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I've owned my Mac26x for a few months and tried to empty the ballast the other day (on the water, traveling about 6 mph under motor). I opened both ends of the ballast (under the front cushions, and pulling the lever on the back - you can see I have all the sailing terminology down), and nothing drained. 20 minutes and nothing... I stopped at that point and just sailed, so I didn't get into really trying different things.

Anyone else ever have any problems?

I think your speed may be a little slow. My Mac X empties fine, but I go a little faster (Im guessing about 8-10 mph). Also, there are threads regarding using an air pump to push the ballast out successfully.

Happy Sailing.

Tjinca - you have to get the bow up to get the ballast to drain - if you have a load of stuff on the pulpit or in the vberth you might reach ' ballast speed' but not tip the boat enough to drain too....

As long as the gate valve at the transom is underwater, with the forward air valve open, and the forward motion is 8 MPH or faster, it is supposed to siphon the water out, like suction. A fast following current might screw this up too.

I doubt there is much siphon action on an at least - the transom is pretty turbulent and there isnt much flow around the valve that I have seen ....ymmv

Hello,
I agree about siphon with the X. It requires gravity so you must to have enough speed to lift the bow higher than the stern. Water then runs downhill like it's supposed to.

Now if your boat is old enough, it is possible to have the center valve open or loose and never get the tank empty.

Tjinca1,

Siphon? Gravity? It does not matter what you call it, as long as you hit a speed which will have the bow HIGHER than the stern Then it will drain! Everything else you did was correct.

Ray

I prefer to get up to a speed where the gate valve is clear of the water as it streams past the transom. Then it's real easy to see the huge stream of water shooting out the back. Once it slows to a trickle, close the gate valve and then the vent.

If you have an older X with the 2nd valve under the steps only open that for a faster fill (I don't even use it for this anymore). Keep it closed when draining the tank underway.

I have a 97 X and someone on this board mentioned reversing to fill it faster and when it seems full, give a forward thrust to burb the tank then continue filling. You may look silly backing around in a huge circle but man it works. Even at night there is no noticeable gurgling from an almost full tank. As for emptying I agree that you need to go fast enough to get the filling hole clear of the water and that usually brings the nose up.

For those who have been around a while, you'll remember I got myself 'beached' with nose slightly up. I drained the ballast while waiting for the tide to lift me away.

When I returned to the launch (recovery) ramp, gallons and gallons of water poured out.

I'm under the impression right now that I have to be cocked up considerably on the ramp to empty the tank.

If I'm pressured to leave the ramp early, I let the thing drain on the trailer while in the parking area. When I get home, I park on a slope with chucks behind the wheels to keep the rig from rolling backwards into the woods. I crank up the nose wheel and open the gate and a lot of water comes out.

In other words, if you're on the trailer and level , you are not going to get all the water out.

Underway, I think I might get the nose up enough to drain. Has anyone crawled back to take a look at the valve, is it clear or is it underwater?
Book says give it about five minutes or so; anyone get a chance to time it and realize it may take longer?

Perhaps I am a bad example.

and I have an old 96 with the small valve....

10mph.....

no less than 12 minutes to drain...

Sloop John B wrote: . . .Has anyone crawled back to take a look at the valve, is it clear or is it underwater?

Yes, I always hang over the helm seat, at speed**, to view the gate valve while emptying ballast. With the boat at ~12 to 15 mph the gate valve is totally above the water's surface (as Duane wrote above) and the "fire hose" exit stream of ballast water is obvious. It's also obvious when the ballast exit stream has diminished to just a trickle, upon which I close the gate valve. I'd guess ~7 minutes, at speed, to drain the tank of late-model 26X with the 3-inch gate valve.

(just one opinion . . . 6 mph is too slow to empty the ballast tank ... min. 10 mph.)

** = CAVEAT EMPTOR . . . this "hanging-aft" maneuver isn't the safest Skipper's position in a speeding boat. I'm especially loathe to perform it when single-handing, since it requires hanging-aft while speeding forward. I have done it while alone, but I surely don't recommend it unless there's a qualified driver at the helm. CAVEAT EMPTOR!

CAVEAT EMPTOR CAVEAT EMPTOR

I know already Frank. CAVEAT EMPTOR! That's Latin for eat caviar on an empty stomach.

I prefer my Caveat on Melba toast with chopped eggs. How abut You?

Ray

..

Did it taste like (KF) Chicken????

(No fish jokes please)