I want to make a shopping list for my ballast system upgrade. I want the list to be comprehensive since my plan is to buy anything I’d be getting from wakemakers on the weekend of Black Friday. I will source the pumps from EBay if cheaper. I will source standard plumbing fittings from my local plumbing store when possible if cheaper than WM.


Current setup
• 1 Rule 2000 (1200GPH) fill pump
• Sprinkler valves as a manifold for fill
• 3 drain pumps (~700GPH)
• No vent lines or check valves
• 1100 rear locker bags
• 650 center bag in basement locker


Thoughts and Assumptions
• My system will be the standard aerator system, repurposing existing components where logical.
• I think that I would rather have a dedicated vent thru-hull rather than T-ing into my drain line. It seems wasteful to buy a t-fitting and a check valve for the vent line just to avoid cutting a hole in the side of my boat. I’m not bashful about cutting holes and having more thru-hulls. No worries.
• Since I don’t currently have vent lines on any of my bags, I would need to buy the bag fittings and hose for these vent lines, if I am going to have to buy flowrite fittings and some hose ANYWAY, I might has well buy 1” fittings and hose and use that for the FILL and repurpose the ¾” existing fill fittings/hose for venting.
• I am fine with ¾” hose/fittings/thru-hulls for draining because draining seems to be less of a priority than filling and much of it can be done while underway or even after the boat’s pulled out of the water (assuming a level boat). Plus, when draining, it’s cool to see water shooting a good distance out of a ¾” thru-hull!
• I am not sure about the whole vented loop vs. check valve on the fill lines. Obviously the vented loops are a LOT more expensive than check valves. It sounds like if I don’t use vented loops that the bags will fill on their own while underway? I am not a fan of that.
• I currently have issues with the rear bag draining through the drain hole even with all the pumps off. I am wondering if I need to have the drain thru-hull located higher up (or possibly more forward?) I am thinking the bag is siphoning because the top of the bag when filled is higher than the drain thru-hull? I don’t know any “solution” for this other than placement of thru-hull.


Setup
1. Center bag (1180 gravity bag)
a. FILL: existing factory thru-hull, existing factory ball valve, new 1” hose, new T1200 Pump, new 1” flowrite bag connector
b. EMPTY: existing ¾” flowrite bag connector, existing ¾” drain hose, T1200 pump, existing ¾” thru-hull
c. VENT: repurpose ¾” flowrite bag connector, repurpose ¾” hose, add ¾” thru-hull
2. Rear Bags (x2)
a. FILL: New 1” thru hull, new 1” elbow and ball valve, new 1” hose, new T1200 pump, new 1” bag connectors
b. EMPTY: existing ¾” flowrite bag connector, existing ¾” drain hose, T1200 pump, existing ¾” thru-hull
c. VENT: repurpose ¾” flowrite bag connector, repurpose ¾” hose, add ¾” thru-hull


Shopping list:
• 1180 Gravity Games bag
• 2 Attwood T1200 Pumps: I need a total of 6 of the T1200’s. I currently have 3. I think I might steal a 4th one from my throw-over and repurpose the factory Rule 2000 as my throw-over. They are basically the same pump, but the rule takes more voltage and is bigger. It seems to make sense to have all uniform pumps anyway.
• 2 bronze thru hulls (1 inch?)
• 2 bronze elbows
• 2 ball valves
• 2 sets of 1” flowrite bag/hose fittings
• 2 black plastic thru-hulls
• A whole bunch of hose clamps
• 1” hose (length?)
• Vented Loops?
• Check Valves?


Questions
• What size thru-hull is optimal for the T1200 fill pump using 1" hose/hardware/fittings?
• Where do I need to put check valves or vented loops?
• Am I correct in my assumption that I need to locate my rear bag drains more forward?