Major newb question... ballast

[chawk610]

The LS we have has a 400 lbs tank under the rear seat. We have a fill swith. My understanding is that you have to be under way for it to fill? And also, how do you know when it is full? I am assuming when it is full water will come out of the outlet?

[wolfeman131]

Your year uses the aerator pumps. You don't have to be under way, but you have to prime the pump before it will fill. Same on my boat. We drop it in the lake, get up to about 20 mph, settle it down and fill while gearing up. Watch or listen to see when it's full.

[kaneboats]

Most of the time, once an aerator pump is primed it will pump all day. If you take the boat out (trailer, lift, etc.), the water drains out and you get an air bubble. Getting the boat moving will force water up in there and the air out thus priming the pump.

[chawk610]

Oh... so the pump shuts off automatically when full? Ok. I thought it might be nice to actually "use" the features on the boat this year. We were to dazzed to have a nice boat that we didn't hardley figure 1/2 the stuff out on it.

Thanks guys!

[lsvboombox]

Oh... so the pump shuts off automatically when full? Ok.

Thanks guys!

Nope........

[kaneboats]

Nope, with the aerator pumps you have to manually shut them off when done filling or emptying. The newer models have reversible pumps that work on a timer. Not yours.

[wolfeman131]

Watch or listen to see when it's full.


Nope........

I should have added to turn the swith off once you see or hear it is full.

[dusty2221]

These boats have ballast?

[harmsway]

I own the exact same boat. To prime the pump you need to be moving about 15-20 mph, once primed you can stop and let fill up. When the ballast is full it will push water out of the drain/vent at the passenger (side) rear. Cut pump off. To empty-flip switch to empty and when water stops coming out of drain flip switch off. There is no auto cut off, just manual cut off.
It will add about 400 lbs. of ballast, which is not really enough for a good surf wave, but does help for wakeboarding. You will need some additional ballast for surfing.

[chawk610]

perfect... thank you. Yea, I figured I will be getting one of those 750# deals that people can trip over.

[harmsway]

Go ahead and get 2 of the 750lb sacs and the pump package and that will get you started with a good surf wave. I have some pics floating around somewhere with this set up. But I think I'm going to get a couple of the 400lb sacs to add a few extra pounds to play around with this season.

[kaneboats]

Just be sure to get bags that will work in your LSV or Mojo. Trust me.

[chawk610]

LMAO... you think? The wife and her twin sister are die hard slalom skiers. But you NEVER know! :)

[harmsway]

Chawk I don't know if you have had a chance to ski behind your boat yet, but be prepared, the wake was much larger then our 2 other ski boats we owned, which were nearly flat. The 1st time my wife skied behind our LS she was PO'd to the point she wouldn't talk to me the hole time we were on the lake that day. But after skiing behind the LS for a year she has gotten used to the larger wake, but I must say it isn't no competition slalom wake. All I can say it is a cross over boat a DD in a wakeboard boat hull.

[kaneboats]

Try emptying the ballast before she skis. :D

[wolfeman131]

Try emptying the ballast before she skis. :D

Any smarta$$ post by Kane after 12:00 am should obviously be assumed to be a PWI.

[harmsway]

Try emptying the ballast before she skis. :D

Believe it or not, it actually has a better ski wake with a full fuel tank. The weight at the very back of the boat helps to trim the boats front up and creates a smaller wake.

[chawk610]

Yes, they have both double skied behind it several times last year. We came from an '83 MS stars and stripes which she LOVED skiing behind. It just didn't have the room or amenities we have now.

What... does Kane get out the box wine and start posting??? :)

[newty]

LMAO... you think? The wife and her twin sister are die hard slalom skiers. But you NEVER know! :)

Hey I'm married to a twin too!

[wolfeman131]

What... does Kane get out the box wine and start posting??? :)

Naw, he's a beer man. The above might be true for Newty, tho.

[newty]

If you want to see me puke!

[chawk610]

You know though... Black Box is pretty darn good.

Is your wife SUPER close? It's almost like having "Jackie" from Rosanne around! I kid, she is great.

[newty]

Really close, she is awesome and her husband is one of my best friends. Our kids are all the same ages and nearly inseperable.

Couldn't ask for a better "extended family".

[chawk610]

Same here... what is also weird is that I have twin daughters (not by current wife). Kitty is wife model 2.0

[newty]

I always introduce my wife to my friends as "my first wife" lol.

[kaneboats]

Mine used to have the email "trophymom@ . . ."

[chawk610]

Boy, aren't we a bunch of pigs!! :)