ballast filling mods

albion · Post by **albion** » Wed Jan 10, 2007 11:01 pm

My ballast tanks seem to take ages to fill, even when I motor in reverse. are there any faster ways to fill the ballast tanks. Whats the secret.?

James V · Post by **James V** » Thu Jan 11, 2007 1:29 am

First, I assume that you pull the plug inside. The easiest way is to do it at the dock. Just open everything before launching and by the time I am ready to shove off, it is filled.

Frank C · Post by **Frank C** » Thu Jan 11, 2007 2:05 am

I forget - which model year?

beene · Post by **beene** » Thu Jan 11, 2007 5:10 am

Everyman wrote:even when I motor in reverse.

Never would have tried that one. Did that actually make a difference?

g

Post by **kmclemore** » Thu Jan 11, 2007 6:57 am

Wait, wait............... Don't say it, Frank........ I'll say it for you....

Folks, *PLEASE* put your boat's data in your profile information!

It makes it *so* much easier to consult with you all on your boat's needs. If we know what kind of boat and motor we can immediately start thinking of what we know of that will help and it saves bags of time.

Just click on the "Profile" link at the top menu of this thread and in the line that says "Location" put in your boat's particulars. Here's how I formatted mine, using periods to space it out properly:

Ambler, PA . . . . . . "Miss Tecumseh" . . . 1998 26X w/ Tohatsu 50 . . . . MACX2018A898

Thanks folks!!!

-Kevin

albion · Post by **albion** » Thu Jan 11, 2007 11:44 am

Frank C wrote:I forget - which model year?

Frank I have a 2007 model 26M

Night Sailor · Post by **Night Sailor** » Thu Jan 11, 2007 5:22 pm

One simple solution would be to increase the size of the air vent hole in the ballast tank. The larger the hole, the faster the results. However, the larger the hole, the bigger the mess if you overfill the tank or forget to put the stopper back in!

Frank C · Post by **Frank C** » Thu Jan 11, 2007 5:41 pm

Thanks, Everyman (the early model X-boats have a very different ballast vent & valve config). I've never had that "slow filling" impression on my 26X, or any other of the later models. It takes about 5 to 7 minutes to fill the tank - is that what you're finding?? Maybe a "procedure" list will help. Here's mine (others may feel free to adjust):

STOP the boat;
Now barely idle fwd (2 mph is just enough to stabilize with some 'way');
Open the ballast vent;
Open the transom gate valve;
Wait some minutes;
Have Mate dip a finger down the vent, verify ballast is within 2 inches or so;
Close ballast gate valve;
Plug the vent;
Resume fwd progress, into wind & prepare to hoist sails.

If you're not single-handing, it's handy to have the Mate fwd at ballast vent when closing the gate valve, since that crew weight helps depress the bow & slightly increase ballast load. Send two or 3 crew to the bow - more love! In my experience, reversing the boat does nothing to help superfill the ballast tank - YMMV.

Frank C · Post by **Frank C** » Thu Jan 11, 2007 5:56 pm

kmclemore wrote:Wait, wait............... Don't say it, Frank........ I'll say it for you....
Folks, *PLEASE* put your boat's data in your profile information!
-Kevin

Kmc - this is actually quite amazing ... there are SO MANY new members here, and lots of new questions, that it has become very difficult to keep straight whether each member has M-boat or X-boat, and which motors are installed. As are you, I'm pleased to try to help, but it's natural to frame a answer for my own 26X.
That can occasionally make an answer completely wrong!

c130king · Post by **c130king** » Thu Jan 11, 2007 6:14 pm

In my short experience (7 times on the boat) I find that if I am moving over 3-4 mph with the valves open the ballast will not fill all the way.

I have left the dock twice with the vent and transom valve open. It was probably full when I first left because it probably took me 10 minutes to finish up (park the trailer, finish up the pre-sail stuff, etc...).

Motoring out at 5-6 mph I would remember and send my first mate up forward and they would tell me they couldn't see any water in the vent hole. So I would bring the boat to just about a full stop, the boat would finish filling pretty quickly, put the plug in, close the valve, and be on my way.

Probably have to be pretty slow to keep the water from flowing out.

Just my $.02.

Jim

albion · Post by **albion** » Thu Jan 11, 2007 7:27 pm

kmclemore wrote:Wait, wait............... Don't say it, Frank........ I'll say it for you....

Folks, *PLEASE* put your boat's data in your profile information!

It makes it *so* much easier to consult with you all on your boat's needs. If we know what kind of boat and motor we can immediately start thinking of what we know of that will help and it saves bags of time.

Just click on the "Profile" link at the top menu of this thread and in the line that says "Location" put in your boat's particulars. Here's how I formatted mine, using periods to space it out properly:
Ambler, PA . . . . . . "Miss Tecumseh" . . . 1998 26X w/ Tohatsu 50 . . . . MACX2018A898

Thanks folks!!!

-Kevin

Sorry Kev. Its done now.

eric3a · Post by **eric3a** » Thu Jan 11, 2007 7:34 pm

albion · Post by **albion** » Thu Jan 11, 2007 7:45 pm

Thanks again all you great informers. Dont know what us newbies would do without you. You guys are a great help to us novices.If I ever get my new Seachamp put on I will be able to see the speed I am going to fill the tanks. In the owners instructions it says there is a 16" clear plastic tube in the rig box that you stick in the vent hole,push it to the bottom, put your thumb over the tube , pull it out and it tells the water level in the tank. Hey Bill at B4S how come you took my tube wink, wink. Cos I aint found it yet. BTW Macgregor says water should be 1" below the vent hole.

Tahoe Jack · Post by **Tahoe Jack** » Thu Jan 11, 2007 7:48 pm

eric eric eric......search the mods....there are several approaches to solving this problem, including one I posted with a $5 electronic alarm and continous venting for fill....

Jack

Frank C · Post by **Frank C** » Thu Jan 11, 2007 8:27 pm

Eric - me too. I posted a "procedure" for Roger's basic boat, but I long ago abandoned that full list.

I added a "passive vent" so I wouldn't need to go fwd, wouldn't need to 'dip' the tank, wouldn't even need to use the vent plug. A vinyl hose now connects my ballast vent to a thru-hull at the anchor locker. The tank remains open to the atmosphere. I allow 7 minutes for ballast to fill, and then simply close the gate valve. It's full ... gotta be.

Look over the transom. That wide-open gate valve is fully submerged after 7 minutes. I believe the scientists might describe it as a 'physical imperative!'

MacGregorSailors.com

MacGregorSailors.com