Ah... I had not thought about that...Nothing worse than seeing a butt crack on a bicycle! But yeah, they should consider the market they are selling to.
RELEASE THE KRAKEN....
Emptying Water Ballast - Hunter 260
- Thread starter Jeff Gray
- Start date
RELEASE THE KRAKEN....
Hi All,
Reporting back as promised. . .
I didn’t end up going with the shop vac, out of fear that might create too much pressure. Instead, I used a tiny little air pump that’s made for inflating swimming pool floats and the like. Makes less pressure than I can create with my lungs, so I’m thinking that’s probably not going to cause any damage.
Worked like a champ!!! I was absolutely amazed that such a tiny little pump, making so little pressure could clear the water, but it did. I still had water to drain after the boat was on the trailer and out of the water, but I’m guessing it was only about a quarter of what it otherwise would have been, maybe less, and it gave me a good 4-5 inches less boat below the waterline as I approached the trailer, which was great.
So... I can’t say whether it’s a safe practice or not. I don’t think it caused any harm, but I wouldn’t necessarily know yet, I suppose. It definitely did “work”, though, in terms of getting the boat higher in the water for floating onto the trailer at a shallow ramp...
Best regards to all!
Jeff
Reporting back as promised. . .
I didn’t end up going with the shop vac, out of fear that might create too much pressure. Instead, I used a tiny little air pump that’s made for inflating swimming pool floats and the like. Makes less pressure than I can create with my lungs, so I’m thinking that’s probably not going to cause any damage.
Worked like a champ!!! I was absolutely amazed that such a tiny little pump, making so little pressure could clear the water, but it did. I still had water to drain after the boat was on the trailer and out of the water, but I’m guessing it was only about a quarter of what it otherwise would have been, maybe less, and it gave me a good 4-5 inches less boat below the waterline as I approached the trailer, which was great.
So... I can’t say whether it’s a safe practice or not. I don’t think it caused any harm, but I wouldn’t necessarily know yet, I suppose. It definitely did “work”, though, in terms of getting the boat higher in the water for floating onto the trailer at a shallow ramp...
Best regards to all!
Jeff
Hope you,re not moving to far without water in ballast,boat is top heavy,saw one flip over sideways with keel up.Be safe
DJN51, no I wasn’t going far at all. Only 50 yards or so from my slip to the ramp.
Kermit, I didn’t notice the exact time it took as I was busy futzing about with other things I needed to get ready for loading. I think it was about 25 min give or take a bit.
The process I used was to stick the pump into the air vent hole and then open the drain valve by backing the tee nut off about two inches and pushing down. I also put duct tape over the edges of the large washer around the valve rod to make a better air seal. Once the valve was open, I turned on the pump. A couple of time to check my progress, I pulled the pump out, which of course immediately started refilling the tank. I found I could just pull up on the tee nut to close the valve and the water pressure would keep the valve closed. Then to restart, I simultaneously turned on the pump and pushed the valve rod back down.
I was absolutely amazed that this little pump would clear the water. I can literally blow air through it backwards.
This is the pump I used:
https://www.amazon.com/Mattress-Inf...ocphy=1026339&hvtargid=pla-486712741640&psc=1
Kermit, I didn’t notice the exact time it took as I was busy futzing about with other things I needed to get ready for loading. I think it was about 25 min give or take a bit.
The process I used was to stick the pump into the air vent hole and then open the drain valve by backing the tee nut off about two inches and pushing down. I also put duct tape over the edges of the large washer around the valve rod to make a better air seal. Once the valve was open, I turned on the pump. A couple of time to check my progress, I pulled the pump out, which of course immediately started refilling the tank. I found I could just pull up on the tee nut to close the valve and the water pressure would keep the valve closed. Then to restart, I simultaneously turned on the pump and pushed the valve rod back down.
I was absolutely amazed that this little pump would clear the water. I can literally blow air through it backwards.
This is the pump I used:
https://www.amazon.com/Mattress-Inf...ocphy=1026339&hvtargid=pla-486712741640&psc=1
Wow that is cheap. I've never had a problem getting my boat on the trailer and I assume that if I ever do, I'll just use the tongue extender on the trailer.
BUT! for that price, it might be a prudent idea to have one of those in the emergency box. I can see it being useful if I ever get caught in a cove at low tide and need to clear a sandbar or a number of other eventualities.