Gravity 1 question

[TL7]

Hey all! I have a question for the gurus of the board.

We have an 07 Outback with Gravity 1 ballast. The fill is fine, no problems whatsoever. When emptying, it will flow for a while then stop. We usually have to fold the bag or "stand" on it to basically force water out. It may start to flow again, then it will stop like it's losing prime. The empty pump has always done this. It has been replaced and still the same results. No kinks in the hoses. I always assumed it was maybe due to air in the sac, but I've completely filled and drained it several times to try and push/suck any air out. It's really frustrating, since one of our reasons for trading in our old I/O for a towboat was to eliminate the manual aspect of the ballast. Having to babysit the emptying process is annoying!

So on to the question. Would it be any better if I did away with the factory pumps and went with a reversible Jabsco instead? If so, would this eliminate losing the prime when emptying? I understand the 09's went to this system. I don't know much about it, other than I've read they are self priming which in my mind would solve my problem. Any thoughts or pros/cons to consider?

[moombadaze]

Tl, I too am experiancing the same issue with one of the 3 empty pumps on mine, did you replace the rule pump with another rule pump or did you try a different brand? Im in the process of replaceing that pump with a tsunami brand pump-i think they just work better-its on order and hope to have it installed in a couple weeks

[VA LSV]

Don't know the orientation of the empty port on the sac or the location of the pump on an Outback, but on my LSV the ports are all located facing the rear of the boat and the pumps are lower than the sacs. I let them drain until they suck air, start the boat and drive forward just fast enough to elevate the nose and turn the drain pumps back on. This geta all the water out and sucks the bags completely flat.

[TL7]

Moomba - the dealer replaced it while still under warranty. I believe they put the same type back in, so maybe you will have better luck with a Tsunami.

VA - I've tried that so many times I couldn't even count, and it's the same result everytime. Part of the problem could be that the drain lines are on the starboard side of the boat, rather than directly in the middle. I have noticed that driving in a circle seems to help, pushing all the water in the sac to the empty side. But I shouldn't have to look like an idiot driving in circles to empty my ballast!

[moombadaze]

TL,- try this, undue the pump from the bag, then undue the hose that goes from your overboard drain at the pump and try to blow thru the hose -could have something blocking it?

[Sled491]

Not to be negative, but I believe that is the nature of the beast with the gravity I and the system in the Outback. My buddies 06 is exactely the same.

[Razzman]

Spencer, are not the Jabsco Ballast Puppies an impellor style pump? I've heard that and that when the impellor goes your hosed literally?

[moombadaze]

Tl, one more thing to check-see if the hose dips anyplace-like a U, I think that is why mine is having issues.

[Limishowman3]

Mine does the same thing, I figuired it was b/c the sac was lower than the drain port, or loss of pressure in the bag to force the water to be pumped out. I too drive around in circles or tell everyone to sit on that one side, but I am usually waiting for the trailer to be backed in the water so it looks like im waiting to others i guess.

[moombadaze]

Spencer, nice to have a ballast guru on the boards to answer questions.

I have a order with you Im waiting on