04 Air Nautique Ballast Questions...

[bkwillis80]

I just purchased a "new to me" '04 Air Nautique 216 TE(still smiling) as it is my first boat!!!! After taking the boat out, the starboard tank took on water even though we never ran the ballast system. A few questions?

Is this diagram out of the manual accurate(looks like manual valves are left out)?

Plastic Valves under dash are pieces of junk(read a few posts on those already) and will work on a fix over the winter... One has the latch broken in the "open" position and the other is very difficult to move. With these open and the two manual valves in the engine compartment open - will the tanks automatically fill anytime the boat is under power?

The only way to keep water out of the ballast tanks is too close the under dash valves and/or the manual valves in the engine compartment, correct?

Does the ballast pump only serve the purpose of "boosting" the water flow into the tanks and/or allow to fill while sitting still?

The attached diagram shows a ball valve aft of the engine compartment, however, I have two valves with open and close labels inside my engine compartment that look to be attached to two pumps connected to the the ballast lines. If I manually close these, the ballast system should not take on water correct?

I will try to get pics of the manual levers in engine compartment tonight.

[functionoverfashion]

Basically, yes. Your ballast will probably fill while underway unless you manually close the ball valves you're talking about. And you're right about the helm control plastic valves - they were designed for livewells.

Here's more on the cheesy plastic valves:

Anyone Have Trouble With Helm Control Ballast Valves? - PlanetNautique Forums

And here's a worthwhile read on wiring the reversible ballast puppy pumps to work with the factory dash buttons.

Ballast puppies off 03 SAN touch pad - PlanetNautique Forums

[tachudda]

We just changed out the aerators in a 2004 210. The stock system bleeds water both directions unless you close the brass valves to control it. The under helm valves aren't very good and break pretty easy. The aerator pumps will pump while you are sitting still as long as there is water in the tubes for them to start on, if its dry they'll just spin in the air and do nothing. The system also drains water or siphons when the boat is stopped because the aerators don't stop flow in anyway. The are typically fast though.

If you upgrade, the reversibles are pretty nice. We originally didn't change out the pumps and just ended up doing it 9 months later because controlling how much water was where was such a pain.

[MrJake]

I just purchased a "new to me" '04 Air Nautique 216 TE(still smiling) as it is my first boat!!!! After taking the boat out, the starboard tank took on water even though we never ran the ballast system. A few questions?

Is this diagram out of the manual accurate(looks like manual valves are left out)?

Plastic Valves under dash are pieces of junk(read a few posts on those already) and will work on a fix over the winter... One has the latch broken in the "open" position and the other is very difficult to move. With these open and the two manual valves in the engine compartment open - will the tanks automatically fill anytime the boat is under power?

The only way to keep water out of the ballast tanks is too close the under dash valves and/or the manual valves in the engine compartment, correct?

Does the ballast pump only serve the purpose of "boosting" the water flow into the tanks and/or allow to fill while sitting still?

The attached diagram shows a ball valve aft of the engine compartment, however, I have two valves with open and close labels inside my engine compartment that look to be attached to two pumps connected to the the ballast lines. If I manually close these, the ballast system should not take on water correct?

I will try to get pics of the manual levers in engine compartment tonight.

Hey BK:
How has the Air 216 been treating you?

I’m looking at one right now to replace my 1979 Ski.

Just curious

thanks

[bkwillis80]

Jake,

I love it! More importantly my family loves it. I have taught my 10 yr old daughter how to board and ski behind it. My 7yr old how to ski and my 4 year old how to board off the boom. If you are looking for a surf boat, I haven't been able to dial in the wake yet, but am going to try that this summer. If you are looking for a great all around wakeboard, ski, barefoot, tube, etc boat, it is a great boat for the value. Everyone wants a surf boat and these continue to drop in price a buddy of mine has a x star and we are going ri see what we can't do about the surf wake this summer. Will update when the snow melts in June!
let me know if you have any other specific questions.

Brian

[bkwillis80]

Oh and I learned on my grandparents 76 nautique which is still purring like a kitten! Got a pic this summer of my daughter, mom, grandma and myself skiing, wakeboarding and tuning behind it!

