Repowering with smaller engine options

[Ixneigh]

Slightly off thread topic, Star, do you think would it be possible to empty that tank with a 1200 gph regular bildge pump? I’d love to get rid of that funky ballast tank gate valve and use something else like a smaller PVC ball valve.
Not sure how the pump water suction pickup would work.

[Be Free]

According to the manual, a 26X should be going around 8 mph to drain the ballast. I suspect the 26M is very similar.

I don't have any doubt that a 20hp engine can get either boat up to 8 mph.

[Starscream]

Slightly off thread topic, Star, do you think would it be possible to empty that tank with a 1200 gph regular bildge pump? I’d love to get rid of that funky ballast tank gate valve and use something else like a smaller PVC ball valve.
Not sure how the pump water suction pickup would work.

Well, yes, but that would still take over 10 minutes of pumping and use a lot of power. I think the consensus is to use an air pump trough the vent valve, forcing the water out through the main fill valve without having to actually pump water. That should get the ballast pumped down to the point where the 20HP could do the rest, I believe.

[Be Free]

Some folks have expressed concern with pressurizing the ballast tank too much. Just something to consider.

[dlandersson]

If you filled the ballast tank with helium, wouldn't that make your boat lighter? Easier for a smaller engine? Or faster to get on plane for a 50+ HP?

Some folks have expressed concern with pressurizing the ballast tank too much. Just something to consider.

[Ixneigh]

I’d only dump the ballast very infrequently at any rate. The boat moves comfortably at displacement speeds fully ballasted. And with four stroke fuel economy I’ll probably think about some ICW trips.