I have thought about extending a sealed 3/4" hose from the ballast tank vent to a valve under the cockpit seat as it saves going into the cabin lifting what is usually a ton of luggage and checking the ballast level. Obviously with the view hole gone, i thought about an electric light indicator that tells me when the water level is of sufficient height, passing a currnet between two pins inside the tank which when contacts with water, illuminates the indicator so i turn the valve and seal it. Good idea?? Any mods about of this type out their. Any ideas for improvements or suggestions welcome. I have a 2000 26X. (vent forward)
Our 2001 has a forward tank vent...we found the anchor locker route to be awkward and chose to vent into the galley sink discharge line at an angle that avoids backflow. Keep a sink plug in place, so it routes all that stinky ballast tank air outside. I have scored an inexpensive electrical contact unit as a full-signal, however, been too busy to install it. Thinking about a light visible from helm. Also thinking about a low pressure air pump in the vent line...maybe reverseable...to help with filling and draining...trickier than it looks...so that has moved down my to-do list a bit. Have fun. Jack
I ran my passive vent line up to the anchor locker, but hooking everything together up there is a job. I like Jack's idea better - nothin' wrong w/ just tapping into either sink line, as long as you maintain the angles that keep the drainage headed overboard.
I've pondered tapping a bronze nipple into the centerboard trunk, to drain the cooler. Might work for the vent too, avoiding any long tubing runs. The air would vent up through the mast support tube. Not sure it's worth the effort, but ....
argonaut .... either idea might save you some time & effort, if you're still only mid-way into the mod.
Aye on that Frank. I have the foam out but access up there is really tight & I'd like to not have hose running up the bow.
The thru-hull vent looks a lot easier because of the better accessability.
I've been wishing I had some ball-valves on the thru hulls anyway to close off the drains, maybe I could do both in PVC...
Use a ball-valve off the drain, into a tee with a barb on top, then into the thru hull.
Yep! I'd just try to be sure to come upwards from the ballast tank nipple, then try to maintain a level run to the sink, then drop the hose onto an upward-T nipple. Guess your ball valves are to prevent back-wash up the drain lines when the boat is on heel? I just keep a rubber stopper in each sink.
I have thought about extending a sealed 3/4" hose from the ballast tank vent to a valve under the cockpit seat as it saves going into the cabin lifting what is usually a ton of luggage and checking the ballast level. Obviously with the view hole gone, i thought about an electric light indicator that tells me when the water level is of sufficient height, passing a currnet between two pins inside the tank which when contacts with water, illuminates the indicator so i turn the valve and seal it. Good idea?? Any mods about of this type out their. Any ideas for improvements or suggestions welcome. I have a 2000 26X. (vent forward)