[tgi100]

I just purchased a "new to me" '04 Air Nautique 216 TE(still smiling) as it is my first boat!!!! After taking the boat out, the starboard tank took on water even though we never ran the ballast system. A few questions?

Is this diagram out of the manual accurate(looks like manual valves are left out)?

Plastic Valves under dash are pieces of junk(read a few posts on those already) and will work on a fix over the winter... One has the latch broken in the "open" position and the other is very difficult to move. With these open and the two manual valves in the engine compartment open - will the tanks automatically fill anytime the boat is under power?

The only way to keep water out of the ballast tanks is too close the under dash valves and/or the manual valves in the engine compartment, correct?

Does the ballast pump only serve the purpose of "boosting" the water flow into the tanks and/or allow to fill while sitting still?

The attached diagram shows a ball valve aft of the engine compartment, however, I have two valves with open and close labels inside my engine compartment that look to be attached to two pumps connected to the the ballast lines. If I manually close these, the ballast system should not take on water correct?

I will try to get pics of the manual levers in engine compartment tonight.

BK,

I have a 2005, 216LE and have the same diagram in my manual, but also noted that it is not correct. My thru-haul ports and ball valves are in the engine compartment as well. Also, I do NOT have any plastic valves whatsoever under my helm. It seems that the vent lines are not at all accurate in the manual since no lines run to the helm to be affected by said valves...

My problem is a bit different. I cannot get water into my tanks at all. I have tried moving forward with the valves open and pumps on, but nothing.... I can hear the fill and drain pumps run when I turn them on, but water is not moving. I then thought that my missing vent valves could be the problem. I removed one of the tanks and left the unconnected hoses in the bilge. When underway with valves open and pumps on, I still cannot get water to come out of anything. Am I missing something? There is no obvious obstructions or clogs anywhere... I would appreciate any feedback.

Thanks,

Tom

[MrJake]

Jake,

I love it! More importantly my family loves it. I have taught my 10 yr old daughter how to board and ski behind it. My 7yr old how to ski and my 4 year old how to board off the boom. If you are looking for a surf boat, I haven't been able to dial in the wake yet, but am going to try that this summer. If you are looking for a great all around wakeboard, ski, barefoot, tube, etc boat, it is a great boat for the value. Everyone wants a surf boat and these continue to drop in price a buddy of mine has a x star and we are going ri see what we can't do about the surf wake this summer. Will update when the snow melts in June!
let me know if you have any other specific questions.

Brian

Hey Brian: just PM’d you.

[GetBoated]

Just wanted to bump this thread. Similar issue except I can't get water into my port side. Pump runs but no water. Center bag and starboard bags fill fine. Wondering if a valve is stuck or something that I haven't discovered yet.

[acshelton]

Same problem as GetBoated. I'm crawling around in the engine compartment now getting ready to swap the starboard coupler with the port to see if the pump is bad. I can get it to fill by opening the valves and forcing water in but I'd like to be able to fill while I'm stationary. GetBoated, will yours will with valves open while moving?

[GetBoated]

Yes, they will fill while moving. It’s like the pump just won’t prime on the port side. I can hear it running but admittedly haven’t looked at it to see if the impeller is bad, or even turning.

[XBIGPUN66]

We used to turn the pumps on, drive about 30 sec at surf speed to prime, then it would continue to pump if we were sitting still.

Sent from my SM-G973U using Tapatalk

[GetBoated]

That’s what the previous owner told us as well. Can’t get it to work.

[03SANTE]

For anyone who still has the plastic valves (like me), even if they say open under the helm at the dials, that doesn't mean they are open and could be the problem. In my 03 they are inline after the brass valves down in the bilge. My cable controls are all either broken of frozen, so I have the actual plastic valves in the open position and never touch them. I control the water intake only with the brass valves. With the brass valves open water will fill while underway as some have mentioned. If this is not happening, you either have a plastic valve in the closed position or some kind of blockage. If you are sure everything is open and the pump is running it seems like it is the problem.