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View Full Version : GIII Ballast question: Supra 21V (rear bags don't drain fully)



Cigars n scotch
05-08-2012, 09:10 PM
I'd really like to upgrade my bags but right now may not be the appropriate time as I have a few other things that I need to spend my hard-earned moolaa on (so says the wife).

Anyways, I'd like to figure out why my rear bags do not drain all of the way. I have the Gravity III ballast system which I believe uses the aerator style Rule pumps. My center bag in the playpen walkway drains fine, but my two rear bags do not drain fully, actually there's quite a bit left, and I'm resorting to stepping into the locker, picking up the one end of the bag to move the water toward the outlet so it drains. This is not efficient, nor am I happy I have to do this.

Outside of "upgrade your pumps to the reversible pumps", is there anything that I can do about this? I really can't afford to spend another couple hundred upgrading the pumps and spending the time to install them. My season has already started late and it just keeps raining here in the Northeast.

Can someone explain to me in layman's terms the reasoning why this happens? They fill fine, but to drain them fully is work on my part (pretty inefficient system if you ask me; I thought the whole purpose of having a plumbed system with switches is that you don't need to do an manual intervention??)

I'm open to creative ideas. I thought about creating a "wedge" and placing it under the head of the bag to let gravity push the water back but I don't know if that will work.

Any ideas? I know you all on here are smart and filled with ideas. Someone else has had to have this complaint about the GIII system. I have a Supra, but it's the same in the Moomba I imagine.

jmvotto
05-08-2012, 09:44 PM
https://forum.moomba.com/showthread.php?14048-Venting-ballast-bags&highlight=Ballast


I used the y fittings as close to the exit hole and just make sure the vent line is the top y section and the drain is below it.
I kinda creates some suction as he water moves past he vent.
Mike mandley's idea. Worked great for my obv.

bzubke1
05-08-2012, 10:43 PM
Make sure the drain port on the bag is close to the floor. Sometimes on my 08 the bag would get moved around and the drain port would get pushed up. We would generally drain our ballast as much as we could while sitting still, then while heading back to the dock go about 10 to get the bow up in the air and then hit the switches to empty again, they would generally empty for another 30 seconds to a minute after that.

jpetty3023
05-08-2012, 11:51 PM
Make sure your lines aren't kinked also. My left rear locker bag don't empty all the way either and i think it's because the hose is kinked where it goes behind the panel. I resort to the same thing, step in locker but i unhook the bag and dump the water over the side. Once i get a new hose put in I suspect my drain issue will be resolved


Sent from my home phone..

mmandley
05-09-2012, 01:17 PM
If your boat has the airator type pump then i can only say vent it vent it. I had all the same frustrations and the worst was i had a 400 that wouldnt even drain while full because a air pocket got stuck at the pump. I was literaly jumping up and down on the sac LOL. The biggest problem with air pumps is if you get any air in the sac and it makes it to the pump you get air locked.

Now if your running reversables, then i cant help you as much as i just installed mine and havnt hit the lake yet.

bergermaister
05-09-2012, 02:48 PM
I do the same as Bzubke - get the nose up and let gravity to the "work" for you. I'll sometimes hold off draining completely until we're ready to go so I don't get the start/stop/try-to-restart = airlock on the pump too. Works 99% of the time unless the bag is bunched up or pump pushed around.

jmvotto
05-09-2012, 03:17 PM
this might be an cheap easy solution to try , just very manual to fill and drain, to unscrew to burp or air the bags

http://www.wakemakers.com/fly-high-pro-x-series-fitting-w749.html

Cigars n scotch
05-09-2012, 04:26 PM
this might be an cheap easy solution to try , just very manual to fill and drain, to unscrew to burp or air the bags

http://www.wakemakers.com/fly-high-pro-x-series-fitting-w749.html

I have those on the end of my bags already. I'm going to snap a picture and maybe some video.

On one end are those fittings and the other is the quick connect barb.

My hoses shouldn't be kinked but I'll check again.

jmvotto
05-09-2012, 04:30 PM
I have those on the end of my bags already. I'm going to snap a picture and maybe some video.

On one end are those fittings and the other is the quick connect barb.

My hoses shouldn't be kinked but I'll check again.

do you unscrew the air release when draining? try that and see if it helps.

jpetty3023
05-09-2012, 04:31 PM
Mine shouldn't be either but you know what they say, shiznit happens!!


Sent from my home phone..

mmandley
05-09-2012, 05:29 PM
Im pretty sure i got a couple of them vent style connecters if you need another.

Cigars n scotch
05-09-2012, 08:59 PM
Im pretty sure i got a couple of them vent style connecters if you need another.

What do these look like? Can I find them on wakemakers? Just curious cuz I have no clue what these look like.

mmandley
05-09-2012, 09:27 PM
What do these look like? Can I find them on wakemakers? Just curious cuz I have no clue what these look like.

Basically a bag plug with a hole drilled threw the upper threads are to let air out without removing the plug.

rdlangston13
05-09-2012, 09:33 PM
i have the original 400s and i would like to add a fitting to the top for a vent, what do i need to do this??

jmvotto
05-09-2012, 09:47 PM
http://www.wakemakers.com/hose-barb-wye.html
http://www.wakemakers.com/marine-ballast-hose-black.html
http://www.wakemakers.com/fly-high-pro-x-series-fitting-w736.html
http://www.wakemakers.com/fly-high-pro-x-series-fitting-w742.html
http://www.wakemakers.com/stainless-hose-clamp.html

That should do it.

jpetty3023
05-09-2012, 09:51 PM
JV done put the whole kit and caboodle together for ya CnS

KSmith
05-10-2012, 08:42 AM
Meh... enough of these band aid solutions just have some custom hard tanks built and be done with it... eazy peazy

Cigars n scotch
05-10-2012, 08:55 AM
JV done put the whole kit and caboodle together for ya CnS

Yeah I'll see how much this kit and caboodle is going to cost me!