How did ballast tanks work on this boat?

Need one of
these

Does anyone have a diagram of the 99 with pump assist? In the diagram above I know where the "fill" pump is, it is right after the Through Hull Water Pickup and pressurizes fill hose to the tanks. That pump must allow water to pass to the tanks if the pump is not running.
My question is on the empty pump. It must be the same. I can only guess, but it is probably on the fill line, and just allows water to pass when it is off. So when neither pump is running, and the valves to the tank are open AND the Seacock is open AND you are moving forward, (I am thinking of changing my screen name to "Seacock")the water passes past the fill and the empty pump into the tank. In this configuration, if you stop moving, the tanks drain.
What if I removed the fill and empty pumps, and replaced the fill pump with a reversible jabsco pump and replaced the empty pump with a line splice? I would lose the ability to gravity empty, and pressure fill, but I would gain a faster, more reliable fill?
Any thoughts?
Tom

Tom just got some measurements that may help with your lift canopy. From the top of the windscreen to top of rub rail is 50cm (19.68") with the tower folded the measurement from top of folded leg to top of rub rail is 112cm (44.09").

Therefore folded tower is 62cm(24.4") higher than screen.

As quinner mentioned one advantage of the FCT1 is it can be folded with bimini attached.

Launch control system in Air / Sport. They do not have the quick fill and empty ballast "puppy" pumps. This is another reason they were mostly removed by the serious boarders.

awesome, seascamper to join the ranks of the pro air owners! counting me, that makes...calculating...carry the 4...divide by pi...yep, 2

Looks like a nice one,hope everything works out for you

seacamper wrote: I called the guy in California, and he said he estimates 630 hours based on the fact that he pulled the hobbs out when he put in perfect pass? He said the gauges were good and that he just replaced the keypad. So does that mean this is the year to avoid due to bad gauges?

I would not avoid this model year just because of the potential for bad gauges. Odds are that they have already been replaced, and if not, it is a pretty easy job to replace them. Nautique made it easier by recommending replacement gauges and they were/are available at a decent price.

I'd still take a FCT1 over any aftermarket tower except a NDT. I think they kind of got a bad wrap after the FCT2 came out because it was a little more stout but it flowed a lot better with the lines of the boat.

Folding any tower every time you pull into the lift is going to be a pain in the ass. A high canopy and shade cloth curtains is the way to go. No tower folding whatsoever.

Hey Hollywood, thanks for the input! It is so much better than Adam's! I actually agree with Adam on wanting the FCT2 tower because I just ordered a boat lift, and I will be folding the tower a lot. I also want the tandem trailer because when you blow a tire, it is safer with a tandem.
I called the guy in California, and he said he estimates 630 hours based on the fact that he pulled the hobbs out when he put in perfect pass? He said the gauges were good and that he just replaced the keypad. So does that mean this is the year to avoid due to bad gauges?

TRBenj wrote: Has to be a '00 with the optional '99 graphics because they didnt go to the digital gauges until '00.

Shut up. And give me back the 20 minutes I just spent going page by page through the 99 brochure trying to find any evidence that they may have used the digital ones in 99...I could have swore those were 99-01...

Ok, so that dude must have popped the 75th anniversary decals off, which makes very little sense to me.

Has to be a '00 with the optional '99 graphics because they didnt go to the digital gauges until '00.

That one looks nice also. He just had it on ebay and it ended either yesterday or the day before with -0- bids which kind of shocked me. That would be a very good deal if it has a decent interior.

oh the oft maligned pro air...the hull is slightly different than the air (strakes and chines) but there are very few other differences. the thing that would give me pause on that one is the 1st gen fct, I've always thought those were an eyesore. as for skiability, as HW found out last month, the slalom wake is decent, but there is a little bit of a rooster tail to deal with after 15 off. when I bought mine I kinda used the wrong criteria but it ended up working out, I love it. if you really want to know how it performs, see if you can hitch a ride with Jerry Smith (smithfamily) up to white lake this weekend, that's where I'll be.

I'd be all over that one in Tarpon. That's a nice boat.