Anyone Have Trouble With Helm Control Ballast Valves?

[NautiqueJeff]

Still waiting for more information on the explosion-proof housings from my supplier. I'll call him again tomorrow.

[jeffsv211]

all right.. now I have about 23 hrs on my 211 (love it by the way), but I am also having problems with the tanks filling up a little. The Belly Tank seems get water in it every time you move forward for a short period, even just trolling along. The Starboard side doesn't seem to take on water at all and the Port side seems to take on some water randomly? Don't know if that means I have one really poor valve, one really good valve and one that is so-so? Any comments? We switch back and forth quite frequently between skiing and wakeboarding.. but I'm getting tired of getting a rough wake from the belly tank filling!

[hsmunoz]

jeff, it's only a matter of time before they all fail completely. Go with the manual valves that Mike-d recommended. They work great. Just make sure you follow my instructions. My only complaint, is that now it takes about longer to fill the tanks because they are actually empty when you start filling them.

make sure the valves are easy to open and close, I had one that was too sticky and twisted the control knob off.

henry

[Roddbod]

I agree with Henry 100%,
I did my valves like he did and I havent had any problems with them leaking.

[OKWAKEBDR]

I now have almost 25 hours on my '05 210 SANTE, and I have had NO problems with the helm control valves. As long as the valves are closed, no water is getting into my tanks. I have paid close attention to them because of the poor quality that I have heard about through this thread and this sight.

Just thought I would let everyone know. I know the boat is still pretty new, so hopefully they will continue to work as they do now.

[Daytomann]

Ditto on my 04 216, I have 27hrs. No problems so far. As long as they are closed the ballasts stay empty. But I'm watching out as well. I havent read this entire thread so it may have been asked allready but is CC going to recal them if they fail so easily?

[NautiqueJeff]

They'll attempt to fix them under warranty. There hasn't been a new official CC part offered for replacement yet though. Rumor is that these valves will change for '06.

[rli2]

re leaky valves

I just took delivery of a new air 216 TE. The balast tanks have leaked from day 1 and the pumps do not seam to work properly either. Needless to say, I am disappointed in the so-called quality of the nautiques. If this has been a problem discussed by the dealers, it should have been mentioned as a potential issue before I bought the boat. I also think it is crazy for a new boat owner (especially having spent 60,000) to have to discuss how to fix the problem. Correct craft must fix this problem and fix it at no cost to the boat owner. By the way, my stereo did not work properly, the cover did not show up with my boat and the Nautique decal tried to peel off the 1st day in the water. Again, I am disappointed in the quality of the boat, especially when this is supposed to be the strength of the Nautique line.

[hsmunoz]

RE: re leaky valves

for those of you who think your helm valves don't leak. Pump out your tanks, close your helm valves, run your boat at speed for about 10 minutes, and then try to pump out your tanks again, and see if any water comes out. The reason I say this , is that the tank gauges , are not that accurate. I am able to pump out the center tank a good 305 minutes after the needle is buried at empty.

good luck everyone. maybe they did put in some better valves, hope so as the one's in my 04 were dissapointing.

now, I just open them about 5 minutes from where we are going to board, (pumps off), and then turn the pumps on as I slow down and wait for the overflows to start dribbling. Close the valves , and good to go. The rest of the time the tanks are dry!

[TylerO]

RE: re leaky valves

Jeff,

My 211 tanks fill on their own too with the valves closed. It's not a whole lot but it's enough to irrate a perfectionist (none of those kind of people on this site....he,he)

It's on my new boat puch list and sooner or later CC better correct it under warranty.

[OldFart]

RE: re leaky valves

did Mike ever supply pics of the manual valves? I must have missed it. OF

[jeffsv211]

RE: re leaky valves

Thanks for the info Henry and Tyler... my SV211 goes in tomorrow at WBC for a 25hour service but mostly to look at the small list of minor problems I have found. However, on the list is also the ballast problem listed here.. I'll post something later this week, if their fix is any different than what everyone else has said. I don't expect them to have a better fix. If that fails, I'll resort to replacing the valves.

[rustans]

Hey Jeff,

Is there still no option for explosion proof electronic valves?

This week one of my valves started to stick and the helm control knob twisted and broke right off. So now I need to do something about these valves. I see the other thread about replacements, but I'd really rather just have them open and close with the pumps.

Can you give an update? What are you currently running in your boat?

[NautiqueJeff]

I'm still running the non explosion-proof electric valves. They do make explosion-proof models of the same valves, but I am having a heck of a time getting pricing information from my father-in-law, who runs a pneumatics business. I'll ask him (again) to get me the information.

By the way, these valves are OUTSTANDING. They are by far the best improvement to my boat that I have made.

[FatBoy]

The 06's will have new improved valves. I have seen pictures. I want CC to replace my leaking ones with these new ones. By changeing they have basicly said the old ones don't work as advertised so they need to recall them and replace them with the new and improved ones.

CC are you listening????????????