Adding Bow Ballast to 06' Vride or alike - Come on!!!

[Ndawg12]

All though we all appreciate everyone's eagerness to help out and share their expertise.... !!Please read everything below before posting!!

I have raised questions about adding bow ballast and so have may others. Some people give there opinions, others dispute these opinions, and others say to search this forum or that forum for good information, I have tried that.

So my question is this, if you have done it AND IT WORKS, how did you accomplish this, and what was your bill of materials?

That's it. . . !!! Please don't second guess the previous guy or submit partial or unproven methods. I'm looking for a few proven installs so that I can decide whether I can understand the flow and do it myself.

I guess I should clarify that I'm talking about tapping into or adding to the existing MLS system and not just throwing some bricks in the bow!! (I figured some smart a$$es would chime in with that!)

Thanks for your input

BuCrew

Edited January 6, 2009 by nemire12

[SacRiverRat]

[crickets]

[yabetcha]

I added a fly high sac under the bow seats in my '06 vride. I'll post info and pictures later today.

[yabetcha]

As promised, here's the bow ballast setup I've been using for a year. Before I installed this system, I manually filled and drained a 400lb Pro X sac on top of the bow seats for surfing and wakeboarding.

I installed a Fly High Pro X Integrated Bow sac and wired fill and drain pumps to a dash switch. The fill pump is under the floor hatch near the driver seat. I used the T-drain hole installed at the factory located between the mid ballast tank and gas tank. A short brass pipe threads into the drain, then a ball valve and finally a Rule aerator pump. One inch black flex hose runs through the starboard stringer to the opening in the driver footwell and then up to the bow to the front opening in the sac.

The sac is drained on the port side rear opening by an Attwood tsunami pump. The drain hose is ¾” and tees into the mid ballast drain hose. I added check valves to both drain hoses and then connected the new hose to the existing mid ballast thru hull.

Here’s a list of some of the parts I used:

Pro X Series Integrated Bow Sac - W711

Skylon Fat Pump 1100 GPH Ballast Pump

Attwood Tsunami 800 GPH pump

Guzzler 1” in-line check valves

http://www.flexpvc.com/cart/agora.cgi?prod...PVC_Pipe_1_inch

[johnsvt]

Looks about right.

I would add that my v-ride had all the wiring run upfront and to the switch panel. The hardest part, for me, was getting a bow ballast switch cover...thanks to Paul from Bakes.

[Ndawg12]

As promised, here's the bow ballast setup I've been using for a year. Before I installed this system, I manually filled and drained a 400lb Pro X sac on top of the bow seats for surfing and wakeboarding.

I installed a Fly High Pro X Integrated Bow sac and wired fill and drain pumps to a dash switch. The fill pump is under the floor hatch near the driver seat. I used the T-drain hole installed at the factory located between the mid ballast tank and gas tank. A short brass pipe threads into the drain, then a ball valve and finally a Rule aerator pump. One inch black flex hose runs through the starboard stringer to the opening in the driver footwell and then up to the bow to the front opening in the sac.

The sac is drained on the port side rear opening by an Attwood tsunami pump. The drain hose is ¾” and tees into the mid ballast drain hose. I added check valves to both drain hoses and then connected the new hose to the existing mid ballast thru hull.

Here’s a list of some of the parts I used:

Pro X Series Integrated Bow Sac - W711

Skylon Fat Pump 1100 GPH Ballast Pump

Attwood Tsunami 800 GPH pump

Guzzler 1” in-line check valves

http://www.flexpvc.com/cart/agora.cgi?prod...PVC_Pipe_1_inch

yabetcha, you are the man, that is exactly what I was looking, your description was clear enough but the pics were great too. How does the sack vent when filling and draining. Do you have any problems with the sac draining back through the fill pump? That's a 650lb sac, can you fill it all the way without raising the seats?

Johnsvt, when I make this happen I will call your man at Bakes. Do you remember which switch it was that was all ready wired up to the bow, or maybe I misunderstood you?

By the way, Lake Norman is very busy but if you get out early enough and/or stay out late enough you'll have plenty of time to board not to mention all the inlets you can go back in that are plenty big for boarding and are calmer with almost no traffic. The sandbar is like a mini college spring break every weekend, not sure what you're into. My wife and I will sit on the outskirts and enjoy the show. But it's a beautiful lake and area, I wouldn't let a little congestion stop you from coming down some time.

Edited January 8, 2009 by nemire12

[yabetcha]

I didn't vent the sac and really haven't had a problem without it. I fill the sac until the seats start to lift up and because the fill hose is routed high in the bow near the storage lights it won't drain out the pump. It isn't possible to fill the entire sac due to the seats and I know others have measured the volume of water to determine the exact weight, but I can't remember what it was. I'm guessing it's less than 400lbs, but it's been great having it hidden and fully automated.

