Custom ballast system question

[you da man]

Personally, I would have them wire everything up as if it were a stock system that is in all of our boats. Then when it is all done. Take the crappy sprinkler valves out and add your own pumps. Use the solenoid wire for the pump wires. Just need to change out the fuse to 5 amps. All the switches are there, the fuse block, all the wiring, and the drain pumps. He just needs the new pumps and the vented loops for all 3 pumps.

Exactly. Just got back from the dealer and they said it's my choice to do either the 08 or 09 GGIII system but the 08 makes more since. I told them about my plan afterwards and they said it makes since and sounds like a better system. They won't go for the idea of doing the whole install with 3Tsunami pumps as that would be "custom" work.

Now, is the manifold for the 3 Tsunami pumps one piece or is it pieced together from various parts from Home Depot/Lowes?

[tazz3069]

Your going to need three of these


You will also need three of this set-up

[you da man]

Your going to need three of these


You will also need three of this set-up

I'm only going with one intake, not three, but I will use 3 Tsunami pumps off one manifold.

[tazz3069]

In that case, make sure the scupper is 1" Mine looked like a 1" scupper. It was not it had a 1" OD with a 3/4" ID. With a 1" hose

[Fman]

It's coming down to the wire as to taking my boat in for the ballast upgrade. I've seen/read some doing the 3 Jabsco with 3 intake, read about 1 intake with 3 Tsunami pumps, 3 intakes with 3 Tsunami pumps. Question is on the Tsunami systems using multiple intake pumps, how many drain pumps are you guys using and how? Seems to be pros and cons to each system.

Couple things to keep in mind...

400 pound ballast bag = 48 gallons...

JABSCO pumps = 9 GPM (5.3 minute fill for 400 lb bag)
Tsunami 800's = 13.4 GPM (3.58 minute fill for 400 lb bag)
Tsunami 1200's = 20 GPM (2.4 minute fill for 400 lb bag)

You will loose a little GPM due to friction loss and elevation loss, but these are fairly close. If you go with the 1200's you will need more than one intake. Running three 1200 pumps off one intake will not supply 60 GPM. You can achieve about 39 GPM max per intake.

I installed (3) Tsunami 800's with one intake manifold and it works very well. It takes me about 7-8 minutes to fill 1900 lbs of ballast, which is about 30-32 GPM. One thing to keep in mind is you have to mount the pumps very low to the bottom of the bilge area because Tsunami's are aerator pumps and will not self prime so they need to be lower than the draft of the boat.

Just some food for thought.... good luck with your project.

[tazz3069]

Fman
my 3 1200 tsunami fill a 400lb bag in 7 min+ I do have 3 intakes. I thought that it will be a faster fill. It looks like the single 1" scupper will do the same job. I just though that to pull that much water to fill all 3 sacks just might not work. I stand corrected.

[you da man]

Couple things to keep in mind...

400 pound ballast bag = 48 gallons...

JABSCO pumps = 9 GPM (5.3 minute fill for 400 lb bag)
Tsunami 800's = 13.4 GPM (3.58 minute fill for 400 lb bag)
Tsunami 1200's = 20 GPM (2.4 minute fill for 400 lb bag)

You will loose a little GPM due to friction loss and elevation loss, but these are fairly close. If you go with the 1200's you will need more than one intake. Running three 1200 pumps off one intake will not supply 60 GPM. You can achieve about 39 GPM max per intake.

I installed (3) Tsunami 800's with one intake manifold and it works very well. It takes me about 7-8 minutes to fill 1900 lbs of ballast, which is about 30-32 GPM. One thing to keep in mind is you have to mount the pumps very low to the bottom of the bilge area because Tsunami's are aerator pumps and will not self prime so they need to be lower than the draft of the boat.

Just some food for thought.... good luck with your project.

I had the 800's in mind when thinking out the ballast upgrade from stock one intake pump to three. Also, I'm getting the 750lb sacs on both sides so looks like it will take a little while to fill. I have to drive a few miles to my favorite spot on the lake and was wondering if i left the scupper on the intake of course the pumps won't hold back the water from being forced in. However, if your goal is to fill as fast as possible and can do it while under power...why not. Once the bags are at desired capacity, couldn't you just shut off the ball valve to keep unwanted water from being forced in by the scupper? I mean, sounds like a little bit of a hassle to get up and shut the valve off a few times per day but it only takes a handful of seconds to do and you can fill while underway instead of just sitting.

[tazz3069]

That what the vented loops do. With these installed, you do not have to shut the valves. I had cut the back end off the scupper and kept the screen. This way, it will kept debris out of the pump. Here is a picture of the scupper.



Before I did the cut, the bags would fill while under way. Now that I removed the cups, the system works perfect.

[you da man]

That what the vented loops do. With these installed, you do not have to shut the valves. I had cut the back end off the scupper and kept the screen. This way, it will kept debris out of the pump. Here is a picture of the scupper.



Before I did the cut, the bags would fill while under way. Now that I removed the cups, the system works perfect.

But I was trying to figure out a way to fill while underway and leaving the scupper as is on the stock intake. I know the vented loops prevent the filling while underway but that's IF you grind the scupper off. Instead of using vented loops can't I just shut off the ball valve once my sacs are at the desired level?

[tazz3069]

Of course you can. I was just think of an esier way to fill and shut off with removing seats, ice chest and people just to get to the valves. I thought of that as well and I did do that first. For me, it was a PIA. Thats why I opted for the vented loops. But yes, by shutting the valves will work ass well.