the side (vented into the same side thru hull using a $16 one way value). Pro X bags. I moved the coast guard plate (by the throttle) and put two switches, Second switch is for the front sac,but have not installed yet. In you want more info, let me know. Manifold sounds to complicated given the high flow pumps that exist now.

[mcbridek]

RE: Re: RE: Pretty sure it is 3/4" or 1" ID

If my manifold you mean a simple 1 1/ 2 or 2" inbound that splits to 3 smaller lines - that is exactly what I would do. You may not be able to run all 3 at once, but the fill time is so fast with the high volume pumps I do not think it matters.

[rbalan]

RE: Re: RE: Pretty sure it is 3/4" or 1" ID

Where did you mount your 1600 pump. If its the one I'm thinking about, it seems like it would barely fit anywhere. If you upgrade your sac, I would consider the Flyhigh center GG sac (88x19x19 I think), unless you are pretty much satisfied with 400 lbs in the back. I tried a single 550 Launch pad in mine and wasn't that impressed. With 2 Gravity Games sacs in the back and a rear seat sac in the locker, the wake is much more respectable.

BTW, I might be getting rid of 2 -550 lb Launch Pads (original design) in the future if you are interested.

[Miljack]

Randall,
I was able to fit a 1 1/2" through hull in the stock recess where the original 3/4" through hull came mounted from the factory. The one I used has the strainer foot. This one BARLEY fits in the molded recess, if you are not using that location, you could probably get that 2" somewhere. On our boat, 99 Pro Air, it was a b!&^* to get my plumbing laid out to clear everything. After I was done, I smacked myself in the forehead when I had a good look at where the engine intake is. In hindsight, I should have swapped where I mounted my ballast intake with the water intake for the enigne. I could have mounted all of the pumps and laid the plumbing out better back near the propshaft and exhaust pipes. I would suggest having a look back there and seeing if you could fit it in your boat. My system has 3 x 1200 Tsunamis, and they work great, but I can only run 2 at a time with my current manifold design. My manifold is just 2" PVC plumbing T's joined together. I used the 1 1/8" bilge hose for my fills, and 3/4" for the empty side. The only other change I would consider is the locker sack uses the 3/4 800 Tsunami, and I might switch it and the plumbing for the bigger pump and lines.

Let me know if you have any other questions.
Jack

[Miljack]

Edit; I used a 1 1/4" through hull as the "foot" or strainer filled up the molded recess on my boat. IIRC, the 1 1/2 was too big to fit in the recess. I think you could use a through hull without the strainer and get a bigger size in the stock location

[rbalan]

Thanks Jack, I'm going to check into the engine intake location.

[mcbridek]

Rbalan - Here is the pump location - line elbows into the bottom and you can see the line out. I think this pump is now a 2000 GPH - Rule. You can see the pump in the lower right.

[wake_fun]

Look at my sst manifold, it's very simple. I can run all three pumps at once through it.

[rbalan]

Yeah I saw it, if I had acces to a tig welder I would probably take that route (after alot of practice!).