Ballast Question

(depoint50ae) · (depoint50ae) **Join Date: Jul 2005** 07-29-2005, 11:53 AM

Can I put Ballast on my I/O Sea Ray? Everyone talks about ballast on inboards but have never mentioned the average joe's boat.

(dizzyg) · (dizzyg) **Join Date: May 2005** 07-29-2005, 12:04 PM

of course you can put ballast in the boat. Why couldn't you?

(depoint50ae) · (depoint50ae) **Join Date: Jul 2005** 07-29-2005, 1:30 PM

I was just wondering if anyone had done it and if it was safe or effective.

(atlsackedup) · (atlsackedup) **Join Date: Mar 2005** 07-29-2005, 1:38 PM

Grier...It shouldn't hurt your I/O at all...just start off light and work on adding later on. Go with a 600lb fat sac in the rear to start off with. I learned behind my girlfriend's chaperall deck boat with a 600lb fat sac in front of the engine. Especially if it has a V8, I wouldn't worry.

(rich_g) · (rich_g) **Join Date: May 2003** 07-29-2005, 1:53 PM

Try putting the fat sac in the walk-thru. That will push the bow down, then use the trim to sink the stern as much as possible while still being able to plane out.

chris_hargis 07-30-2005, 10:10 AM

I put a ballast system on my outboard fish and ski. I used waterbed tubes. I have a single waterbed matress in the ski locker and 6 tubes in the rear staorage area, plue the live well. Wasn't the best wake out there, but it was better than before the ballast. So it can be done, but finding the right combination is the hard part.