changing stock ballast to bigger sacs

[Ed G]

finally had some success on my research about changing the stock 400 lb ballast bags to bigger ones.

Discovered that one can use any other brand of fat sac as long as the fittings are compatible and the bag will fit into the existing space.

The fittings that are used on the fill and drain hoses are "Flow-Rite Qwick Locks".

Here's one link to most fittings that will work with the Flow-Rite and allow other bags to be used:

http://www.wakecord.com/fat_sac_connectors.htm

[newty]

Good find Ed! Kind of a pain buying from fly high.

[csmsk]

They also have them at BuyWake.com:

http://www.buywake.com/catalog/boat/ballast?view=all

[sandm]

went to our dealer last fall and bought a 750lb sac for the rear locker in our boat. took less than 3 minutes to swap out. actually gave us more room, as the gg ballast went under the seat in the boat, and the new one expands up into the whole rear locker...

one caution......

check and double check the board that separates the locker from the engine. we filled ours up one day and noticed that the screws had pulled out of the floor and allowed the hinged door to fall against the motor. had to re-drill the holes and install bigger/longer screws to hold the door. it's only designed to have pressure on the bottom foot, and filling up the entire locker put too much pressure on the whole door..

[Ed G]

Good caution. Thanks sandm!

Heck, I don't even know if I'm gonna have to swap out ballast sacs with this new hull design, I'm just really guessing that I might.

Sure wish someone would buy a 2009 Outback V and give us some surfing reviews!

[sled491]

Ed, I thought that was what you were doing?

[zegm]

Ed,

Leader of the boards, leader of the surfing, you must step up and take over the leadership of the new Outback V!!!!

We trust you!

And know this is your calling!!!

:D

[Ed G]

The only thing I lead is two crazy Border Collies and I think they are just being polite.

Just for a FYI, Skiers Choice is going to show off a FULLY loaded 2009 Outback V at the upcoming Orlando Surf Expo.


The boat will then be for sale at Watersports of Central Florida.

[sandm]

really debating about plumbing in all the extra sacs that we use to surf over the winter. kind of a pita to use the pump that hangs over the side and fill 3 separate bags. would be nice to have an extra valve and hoses to fill them..
on a side note, it takes us around 25-30 minutes to fill the 750 off the stock skiers choice setup. that's parked. know they fill faster moving, but that can waste gas and burn hours. would be nice to see separate fill pumps for each sac like some other boats. thought about adding another pump just to fill the 750 on top of the one already there as there are 2 fill holes on the 750's, just not sure if I really want to drill a hole in a boat :)

[Ed G]

that's what got my blood pumping about the 2009.

According to the marketing folks, the stock 400 lb bags fill in three minutes.

edit: 4 minutes - not three

[sandm]

so the question would be what did they do differently and can it be adapted to an older choice boat? 8 minutes would be sweet for a 750.

our dealer has a couple of '09's, but none have the gg package yet. they are the outback slalom boats so far.

[Ed G]

well, I asked this very question and Natalie replied:

The pumps are by Jabsco. They are not retro able since the neatest feature about the pumps is that they don't drain out the sides of the boat like we are use to the are reversable and each bag has its own pump . The pumps fills and drains from the bottom of the boat. . . does this make sense? And yes within 4 minutes

Front bags 400lb
Back two bags 400 each
Total weight 1200 lbs
__________________
Natalie Carrera
Skiers Choice

[04OUTBACK]

Hey Ed,
Before you order the quick disconnect fittings, you may want to make sure the 09's don't increase in size. I have been on some MC's with Jabsco pumps and the PRO X upgrade and the sacs have the 1" fittings not 3/4"..
I am guessing that if Moomba puts a bigger pump in it would only be smart to put a bigger hose as to not have a bottle neck..

[sandm]

so what about upgrading the pumps to fill, then using the standard rule pumps already installed to drain? I have never minded the time to drain, as we usually enjoy a beer after surfing, it's the time to fill that sucks...

sounds like a project to look into for the winter...

[04OUTBACK]

sandm
The hardest part about upgrading the fill pumps to Jabsco's would be cutting holes in the hull for thru hull fitting.
The Jabsco's are reversable. They fill/empty through the same hole..
You could probably utilize the one water intake already there and drill 2 more for 2 additional pumps, or
You could utilize the existing system for your front bag and install 2 jabsco's for rear.. That would greatly improve speed!

Only thing I don't like about the Jabsco set up is without gauges to determine when your bags are empty, you have to manually watch them.
The jabsco's have impellers in them that will wear out quickly when run dry. You don't want to run them dry for long.. and since you can't see water flowing out the sides, it's hard to tell when empty.

You would also want to convert your current drains on the side of the boat to overflows... real easy, the drains are currently connected to the bottom of the sac...your jabsco would connect there.. switch that line to the top(fill port) and when your sac is full, it will spray out sides..plus that will burp the sacs too by forcing air out the drains..

I am thinking of cutting in 2 additional drain holes on side of mine for overflow / burping.. or, use JesseC's plan for putting an overflow line with check valve tied into the drain..

[Ed G]

Thanks for the advice Brad.

I'm not doing anything until I get the boat and see what it surfs like "right out of the box".

Just got an email from Josh Sanders and he says I'll be pleased with the wake...

"...Good choice! The Outback V is a great boat. I got to see it, drive it and check out the wakes a lot these last few months."

[Razzman]

I don't have a problem with the fill/drain times, i'm never in that much of a hurry when on the water :D What i DO have a problem with is the blasted front bag, it will never purge the air consequently i can never fill it to capacity! :mad:

[MD80]

If you want to save a little cash you can just order right from florite

https://www.flow-rite.com/store/marine/retail/marinestoreretail.html

[sandm]

thanks 04outback.
still some things that I am considering.. ultimately, I would like to trade the boat in on another one, but if I end up keeping her, then def. upgrade the pumps this winter. have heard that even going from 3/4 to 1" lines will make a big difference, but have 5 months to think about it. If I go to the jabsco setup, will just do the rear left sac and leave the other 2 on the factory setup. I really only use the bags to surf, and don't fill the right one up for that.