X-10 ballast install (No turning back now)

Just made the first hole in my boat for the switches. The rest of my parts from WakeMakers come in this week. I can not wait until the battle with pumps over the side of the boat and 30 min fill times are over.

Jon,

Can you post up the system you are installing, and maybe a schematic? We have a 210 Maristar and are thinking of doing the same thing.

Thanks.

I actually have a MariStar 210 as well. I highly recommend talking to WakeMakers, but I can post pictures and info as I go along.

I'm running (2) 260lb sacs in the bow, (1) 370lb sac in the ski locker, and (2) 550lb sacs in the rear. If I was starting over, I would run the single "U" shaped sac in the bow and 750s in the rear. However, with what I have now and 6-8 people in the boat my 14.5x16 prop is not really doing the job. I will upgrade bags in the future as I find some good deals, but getting everything plumbed and swapping props will come first. I may just put 200-300lbs of lead in the bow instead of changing sacs though.

I will be using (4) T-1200 pumps to fill and (5) T-800 pumps to drain.

If you don't mind me asking, what is it running you to do all of that?

Don't mind at all. This is probably 95% of everything needed. I'll edit the list when I'm done.

Making a little progress. I have half of my fill pumps installed.

Holy Crap! The wifey would have my head if I did that! Good luck my firend

Adam, if I ever talk about buying another boat that doesn't have ballast already installed, feel free to slap me.

I'm right there with you Jon...

Took it for a test drive today. Fill / Drain times seem to be about 7 min, but I have some issues to work out before I get a hard number. One, I need to go through every hose clamp and put another 1/2 turn on it. Lots of small leaks everywhere. Two, I put the thru-hull on the driver’s side about 1" from where it should have and it rubs on my steering cable hard enough I've got to do something about it. Easiest solution is drill a new hole in the bracket it is mounted to about 1" higher, should move it up and out of my way. Three, the ski locker and the rear sacs will fill on their own. The rear bags only get about an inch of water it in, but the ski locker will nearly fill up. I'm going to put a ball valve in line with it. I doubt I will ever close it though

Overall, everything worked out pretty good. No issues with priming, or my worst fear, the thru hulls leaking.

great info in this thread. Thanks for the post.

If anyone needs more pictures let me know what of and I'll get them.

Lets see some pictures of that wake. It has to be pretty good.

I'll take some this weekend. Keep in mind this is an X-10, not an X-Star. The wake may not be that impressive.

Not the best picture, but you get the idea.

A little update:

I'm happy with the wake as long as there are 4+ adults in the boat and I have a nearly full tank of gas. With only 2 people in the boat and a half tank of fuel the wake is pretty weak. I'm going to order a set of 750lb sacs to replace what I thought were 550s. I have come to find out that they only hold around 400lbs each. I will also measure this weekend and see about getting a custom sac for the ski locker. I think I can get another 200lbs in there. After that I’m going to think about some lead for the nose.