Gravity III ballast system sprinkler valves?

[cab13367]

Well that was an interesting and somewhat education evening in the world of ballast controls and sprinkler valves.

So it turns out that I have one bad solenoid on the starboard side vdrive bag. The other two solenoids are fine and operational. The issue came down to this. When I first got the boat home a couple of weeks ago, the previous owner never used the bags or he says twice. The two vdrive bags had holes in them and leaked like the hoover dam. But in my figuring all this out, I turned the three valves to manual on. DOH!!!! That is why all three bags would fill up at the same time. I remember doing so because I couldn't get the starboard side bag to fill, so I hit the manual override to on, on all three valves thinking that was the issue.

So now knowing how these valves work and don't work. I have one bad valve/solenoid, and two valves that are in pretty bad shape. I went to my local hardware store lastnight and got three new valves ready to drop in.

But before I go and do that I look at the web for Irritrol valves, to get a cost based analysis if I should go that route. Cheapest I could find is $54bucks a piece. I am all for ordering those, if they will improve my fill times enough to justify.

So I ask those on this forum, is it worth it to go to Irritrol, or do I just stick with what I have purchased? I am also going to call wakemakers today and talk to them about the possibility, and setup of a three pump system.

I think someone here did some tests with the Irritrol vs stock and if I remember correctly, there wasn't enough improvement to justify the cost. Might try doin a search on Irritrol and see if that thread comes up.

[mnpracing]

The Irritrol 700's in 3/4" are $20 something. The $54 should be the cost of the 1" 700 series valves. Go to www.sprinklerwarehouse.com and the prices should be close to this. Are you running 1" lines?

[cab13367]

I think someone here did some tests with the Irritrol vs stock and if I remember correctly, there wasn't enough improvement to justify the cost. Might try doin a search on Irritrol and see if that thread comes up.

Here is that thread with the test results.
https://forum.moomba.com/showthread....light=Irritrol

[zroutt]

mnpracing You are correct, I was looking at the same site and the 1" valves. I need the 3/4" valves. Well played man. But after looking at the fill times, I may be better with my funds to add a T to the brass valve, add another pump and another intake on the manifold. That will probably be a winter project. For now I think i will use the RainBird valves I got an Menards to replace the worn out valves that are in there currently. Especially the one with a broken solenoid.

[kaneboats]

I noticed reduced fill time with my 750 bag after I replaced the stock valve with the Irritrol. But, I would have two pumps running just to fill that bag through a single valve as soon as the center is filled.

[deafgoose]

I was disappointed when I realized there was no improvement over stock with the Irritrol valves but after living with them for a while, I would still do it again.

I always encountered issues with the stock valves.