Ballast system ?

I have a cutsom sac for the port side similar to an Enzo sac, but built to my Tige's dimensions. It is connected to a reversible positive displacement pump from make-a-wake. We spend a great deal of time each session riding the starboard (aka dark side ) On the starboard side I have two sacs and I fill them with a Tsunami and then empty them with a tsunami as we fill the port side.

I'm ordering a custom sac for my starboard side, but I'd rather not buy another $650 system just to fill the dark side

What I'd like to do is build a system using the existing pump that will allow me to select where the source of my fill will come from, lake, port sac or starboard sac. I also want to be able to select where to direct the empty - port or starbord sac OR back into the lake. I'd love for it to be "smart", so that if I am filling the port side and the starboard side has ballast, the system would draw from that sac first.

AND I want 5 million dollars to build that system

Any engineer types out there that can design such a system with less than 5 ball valves?

If any one ponies up the cash I'll do it for 4 million!

The Mayfair pumps are dared inexpensive. There are six pumps in my boat, three fill pumps and three empty pumps. I've had to install check valves to keep the fill pumps from siphoning.

A pair of sacks with extra ports for water exchange would be really helpful. You could install transfer pumps to help speed the fill and transfer processes. You’d need check valves to keep the sacks from back filling through the pumps or you’d need positive displacement pumps.

Suppose your start the day regular. Turn on both port and starboard fill pumps. Then turn on the starboard to port transfer pumps. Your filling the port sack twice as fast as you would with the normal port pump.

Now you want to switch to goofy. Turn on the port to starboard transfer pumps, remember that’s pumps. Turn on the starboard fill pump and turn on the port empty pump. That should speed it up.

It would be incredibly easy and in expensive for a manufacturer to make a wakesurf boat with built in gonzo ballast transfer. I think what limits manufacturers is bruising the capacity plate data with Enzo sacks.

the cheap way is to use a y valve. They make them for marine head pump out systems.
Rout your fill and empty line each to a y valve and split to your two sacks from their.

Im using one to fill the sack under the passenger bench with the same pump as my back locker.

two ball valves will work the same as a y valve if you are really cheap.


http://www.fisheriessupply.com/online/ln_menu/product.asp/mode/1/product_id/15877/Ntt/y/N/-22804/Nty/1le/R/4732/act/A01/catalog_name/FISCO/Ntx/mode+matchpartial+rel+Inactive

Im sorry i got excited about ballast systems and didnt fully understand your quesion. From what i know about make a wake's ballast system thier is a thru hull to some sort of tee or manifold and then the pumps. If you put a ball valve between the thru hull intake and the tee it would divert the outgoing water of one pump into the intake side of the other pump. From what i have read about jabsco ballast puppies running two pumps inline does increase speed (it wont double it though) Replace the ball valve with a high flow electric valve $$$ (used in centurions) and its all operated from the dash.

It works in theroy, but you never know untill you test it.

If you want to run the pumps in parallel put y valves between the T/manifold and the pumps to divert water to/from the thru hull to/from the oposite sac.

high tech CAD drawing
http://www.ultimatesubaru.org/photos/showphoto.php?photo=15612

Mason, that's what I want to do - the CAD drawing that shows just the one pump - THANKS! I'd like to do this as cheaply as possibly and so the three Y valves do that trick.

I would like to be informed though, do you have any idea the cost and where to acquire the "high flow electric valve" you refer to?

Thanks again.

I will have to get back to you about the electric valve on monday when im back at work, but i should be able to help you out. When i comes to ballast systems i usualy tell people that its time vs. cost. Its always fun to find a way to do it fast for cheap.