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  1. #1
    Join Date
    Jul 2021
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    Canada
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    Default How to winterize just the ballast system on 2011 Moomba LSV

    Sorry if this is answered on another thread. I couldnt find it. There is a good thread about winterizing the indmar assault engine and the video was awesome. I was able to do everything except the ballast system as it wasnt the same boat (Supra?) as my LSV.

    Im a rookie boater. So please help as if im an idiot with the stuff. I will try to post pics which may help someone to guide me. In the video below , at the 4:25 min mark, it shows green ballast pipes, restrainer, etc. Mine looks nothing like that. But everything else (hoses, engine bolts. Etc) were identical to mine.

    https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=TKCIjK...ature=youtu.be
    Attached Images Attached Images
    Ray
    2011 LSV

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Jul 2021
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    Canada
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    So when looking at the video at the 4:25 min mark vs the pictures i posted, obviously looks totally different than my moomba ballast set up. I'm almost at the finish line doing this myself! Cant claim victory yet though.
    Ray
    2011 LSV

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Apr 2013
    Location
    Knoxville TN
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    Why not disconnect the bags, remove the water from them, and put the hoses in the bilge - low point so the water drains out?

    You can also blow air through them.


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    2018 Supra SL400

  4. #4
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    Default How to winterize just the ballast system on 2011 Moomba LSV

    Quote Originally Posted by Raylsv View Post
    So when looking at the video at the 4:25 min mark vs the pictures i posted, obviously looks totally different than my moomba ballast set up. I'm almost at the finish line doing this myself! Cant claim victory yet though.
    The video has the manifold sprinkler system. Older system that had one valve in the bottom of the boat that directed water to 3 bags. Inefficient by today’s technology. Each bag had a draining pump different from the 1 filling pump.

    Newer boats and many older boats switched to reversible pumps. 3 valves in the bottom of the boat and each is direct to it’s own pump and bag. Much more efficient. Water goes in and out the same path.


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    Last edited by MJHSupra; 09-19-2022 at 01:01 AM.
    2018 Supra SL400

  5. #5
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    Apr 2013
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    Knoxville TN
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    Default

    If you disconnect the fitting where the water goes into the bags, have the valves in the bilge open, blow air into the line. Any water should be forced out.

    Again, if you pumps are mounted higher than the bags, if you disconnect the lines and put the lines lower in the bilge, water would drain out.

    Most of the water in the lines is self draining from the pump to the bilge valve once you pull your boat out of the water and on the trailer.

    But if you have water still left in the bags, you might have water in the lines from the bag to the pump.

    I’ve heard of people pouring antifreeze in the lines, but that is not necessary if you get the water out of the bags and lines.

    If your boat had hard-tanks, which it does not, that is different.


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    2018 Supra SL400

  6. #6
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    Jul 2021
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    Canada
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    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by MJHSupra View Post
    Why not disconnect the bags, remove the water from them, and put the hoses in the bilge - low point so the water drains out?

    You can also blow air through them.


    Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
    Thanks. I was wondering if it would be that simple. I took all the bags out. I have a compressor. So hook up the compressor on the opening of the hose where it connects to the bags?

    Is there a restrainer i need to unscrew like in the video above?

    Also, i read online that you can turn the ballast pumps on reverse to drain and with the bags off, it should empty all water out of the ballast system?

    I just want to make sure i dont do 99% of the winterizing and then miss out on that one extra step for the ballasts and have it crack. There's also a mention in the video of a ballast knob that needs to be turned? I cant find that on my LSV.
    Ray
    2011 LSV

  7. #7
    Join Date
    Jun 2008
    Location
    Henderson, NV
    Posts
    7,020

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by MJHSupra View Post
    Why not disconnect the bags, remove the water from them, and put the hoses in the bilge - low point so the water drains out?

    You can also blow air through them.


    Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
    this.
    we had same irritrol setup on our 2006 supra. disconnect bags and remove. that is all we ever did in idaho. if you feel the need, you can blow air through it but we never did. the valves will drain back down out the intake that is always open and forward into the bilge from the valves as they are typically mounted on top of the vdrive so above the drain points. hardest part was finding an incline to get all the water out of the center ski locker from that bag. always had a little left.
    and that miners moss under the center bag was usually a moldy mess. we always planned a couple hours to clean out the center bag/miners moss/locker floor with a high pressure hose and some simple green. we spent most of our time ensuring engine was good. served us well for 5 years this way.
    '06 Supra Launch 20SSV-gone but never forgotten

  8. #8
    Join Date
    Apr 2013
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    Knoxville TN
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    Quote Originally Posted by Raylsv View Post
    Thanks. I was wondering if it would be that simple. I took all the bags out. I have a compressor. So hook up the compressor on the opening of the hose where it connects to the bags?
    Yes, a compressor will work if you do not let the air escape from the hose you are inserting it into. Air would force any water out.
    2018 Supra SL400

  9. #9
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    Apr 2013
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    Knoxville TN
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    Quote Originally Posted by Raylsv View Post
    Is there a restrainer i need to unscrew like in the video above?
    On the new boats there is a strainer between the valve on the hose that goes to the water pump. On some older boats, peeps have installed them for flush-out, starting w/o being in the lake, or anti-freeze.

    On the old manifold system there was a strainer to keep debris out of those sprinkler values. If you do not have the manifold system, they probably removed the strainer.

    The only way of knowing is to follow the hoses from the 3-4 valves in bilge. They will probably lead you to a ballast bag or the water pump assembly
    2018 Supra SL400

  10. #10
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    Apr 2013
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    Quote Originally Posted by Raylsv View Post
    Also, i read online that you can turn the ballast pumps on reverse to drain and with the bags off, it should empty all water out of the ballast system?
    .
    Yes, it should, but if your trailer was tilted there could be remaining water in the bags or if the pumps lost prime when draining b/c it started to suck some air - you could still have water in there. I little more complex if you have ballast bag vents or check-valves and/or if your bags look like "raisins" when they are done draining.

    I had a 2007 Supra for years with the 325 motor. Each winter I would remove all three bags to get all the water out. Sometimes leaving them sit in year on a sunny day to dry out before I stored them back in the boat for the winter to prevent mold. I would also leave them unhooked and then reattach them in the spring.

    Same thing if you have any miner's moss sitting under the middle bag. I would remove that, clean it, let it dry, before putting the boat away.

    I would also get a garden hose in the bilge to clean up any mess with some Dawn soap, tilt the trailer back when done washing to drain any water, get the remaining water out with towels or sponges. Then let it dry out before storing. Clean bilge at the start of the next season.
    2018 Supra SL400

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