Hi,
I have a 2001 Launch SSV.
The current setup is the hippo ballast system (I think it is called) with one Rule 1100 gph pump, a rather restricting 3 way sprinkler with valves and 3 seperate drain pumps.
The ballast, if I am not mistaken, are 550 lbs in each rear locker and 1000 lbs up front. It was upgraded when I bought the boat in 2008.
The 1000 lbs cannot really fill to the rim as the space up front is restricting. The 550 lb sacks fill and leave about 4" of space to the locker door.
We are usually 2 people in the boat + rider when we go out wakeboarding. We don't surf. Yet, anyways.
I am trying to find the best way of upgrading the ballast for more wake. I could of course upgrade the rear sacks for the 750 lbs I hear some people are running, but that is only 400 lbs, total extra ballast. May not be worth the extra cash.
Though it is hard to find any other way to get significant ballast that is fully integrated.
That leaves loose ballast. I found the ronix eight.3 telescope ballast which looks really neat.
I could get the 1100 lbs bag and just put right in the middle of the floor, in front of the backseat (may need to move the port-side seat to get it to fit, but that wouldn't be an issue). This would be filled by throwing a pump over board.
Would that be a good way of upgrading the wake for wakeboarding?
If I remember the only few times we have been like 6 people in the boat + full ballast correctly, the wake was significantly larger. And the boat, even if it did take some extra time out of the hole, could handle it well.
Any input on that idea?
I have some other issues as well. The ballast is painfully slow to fill and even more so to drain.
I guess one problem is the restricting valves in the sprinkler. Could these be upgraded?
The other issue is that the front sack empties to slow. It should be fine with the 750 gph pump that I have up there, but it isn't pumping anywhere close to 750 gph. I guess this is due to the long hose all the way back.
Has anyone put an extra hole to throw out the water?
Thanks,
Mike