Black vs clear ballast hose??

[pat6969]

So Wakemakers totally botched my order and they’re being way less than helpful so I need question asked. I ordered custom 720lb bags for my Max but they decided that Athey wouldn’t fit so they sent the 540’s from the kit. Anyway, long story. The ports don’t match up with the stock bags and the clear hose is way too stiff to bend in the short distance from locker bags to midship. My question: Is the black ballast hose softer than the clear? I need to make a quick S bend to attach these two bags.

[MLA]

Both are coil-reinforced so sharp/short bends are tough.

[pat6969]

Hmmmm. Sounds like this is not good! I guess I at least have the winter to come up with ideas on how I’ll join them. Thanks.

[DNIXD99]

You drilled holes in the divider between the rear and mid?

[pat6969]

You drilled holes in the divider between the rear and mid?

Yes, but the stock bags ports are nearer the gunnel side while the 540’s are on the engine side of the bags. About a foot difference side to side.

[DNIXD99]

Yes, but the stock bags ports are nearer the gunnel side while the 540’s are on the engine side of the bags. About a foot difference side to side.

The 550s are labeled port and starb, but you could still swap them to give you the opposite effect. Im currently running the 1200s of the upgrade in the rear, and stocks mid, but I have the 550s too, and have connected them. The stocks were more in the center, but I was still able to shift them over.

https://i.imgur.com/Whsyk5F.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/MvjNGk6.jpg

[pat6969]

The 550s are labeled port and starb, but you could still swap them to give you the opposite effect. Im currently running the 1200s of the upgrade in the rear, and stocks mid, but I have the 550s too, and have connected them. The stocks were more in the center, but I was still able to shift them over.

https://i.imgur.com/Whsyk5F.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/MvjNGk6.jpg

Don’t the 540’s have an angled bottom to accommodate the hull angle? That’s how I originally had them mounted and then realized they’re angled.

[DNIXD99]

Don’t the 540’s have an angled bottom to accommodate the hull angle? That’s how I originally had them mounted and then realized they’re angled.

The pic is exactly how they're supposed to be installed. The hoses are connected in the pics. Theres a youtube video on the forum somewhere that shows the full install. I eventually pulled the 540s out, and put the stocks mid (2nd pic) I plugged the 3 ports, and used the 2 port side. That's why I'm pretty sure you can use the 2 port side with the hoses given. Cause that's what the 2nd pic is. You know you can only connect the hose 1 way? You have the connect the mid first, then pull it all the way through to the rear.

[pat6969]

The pic is exactly how they're supposed to be installed. The hoses are connected in the pics. Theres a youtube video on the forum somewhere that shows the full install. I eventually pulled the 540s out, and put the stocks mid (2nd pic) I plugged the 3 ports, and used the 2 port side. That's why I'm pretty sure you can use the 2 port side with the hoses given. Cause that's what the 2nd pic is. You know you can only connect the hose 1 way? You have the connect the mid first, then pull it all the way through to the rear.

So if you’d hypothetically reinstall your stock 1000lb bags and your 540’s midship, do the ports line up? Not sure what you mean about connecting he hose only one way. There’s 2 ports on the front side of the stock locker bags that connect to to midships. In hind site, I should have just ordered the 1740 kit and screwed down the locker trays. Live and learn.

[trayson]

If you can't make an s-curve, what about buying some L-couplers from your local plumbing store and some stainless hose clamps. Shouldn't be that hard to make any routing work by cutting hose. With reversible pumps it shouldn't affect fill/drain times.

[DNIXD99]

So if you’d hypothetically reinstall your stock 1000lb bags and your 540’s midship, do the ports line up? Not sure what you mean about connecting he hose only one way. There’s 2 ports on the front side of the stock locker bags that connect to to midships. In hind site, I should have just ordered the 1740 kit and screwed down the locker trays. Live and learn.

I mean, if you put the connecting hoses on the rears first, you probably wont be able to connect them to the mids. You have to put the hoses on the mids first, then pull the hoses all the way thru. I pulled the clamps thru the holes, connected, then pulled them back a little. I made it work using stocks as mids. I had the 540s there previously. IDK