2020 G23 - unconnected connectors for ballast?

[Red_Duck]

Apologies for the ignorance here. Whilst trying to fix the depth/temp sensor problem I noticed three connector rods (see pics) which are not connected to anything. They are each next to the shut off valve for the ballast.

I appreciate someone informing me of what they do

thanks

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[Red_Duck]

Hello everyone. There’s been quite a few views and no comments or replies. I’d like to push this up the order and see if I can get. Reply. Thanks

[bturner]

Do you have pictures? If you've tried uploading them, we're not seeing them, just strange characters.

My guess would be these are for a "pro ballast" or optional plug and play ballast that may be an option for your boat. They build the wiring harness for all features so it's not unusual to have connectors like this with nothing connected to them if you don't have that specific feature installed in your boat. I have for example the connector for a heated driver's seat that's pretty easy to see when the seat is moved all the way forward.

[Red_Duck]

Thanks for pointing that out. The photos look fine on my screen but I appreciate it and have uploaded from my PC.

It looks like they could connect to the manual shut off valves.

Thanks

[bturner]

Wow, I was thinking you were talking about electrical connectors. That looks like a cable to open/close the valve remotely. Yeah, I would have disconnected those too.... I could just see my wife opening those by mistake somehow. I honestly don't know why someone would see it necessary to have a remote shutoff to the ballast system unless it were something needed to comply with invasive species laws where you can lockout the ballast system.

That looks factory to me and it wasn't done cheap either.

[BasaltRMK]

Those are the standard Nautique factory ballast shut-off valves / actuators. They open/close when the ballast pumps are on/off to allow filling/emptying but prevent water intrusion when the ballast system is not active. The quick connects on the end of the actuator rods are meant to hook into the ball mount at the mid-point of the valve handle. These should all be connected unless they were detached do to a system issue, etc.

If you keep your boat in the water, I'd definitely hook them up (or repair the system if needed).

- bob

[Red_Duck]

So the mystery is solved....

Those 3 x unconnected things in the photos are indeed supposed to be connected to the manual open/close valves for ballast. Luckily Nautique technical support called me back and were very helpful. Unlike the dealer, who is not.

Nautique believe that dealer service people often disconnect these when winterizing a boat. Reason being that they are in the shut position when the tanks are emptied and the boat is off. They said the dealers seem to believe there might be 'residual water' in the tanks which, if the valve is shut, the water might expand on freezing and cause a problem. So they leave disconnect the cables and leave the valves open. Nautique said this is a myth. The tanks are big, the water (if any) would happily expand and not cause an issue. But they know dealers do it anyway,

So what they believe has happened here is the dealer winterized the boat and I didn't pay them to come out and "summerize" it. I mean why would you pay someone to start the boat so the antifreeze is expelled? I would like to think that if I had paid them to "summarize" it, they would have reconnected these cables. I would like to think.

Nautique said it doesn't much matter if they are connected or not. If the boat is stored in water (as opposed to on a lift) and the valves are permanently left open (disconnected actuator and left manually opened) then there is a small chance that water could get into the tanks. I asked them why would that matter - you can leave a boat full of ballast in the water it's not like it's going to sink.

Anyway, to anyone facing this, that's the answer.