Best ballast pump?

[Mainah]

I am designing my system for next year so when things go on sale I can buy them. I am going to have a 1180 lb bag in the center locker and a 400 lb bag under each rear seat. I have searched high and low for something faster than the standard impeller pumps. I am even willing to consider customizing an impeller pump as a primer for separate fill and empty centrifugal pumps. I also have plenty of 12v power and can add an inverter to go to 110v if needed. The only requirement is that I must be able to plumb lines to both the inlet and outlet of the pump.

So what is the fastest pump out there that you can plumb lines to under $600?

 

[swatski]

@jcyamaharider
@dan144k
@trace

 

[jcyamaharider]

For our boats it is going to be hard to beat an impeller pump, just my opinion. @dan144k did an outstanding job on his boat using the aerator ( sp?) style pumps. Our fill times seem to be about the same. I can fill my boat in 11 minutes. 3 pumps and I am using the Johnson pumps. 3250 pounds.

 

[Mainah]

Thanks. I have been doing quite a bit of searching. I considered using a 1.5 inch self priming poly banjo pump and solenoid valves which would require a 3hp motor and draw up to 190 amps @ 12v. It would fill all three bags in less than 1.5 minutes but then might rip them apart once full without very large and multiple breathers per bag if only filling one bag. Two of these and solenoid valves however might do the job quite nicely if I can get them below the water line or build a priming system https://shop.hamiltonmarine.com/pro...h-28480.html?gclid=CMv906zqvs8CFQuLaQodnYYEwA.

With one for the center and one for the sides with valves to control operating as fill or empty as well as which bag I still might be able to build the system for the same money as 4 impeller pumps and have 2.5x the fill and empty speed. I could even direct plumb a line behind the swim seats with a solenoid switch to allow me to fill a swim platform bag.

Has anyone out there tried something like this?

 

[jcyamaharider]

I have one pump that has 2 12 volt ball valves, one to close and one to open. It fills an under the seat ballast bag, then when switched it fills a in cabin seat bag with a 1" line. Same setup just a much smaller pump.

The big pump would be crazy!!

 

[buckbuck]

@trace used his jet pumps to fill the bags. But it required placing a fitting over the nozzle.

 

[COtoFLsurf]

@Mainah, this is a late response, but hey I just joined !!! ;-) I used those 3800 gph pumps on my Centurion and they are awesome. I already had Tsunami 1200s for both fill and drain, so I kept the Tsunamis and used Rule 3800s to transfer from goofy to regular side fatsacs. I added a 1.5" port to each of my 1100# sacs, connected the 1.5" port to the input port of a Rule, and connected the two Rule output ports with 1.5" hose. Aerator pumps cannot block backflow, so water could flow from one sac back into the other, so I prevented that using an electric 1.5" ball valve with self-closing spring. When you hit the switch to transfer, the valve opened and the appropriate pump started pumping. When you turned off the switch, the valve closed and the pump stopped. Pumping backwards thru an aerator pump introduces very little loss, so this config transferred 1100# in just under 3 minutes, which meant we could surf either side in very little time.

 

[Mainah]

@COtoFLsurf - I think I have settled on impeller pumps. The issue with the 3800 gph centrifugal pumps is space and mounting. A priming system will take up yet more space not to mention the distribution system. I think I am going to go with a total of 4 impeller pumps. 2 for the 1100lb center sac and 1 each for the 400-500lb side sacs. Filling in 5 minutes or less should work for me.

If you have other thoughts please do let me know. I completely new to ballast but not new to plumbing, electrical, or fabrication so I am open to suggestions even ones that require advanced fabrication and controls.

My favorite plumbing project is the electric ball valves I installed on my kegerator and hooked up to a HomeKit outlet. "Hey Siri tap on" is required from my phone in order for the tap handles to receive beer. All in the name of access control for my 3 teenagers and their visitors.

 

[FloJet]

@Mainah I've been thinking about ballast setup too but my question is, with the ballast in the ski locker and under the seats, how and where do you plan on running the plumbing? I am not a fan of drilling in fiberglass but seems like that's the only option?

 

[Mainah]

Engine compartment sidewalls are plywood so that is easy. For the ski locker remove the fuel tank access panel (cabin floor), drill a hole(s) in the wall between the tank compartment and the ski locker. At least that is how I plan to do it.

 

[jcyamaharider]

Here are mine mounted to the side wall:

 

[FloJet]

Oh I see. Nice @jcyamaharider. This might be a job for me to leave to the experts. But I will be anxiously waiting for @Mainah results and posts to see how it all went.

 

[Mainah]

There are a bunch of other things higher on my list so don't hold your breath. At the top is my second stereo upgrade, perfect pass, and a custom mini kegerator/tap for one gallon mini kegs.

 

[dustinjean]

my boat runs piranha 1200's factory which i like as replacement is cheap compared to impeller pumps even though it has 8 pumps

 

[Mainah]

my boat runs piranha 1200's factory which i like as replacement is cheap compared to impeller pumps even though it has 8 pumps

Do you have photos, or plumbing and parts diagrams? I may consider that.

 

[KXCam22]

Mine is similar.
One on the port and one on the starboard. The valves shown didn't work well so I swapped them for electric ball valve. Putting in the ballast is not that hard. It is just cheap plastic pipe and water, not too much rocket science. One thing to note when choosing pumps is these (shown) impeller pump will prime (suck water) when above the water level, whereas the cheaper tsunami type must be below the water line. They are much cheaper though if you can get them to work. Theses pumps have been running for 4 years. Cam.

 

[dustinjean]

https://www.wakemakers.com/wakemakers-complete-aerator-ballast-system.html
https://www.wakemakers.com/shurflo-piranha-1100-aerator-ballast-pump.html
and my bad i have piranha 1100's but this will show you the basics and as said above they need bottom hull mounted intakes but can drain topside and obviously vent topside, I like knowing when my ballast is full and empty and never have to check just listen till it comes out the vent and its full and you'll hear the water slowing when their almost completely empty. and i cant remember how much room there was on my ar210 anymore for direct mounting pumps to the hull as i never setup automated ballast on it i just dealt with throwing pumps over board etc. but i know the impeller pumps are popular on this site due to space on jet boats being tight

 

[dustinjean]

just came across this https://www.wakemakers.com/attwood-tsunami-1200-pump-bracket.html that could be mounted as low as possible on the engine wall as the pumps are really small

 

[KXCam22]

On mine I use a level switch to stop the pumps when full and a vacuum switch to stop them when empty. But that is a bit complicated for most people. Cam.

 

[Mainah]

On mine I use a level switch to stop the pumps when full and a vacuum switch to stop them when empty. But that is a bit complicated for most people. Cam.

Neat idea. lots of ways to skin this cat. I keep landing back at the impeller pumps for a few reasons. Two pumps for the ski locker bag and one each for the sides. Adding on flow meters to each one and controlling everything with a microcontroler with built in Bluetooth/wifi could be pretty cool but I am not sure that it is needed.