IDEA THREAD- Your new boat has no ballast.

[kaneboats]

Can I invest in your boat company? Wait, no; I want to be in R&D.

[brain_rinse]

I'm extremely happy with my current Tsunami setup, but if I was starting from scratch I would keep it simple and go with Johnson reversibles. I'd still go with 2 thru-hull intakes with 2 pumps on each.

If I could get really crazy I'd want all the ballast below the floor with a gate system. Pumps really shouldn't be needed to allow water to enter the hull of a floating boat.

[bergermaister]

If out of sight hard tanks were possible then that would be my first vote - especially if you could do gate valves to fill 'em quick, then top them off with a pump. But since we're talking about an "empty" boat and a clean slate I'd say go with the biggest bags available for each compartment or go custom made if the fit isn't right.

For simplicity, speed and cost, T-1200 pumps on each bag to fill and drain. No more than 2 pumps per thru-hull inlet so manifolds would be small. Shared lines for vent and drain out to a single thru hull from each bag to cut down on the amount of holes on the sides of the boat. All 1" lines.

I vote for aerator over reversible pumps as it is easier to see when the bags are done draining without having to open compartments, I think they're faster and quieter, for lower maintenance and lower cost.

Vented loops on the fill lines, one way valves for the vent lines, no sprinkler valves or anything kinky.

Hey wait a minute - This is the EXACT setup I just put into my boat!!!

[NCSUmoomba]

I guess it depends on what you mean by "new" boat. If you meant "new to me" but still older, it would be really cool to put in a Pure-Vert type system like Calabria, MB, and now Centurion have. No pumps, just gate valves, and flood the entire underfloor volume. It would be a total pain to do. You would have to rip the entire boat apart to make it work.

Otherwise, I would go with the tried and true aereator style pumps. One to fill (with vented loops) on their own thru hull intakes, one to empty, and a vent line, on each sac. I would use Fly High's Pro Series Sacs, since they are hands down the best sacs. I priced out a system for my boat and if I was to do it from scratch, it would run about $1.50 per pound of weight, and I would have about 1000# of ballast that would fill (and drain) in about 4 minutes.

I would also rather use more smaller sacs, than fewer larger ones. Like in the bow for example, I would use two Side Sacs or Tube Sacs, instead of the Intergrated Bow Sac. You would have more control over where the weight is, and the system would fill faster. Also, you could use the Tsunami T800's which are a bit easier to use, since they use standard size hose. A T800 should fill a 400# sac in under 4 minutes, which is not too bad. My buddy has put 1100# rear sacs in his new RZ2 and it takes FOREVER to fill that thing up.

I am not a huge fan of the impeller style pumps. You need a timer to keep from burning the pumps up, and you never really know if the system is empty, since they normally empty out of the fill hose. I have heard of guys adding check valves to make them dump out the side, but that would restrict flow. And since right now, the available ones are either 640 gph or 720 gph, the speed isn't there yet for that much money.

[mmandley]

If i had to do it all again, and had the deep pockets i would do 3 Intakes, all 1 inch and then add 3 1200 pumps and each would goto a bag, 2 v drive bags, 1 ski locker/IBS. Then use the same style 1200 pumps for draining threw 1 inch lines.

I could do this to mine now but the cost of the pumps is whats holding me back. 600 in pumps alone is pricy just to pick up 5 to 7 minutes on drain fill times.

[bergermaister]

I scoured over the winter and picked up five T-1200 pumps for under $160 total. Three off eBay, two from Amazon. I did add another $60 worth of straight hose barb style fittings so I didn't have to mess with the 90 degree ones they come with that take up more space and potentially slow down flow. But all in all cheaper than the impellor route.

However all the fittings, hose, clamps, etc. can add up, but I still like the aerator approach over impellor. I'm not sure what my total bill is yet on my system. I'll figure it out before I post up the "what i did" thread.

[mmandley]

I scoured over the winter and picked up five T-1200 pumps for under $160 total. Three off eBay, two from Amazon. I did add another $60 worth of straight hose barb style fittings so I didn't have to mess with the 90 degree ones they come with that take up more space and potentially slow down flow. But all in all cheaper than the impellor route.

However all the fittings, hose, clamps, etc. can add up, but I still like the aerator approach over impellor. I'm not sure what my total bill is yet on my system. I'll figure it out before I post up the "what i did" thread.

Nice man, i figure ill drop the bug in Spencers ear im looking for reman pumps and start grabing up what i can.

Right now i think i have 2 brand new 800 Tsunamis in the box i grabed last year and didnt use them lol.

I will ahve to start looking and collecting items for the ballast upgrade, thats most likley going to be my major upgrade this next winter. Right now just waiting for some decent weather to run the hour meter up with lol.

[bergermaister]

Right now just waiting for some decent weather to run the hour meter up with lol.

I hear that.... At least you've got Fiera wet at least once. I'm not even dewinterized yet!

[newty]

I'd order custom bags to fit the rears, prolly aroudn 1400lbs each, two reversable pumps for each bag and seperaet throug-hulls for each then 2 more reversables for the front bag and IBS.

All with timers.

Or... 4 hot women with hand bailing pumps... Take as long as you want!

[cab13367]

As others have said, I'd go with three T-1200 Tsunami fill pumps each on it's own 1" intake and three T-1200 drain pumps, all on 1" lines. I'd have a bag custom made for the front locker so it fills up every square inch. No IBS for me - don't have a need and don't want to lose the storage space.