ski locker ballast bag question

[sandm]

so I have the stock 400lb in the ski locker. bag has a notorious habit of filling up with air all the time. best way to "burp" it??
I eventually want to add a 3-pump setup, but probably a good year away so really want to do something that won't be a waste of cash down the road. don't mind adding another thru-hull...

really not much room to work with the fill/drain lines in that small area either. I think the drain line off the bag to the pump is less than 4 inches..

any suggestions???

[newty]

Install a swing or spring check just before the through hull. that will keep air from flowing into the bag.

[sandm]

assuming that will help it fill when air is in the bag? problem now is I'll put the bag in and fill it up. once done, it's 1/3 full of air.

[rdlangston13]

do you fill the rear bags up first? if so maybe try doing the front first so that air will stay more neutrally located and perhaps make it to the purge in the rear of the bag as the front dips. i could see how the ass of the boat sitting deeper in the water could make the air want to travel to the front of the bag, thus not letting it purge out

[jmvotto]

Sandm, you see this thread, add a third port to the bag a wye vent it thru the thru hull drain.

I am going to try this next couple Weeks

http://moomba.com/msgboard/showthrea...ht=Adding+vent

[newty]

Sandm, you will have to burp the bag the first time you put it in and fill it, but you will not have to do it again after that. Are you taking the bag out every time? If so roll the bag up tight so there is no air then hook up the hoses. Lay the bag in there and (with the check in place) fill the bag. There should be no way it fills with air. Also you may want to take apart your solenoids and clean the mold and gunk out of the diaphrams. That will help them seal better and keep any leaking from happening.

[kaneboats]

I think I am going to add a vent right in the top so I can open the ski locker door and burp it.

[bzubke1]

I unhook the fill line and it stays really flat and doesnt get any air in it while on the trailer. After I put the boat back in the water I just hook it back up and very little air gets in it. Maybe enough to displace 20 pounds of water. If I forget and leave the fill line hooked up nearly the whole bag is filled with air.