1999 Air Nautique Thru-hull Ballast Scooper Diameter?

[h2oski]

I definitely have no intention of "surfing" behind my boat, but I would like to upgrade the factory ballast system. Starting with the existing thru-hull ballast scooper intake near the center drain plug, what is the diameter of the pipe before the ball valve? It looks like 1" and is reduced to 3/4" after the ball valve, but I want to be sure.

TIA

-Scott

[NautiqueJeff]

I am not sure making a bigger hole in the bottom of the boat is the most efficient thing to do. What about trying a bigger pump first? Changing the thru-hull fitting can disrupt PerfectPass.

[h2oski]

I think we may be talking about two different things. My objective is to convert the factory ballast system to impeller pumps and upgrade the factory ballast hoses to 1" and reuse the factory hard tanks. The existing factory thru hull is a scooper style, but I'm not sure of the hole size. If it's 1", great, then I just need a 1" mushroom style intake to start.

I thought about just reusing the factory hoses and just replace the pumps and reuse what I have, but I think I need to do a little more than that.

-Scott

[h2oski]

For any one interested, the factory scooper style ballast through hull is 1" diameter. At least it is on my 1999 Air Nautique. Inside the boat, there is a 90* and a ball valve with a 1" to 3/4" reducer. I plan to convert it to a mushroom style so I can fill and empty the ballast tanks sitting still or underway.

-Scott

[core-rider]

It might be in your plans to swap the tanks for sacs down the road, but if not I suggest it. That's a costly job to convert to impeller pump with no real benefit other than a few minutes quicker fill/empty time. I believe your money could be better spent on more weight (depending on what you're wanting) than quicker fill/empty times.

For reference I'm still using the factory style pumps on my 03 SANTE, but replaced the tanks with 2 - 750 sacs in the rear. I use a separate pump for a 1000 triangle sac in the bow because I didn't want to plumb in that sac. The time it takes to fill those is not ridiculous and it gives time for the rider to get their gear together and on without rush in the process.

[h2oski]

Thanks for the input core-rider. The main motivation is simplify, modernize if you will. I'm the original owner of my boat and try to keep it as factory as possible, but the ballast system has always been a sour spot for me. On my last outing (the same day as my recent fuel system issue) I noticed the rear tanks filling and yet the helm valves were closed. I usually have the thru hull ball valve closed, not this time. I never cared for the two aerator pumps (one to fill and one to empty) on the same hose or the valves; I understand it, but there's got to be a better way There was a time when I planned to put a bag in the ski locker and triangle (where the factory puts the battery on a 1999 Sport/AN). I was so gun hoe, first step, move the battery. I moved it and added a second under the observer seat cave along with a Blue Seas SI, battery selector, and dual battery charger. Then one outing, doing something I shouldn't have, blew out a knee, bad hit to the head (15 stitches thank goodness for helmets), broke my nose. Plans change I guess

I'm just thinking right now, researching what others have done, do's and don'ts.... first I need to finish the fuel system update.

-Scott