Ballast problem

[Shoebox]

Hi - I just bought a 2014 Mondo last week, and I'm having an issue getting the ballast in the nose to drain. I don't know a lot about the system, but it has a hard center tank (400 lbs?) which feeds into the horseshoe bow bag (650 or 750, the seller didn't remember which).

The pump fills the bag fine, but when I drain it, the pump sounds like it's cavitating, and shuts off after about a minute, without emptying much from the bag. When it's pumping, I can hear gurgling from the overflow vent.

Any ideas? Is the vent line check valve stuck open, causing it not to pump properly?

[Stazi]

There should not be a check valve on the front bag as this would cause the tank to oil can and collapse. Check valves can only be used on the rear bags. If the previous seller put on on the front bag, remove it. You can test this by disconnecting the vent line from the bow bag and see if this alleviates the problem. As you described, this setup fills the tank first which then overflows into the bow bag. Emptying happens exactly in reverse; bow bag will empty and then the center tank should empty.


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[Shoebox]

I'll give that a shot.

Yeah the strange thing is it worked when we test drove the boat, but of course the minute I get it home it starts doing this. I'm going to the boat in about an hour to fiddle with it, so any suggestions in the meantime would be great.

[BrettLee3232]

I'll give that a shot.

Yeah the strange thing is it worked when we test drove the boat, but of course the minute I get it home it starts doing this. I'm going to the boat in about an hour to fiddle with it, so any suggestions in the meantime would be great.

Do you only happen to have 1 side connected to the bag? I think it was the 14s where they only did starboard side fill/drain so the port side of the bag wouldn't drain 🤷🏼*♂️


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[Shoebox]

Do you only happen to have 1 side connected to the bag? I think it was the 14s where they only did starboard side fill/drain so the port side of the bag wouldn't drain 🤷🏼*♂️


Sent from my iPhone using TapatalkI'm not sure what you mean. It's an added bag in the nose, piggybacked onto the hard center tank.

[BrettLee3232]

I'm not sure what you mean. It's an added bag in the nose, piggybacked onto the hard center tank.

So is mine. But on 15s there's a fill/drain on each of the legs. I think on the 14s they just cut off the vent line for the center tank and filled the bow bag. I could be wrong though. Do you only have water on the port side of the bow bag?


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[Shoebox]

No, it drains/fills from the starboard side, and seems to do so equally - the little bit that will drain. It's sitting a little over half full now.

[JD14Mondo]

No, it drains/fills from the starboard side, and seems to do so equally - the little bit that will drain. It's sitting a little over half full now.

14 only has starboard side vent. I put quick connects so I can drain IBS then disconnect bag so tank will vent easily. I have to move port let of bag to the middle while draining to get all the water out. It is a pain but I don't want to put any stress on the hard tank when draining. This winter I will install port side drain/fill line.

[Shoebox]

I just looked at how it's plumbed. The fill and drain lines both T to the vent. Both sides have a check valve. It seems strange.

[Stazi]

I don't get it....


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[Shoebox]

Best pics I could get. https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20170823/f716cff609da4c616dfc94d83edac296.jpghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20170823/6b5f7becd9f783e7429e122608683c5f.jpghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20170823/cd63e6a4a792b9a10437d811017d282a.jpghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20170823/6cbc3aa96b8c7ea0368267b1dcf6b17e.jpg

[jstenger]

Vent line coming thru floor should go directly to leg of the bow sac with NO check valve. Vent line for bow sac should be at the nose of the sac and go directly outside of the boat thru the hull with NO check valve.

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[jstenger]

With this setup, the bag will drain almost completely by the time the tank is empty.

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[jstenger]

With this setup, the bag will almost fully drain by the time the tank is empty.

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[Stazi]

Agreed


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[Shoebox]

So it seems the hard tank is probably pretty much empty, but the bow bag isn't draining into it properly?

[Shoebox]

Vent line coming thru floor should go directly to leg of the bow sac with NO check valve. Vent line for bow sac should be at the nose of the sac and go directly outside of the boat thru the hull with NO check valve.

Sent from my SM-G930V using TapatalkTo be clear, you mean the drain line through the floor (to hard tank) with no T to the vent and no check valve, and the fill line should have a T to the hose from the hard tank and to the vent, with no check valve?

I have 2 check valves and 3 Ts involved with the bow bag.

[Stazi]

All you need is one hose going in from the hard tank at one of the legs (or both legs) and then a vent line from the tip, to the outside of the boat. No check valves for anything.


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[Shoebox]

OK I'll have to re-plumb it. So it fills and drains from the bottom fitting on one leg? The top fitting is only for venting?

[BrettLee3232]

OK I'll have to re-plumb it. So it fills and drains from the bottom fitting on one leg? The top fitting is only for venting?

Correct [emoji1303]


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[Shoebox]

I need to figure out where the other hose goes then. The hose out of the top goes to a T. One side goes up to another T at the vent, and the other goes down the gunwale of the boat to the rear.

[Stazi]

Do you have an overflow for each rear bag on either side at the rear of the boat?


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[Shoebox]

There are 2 on the starboard and 1 on the port side

[BrettLee3232]

There are 2 on the starboard and 1 on the port side

The two on starboard is for bilge & rear bag. Not sure why you have a line running through the gunnel. Maybe it's an overflow from the rear bag? To help fill the front bag faster? 🤷🏼*♂️ I dunno


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[Stazi]

Totally weird.


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[Shoebox]

I talked to the seller, he installed a Wakemakers piggyback system. I called Wakemakers, and they seem stumped. They sent me the install instructions for their piggyback system, and it sounds like one hose and a couple of fittings. Very confusing. I will be simplifying it soon! ☺

[Stazi]

Obviously plumbing was not his forté


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[Shoebox]

They just installed what they were sent. They may have been sent the wrong setup.

[jstenger]

The gunwale is very easy to follow. Just see where the hose goes and let us know.

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[Shoebox]

The rats nest I pulled out, and what I cut out of it. https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20170825/58d78c8d0f41861fee82344c3cabf4ae.jpghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20170825/0f15ecaa4ca448de3f787a0cbd79b99e.jpg

[BrettLee3232]

It's like an erector set


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[Shoebox]

Yeah it didn't make any sense. Now that the hose from the center tank goes directly into the bag fill port and the overflow hose goes directly to the thru hull port, it works properly.

[BrettLee3232]

Yeah it didn't make any sense. Now that the hose from the center tank goes directly into the bag fill port and the overflow hose goes directly to the thru hull port, it works properly.

Good! Remember no check valves [emoji6]

Only on the rear bags. If they don't have them already I would put them on since you have a couple lol


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[Shoebox]

Check valve where on the rear bags?

[BrettLee3232]

At the vent line . Make sure you hook it up correctly. Blow on one end. If you can blow that means water can exit but not enter. If you can't blow then no air can get in. Which is the way you want it. When you drain it won't let air in so it sucks your bag up like a raisin [emoji1303]


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[Shoebox]

I'll check that, thanks.

[Shoebox]

No check valves on the rear vent lines. I guess I'll be adding those. Luckily I have a couple! [emoji23]

[BrettLee3232]

[emoji1305]


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[Shoebox]

Got the check valves installed on the locker bag vent lines. Haven't had a chance to test them yet though. Thanks for the tips!