There’s more than one way to skin a cat, and in wakeboarding there are two ways to fill a bag – a weight bag to be exact. Many boats are built with built-in ballast tanks or bags and permanently mounted reversing pumps.
Hit “fill” and they fill up. Press “empty” and they reverse the flow overboard. Then there’s the dirtiest way: drop a portable pump, which is plugged into a 12-volt outlet, overboard attached to a tethered hose to a removable ballast bag, and fill it. When it’s time to pump the ballast, hook the pump to the ballast tank and drop the end of the hose overboard.
Fixed mounted reversible pumps
Reversal pumps are mounted on a bulkhead or flat surface in the bilge and above the waterline to prevent submersion and prevent backflow, if the pump impeller fails and lets the water. A barb on the pump is attached to a through-hull below the waterline; the other is attached to the ballast tank fill port. If there are several tanks, as is normally the case, a diverter valve directs the water to the tank to be filled. Some diverter valves are manual and some are activated with a switch. The pump has the ability to operate in two ways, pumping or pumping, depending on switch selection.
Portable ballast pumps
These simple design systems use a 12 volt pump powered by a 12 volt outlet and attached to a hose. On some, a friction fit holds the outlet pipe to the ballast tank fill port and the watertight pump falls overboard. When the tank is filled, it is capped and the hose from the pump is connected to the next bag. To drain the bags, the hose is placed on the inlet side of the pump and, again, the pump is placed on the side of the boat. For the pump to start draining, it may be necessary to hold the pump below the upper level of the ballast tank to prime the pump, then quickly hold it overboard.
Maximum Throughput Capacities
A pump’s ability to move water is usually measured in gallons per hour. Wakeboarders want to know how many “pounds per minute” are added to the boat. In any case, this capacity figure depends on the power of the electric motor, usually measured in amperes, the size of the impeller, shaft and motor, and the diameter of the water supply inlet and exit overboard. A larger capacity pump will require more electricity in amps to do the job. The higher the amperage of the pump, the greater the wire gauge (thickness) must be to carry the current. Also, the longer the distance between the pump and the battery, the heavier the gauge needed to combat the resistance of the wire to the flow of electrons.
Here are five standout options and a look at their specs and capabilities.
Courtesy of Ronix
Ronix 8.3
This pump is the fastest and most economical way we have found to fill ballast in a portable pump. Immerse the pump in water, plug in the 12 volt power plug and lock the hose into the ballast bag. Ballast can be added at 493 pounds per minute, as specified (61 gallons per minute). Pump fittings are designed to mate with co-branded bags only.
- Best price: $159.99
- Ability: 3,700 gph
- Throughput at the elevator: N / A
- tension: 12
- Amp draw: 20
- Fuse: 12 amps
- Dry-running protection: Yes
- Protected ignition: Yes
- Body materials: ABS plastic
- Impeller: Nylon
- Seal: N / A
- Internal Ports: None
- Exterior Ports: 1.5″
- Motor magnet: N / A
- Closed SS tree: Yes
- Bearings: N / A
- Lester: 11 pounds
- Dimensions: 15″ x 13″ x 7″
- Website: wakemakers.com
Courtesy of Johnson
Johnson Pump Talulah 13.5 GPM Ballast Pump
Johnson builds this pump with a durable oil impregnated impeller that can withstand short periods of dry running and thermal protection to shut down the pump if water does not pass through it, providing the ultimate protection against burnt out pumps. It can move 108 pounds of ballast in
one minute.
- Best price: $189.99
- Ability: 810 gph
- Throughput at the elevator: 1’0″
- tension: 12
- Amp draw: 14
- Fuse: 25 amps
- Dry-running protection: Thermal overload protection plus oil impregnated impeller is lubricated against short periods of dry running
- Protected ignition: SAE J1171/ISO8846
- Body materials: Bronze
- Impeller: Oil-impregnated polyurethane
- Seal: lip type
- Internal Ports: 1/2” I/D Threaded Insert
- Exterior Ports: 1″ barb
- Motor magnet: Permanent
- Closed SS tree: Yes
- Bearings: Stainless steel ball bearings
- Lester: 6.6 pounds
- Dimensions: 8″ x 4.72″ x 3.54″
- Website: wakemakers.com
Courtesy of Johnson
Johnson Pump Talulah HF 30 GPM Ballast Pump
This is Johnson’s most powerful reversing pump for filling or draining ballast tanks. It can pump 30 gallons per minute at the 1 foot head, adding 240 pounds of ballast to the boat per minute. It also sports an oil-impregnated polyurethane impeller and thermal protection to prevent pump burnout if left on with no water flow.
- Best price: $244
- Ability: 1,800 gph
- Throughput at the elevator: 1’0″
- tension: 13.6
- Amp draw: 25 pumping/45 sec
- Fuse: 45 amps
- Dry-running protection: Thermal overload protection plus oil impregnated impeller is lubricated against short periods of dry running
- Protected ignition: SAE J1171/ISO8846
- Body materials: Bronze
- Impeller: Oil-impregnated polyurethane
- Seal: lip type
- Internal Ports: N / A
- Exterior Ports: 1.5″ O/D threaded
- Motor magnet: Permanent
- Closed SS tree: Yes
- Bearings: Stainless steel ball bearings
- Lester: About. 10 pounds
- Dimensions: 9.1″ x 5.12″ x 5.24″
- Website: hodgesmarine.com
Courtesy Jabsco
Jabsco Ballast Puppy 18220
A lower capacity pump for small bags and containers with limited amperage to power it, the pump is self-priming at 4 feet and capable of moving 80 pounds of ballast per minute, or 600 gallons per hour. It requires a three-pole fill-drain switch, sold separately.
- Best price: $204.57
- Ability: 600 gph
- Throughput at the elevator: 4’0″
- tension: 12
- Amp draw: 12
- Fuse: 20 amps
- Dry-running protection: Oil impregnated impeller is lubricated against short periods of dry running
- Protected ignition: ISO 8846
- Body materials: Bronze
- Impeller: Oil-impregnated polyurethane
- Seal: lip type
- Internal Ports: 1/2” internally threaded
- Exterior Ports: 1″ barb
- Motor magnet: Permanent
- Closed SS tree: Yes
- Bearings: Stainless steel ball bearings
- Lester: 6 pounds
- Dimensions: 3 5/8”x7 1/8”x4 3/4“
- Website: hodgesmarine.com
Courtesy Jabsco
Jabsco Ballast King S10372
Self-priming at 4 feet of head, this powerful pump features an oil-impregnated polyurethane impeller that protects against short periods of dry running, should you forget to turn off the pump when emptying bags. It is ignition protected for safe mounting in the engine compartment. The reversible pump requires a three-pole switch for fill, stop and drain settings.
- Best price: $250
- Ability: 660 gph
- Throughput at the elevator: 4’0″
- tension: 12
- Amp draw: 19
- Fuse: 25 amps
- Dry-running protection: Oil impregnated impeller is lubricated against short periods of dry running
- Protected ignition: ISO 8846
- Body materials: Bronze
- Impeller: Oil-impregnated polyurethane
- Seal: Lip seal
- Internal Ports: 1/2” internally threaded
- Exterior Ports: 1″ barb
- Motor magnet: Permanent
- Closed SS tree: Yes
- Bearings: Stainless steel ball bearings
- Lester: 7.5 pounds
- Dimensions: 3 5/8”x7 1/8”x4 3/4“
- Website: boatid.com
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