[Ndawg12]

I didn't vent the sac and really haven't had a problem without it. I fill the sac until the seats start to lift up and because the fill hose is routed high in the bow near the storage lights it won't drain out the pump. It isn't possible to fill the entire sac due to the seats and I know others have measured the volume of water to determine the exact weight, but I can't remember what it was. I'm guessing it's less than 400lbs, but it's been great having it hidden and fully automated.

That's great info, and I don't think I will need more than 300-400 lbs up there any ways. I won't be wakesurfing so the existing MLS is all I will have to offset to get the boat to plane.

Thanks for all your info.

[BlitzedVLX]

Is one pump adequate to drain the sac?

[pielet97]

This is what I did and it works great. (06 VLX)

http://www.themalibucrew.com/forums/index.php?/topic/20114-bow-ballast-upgrade/page__fromsearch__1

[BlitzedVLX]

I want to do a similar install with a w711 and johnson reversible pump. Can I do something similar to how yabetcha connected to the fill and drain from the mid ballast in his vride in my VLX?

I used the T-drain hole installed at the factory located between the mid ballast tank and gas tank. A short brass pipe threads into the drain, then a ball valve and finally a Rule aerator pump. One inch black flex hose runs through the starboard stringer to the opening in the driver footwell and then up to the bow to the front opening in the sac.

The sac is drained on the port side rear opening by an Attwood tsunami pump. The drain hose is ¾” and tees into the mid ballast drain hose. I added check valves to both drain hoses and then connected the new hose to the existing mid ballast thru hull.

[Nitrousbird]

http://www.wakemakers.com/fly-high-pro-x-series-fitting-w746.html

http://www.wakemakers.com/fly-high-pro-x-series-fitting-w743.html

http://www.wakemakers.com/fly-high-pro-x-series-fitting-w733.html

http://www.wakemakers.com/marine-ballast-hose-black.html (15’ of 1”)

http://www.wakemakers.com/1-inch-barb-adapter.html

http://www.wakemakers.com/stainless-thru-hull.html

http://www.wakemakers.com/marine-check-valve.html (1”)

http://www.wakemakers.com/fly-high-integrated-bow-sac.html

http://www.wakemakers.com/johnson-ultra-ballast-pump.html

http://www.bakesonline.com/detail.aspx?ID=2541

http://www.bakesonline.com/detail.aspx?ID=1097

http://www.bakesonline.com/detail.aspx?ID=1312

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B000KKQ90U/ref=biss_dp_t_asn

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B000BOE0II/ref=biss_dp_t_asn

http://www.lowes.com/pd_25189-104-A-875_4294935907__?productId=3133405&Ntt=brass+3%2F4&pl=1&currentURL=%2Fpl_Plumbing_4294935907__s%3FNtt%3Dbrass%2B3%252F4&facetInfo=

http://www.ebay.com/itm/12-2-AWG-Tinned-Marine-Boat-Duplex-Cable-Wire-duplex-Red-Black-25-FT-/300706344957?pt=Boat_Parts_Accessories_Gear&hash=item46037eaffd&vxp=mtr

http://www.amazon.com/Gardner-Bender-20-108-Terminals-13-Pack/dp/B000FP8F1G/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1337356094&sr=8-2

http://www.amazon.com/3M-Insulated-Female-Disconnect-Terminals/dp/B003IBX66I/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1337356251&sr=8-2

http://www.amazon.com/Scotchlok-Nylon-Insulated-Connectors-Yellow/dp/B003K340TQ/ref=pd_bxgy_hi_img_b

http://www.amazon.com/Permatex-56521-Performance-Thread-Sealant/dp/B000HBM72Q/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1337356309&sr=8-2

http://www.amazon.com/3M-Marine-Adhesive-Sealant-3-Ounce/dp/B0000AY0ND/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1337356379&sr=8-1

http://www.amazon.com/Cables-Go-43036-Cable-4-inch/dp/B0002GX1XA/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1337356412&sr=8-1

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0036R4TWE/ref=biss_dp_t_asn

http://www.amazon.com/Grip-Rite-PTN158S1-8-Inch-Coarse-Exterior/dp/B000BOAX5W/ref=sr_1_7?s=industrial&ie=UTF8&qid=1337356671&sr=1-7

That should be the most complete list of everything (minus tools) you could possibly need. I had some of these (or similar) items already in the garage, but that list should be e

everything you could possible need to have to do this install.

I did this install without the front venting, but plan to add that. Works perfectly, utilizing the T-handle drain near the V-drive for my front bag (did 1” thru-hulls for my rear bags). You could substitute all ¾” stuff as well and not have an issue, as the bag doesn’t fill up more than about ½ way and doesn’t take long.