TIP
38 | BOATINGMAG.COM | JUNE 2018INSTALL THE OVER-
FLOW/VENT FITTING
Select a location on the boat’s
side or transom for the stainless-
steel through-hull fi tting that
serves as the vent/overfl ow for
the ballast bag. The fi tting should
be located higher than the water
level in the bag when it is full. Cut
and chamfer a 1^1 / 16 -inch hole in
the desired location. Bed the hole
on both sides with the supplied
marine sealant/adhesive and
insert the fi tting from the outside,
then tighten and torque the fi tting
nut on the inside to ensure a
watertight fi t. Wipe away any
excess sealant.INSTALL THE INTAKE
WakeMakers’ available Thru-Hull
Pinpoint Magnets help match the
location on the underside of the
hull to a spot selected inside. We
recommend installing a backing
plate for a more robust installa-
tion. Cut and chamfer a 1^1 / 16 -inch
hole. Bed inside and outside with
the supplied marine sealant/adhe-
sive, insert the stem from under-
neath, and thread on the nut from
inside; tighten the fi tting and wipe
away excess sealant. Install the
ball valve on top of the fi tting, then
thread the hose adapter into the
top of the valve. Use pipe sealant
to ensure all are watertight.PLUMB THE SYSTEM Use
the supplied hose assembly kit
to connect the hose barb on the
through-hull intake/valve assem-
bly with the A fi tting of the ballast
pump. Then place the ballast bag
(not included) in the desired loca-
tion and use another section of the
supplied hose to plumb the B fi t-
ting of the pump with the fi ll/drain
fi tting on the ballast bag. Use the
supplied vent/overfl ow hose to
connect the fi tting on the top of
the ballast bag with the vent/over-
fl ow fi tting. Secure all hoses to
the fi ttings on the ballast bag and
the boat using the supplied hose
clamps to prevent leaks.PUMP, TIMER AND
SWITCH Use the supplied
hardware to mount the reversible
ballast pump and optional pump
timer module in spots that are dry
and easy to access for service.
The pump should be above the
waterline. Mount the rocker-style
pump switch on the dash, then
run the supplied wire harness
from the battery to the switch,
from the switch to the timer mod-
ule, and from the module to the
pump. Connect the Plug-and-Wake
connectors to complete the wiring.
Support the wiring throughout its
runs to prevent it from sagging
into the bilge water and chafi ng.Select the run time
on the ballast timer
using the dial on the
module and the sup-
plied chart to ensure
the pump will run
long enough to fi ll
and drain the ballast
bag you chose for
your system.SET THE
TIMER
It helps to have two people
when installing through-hull
fi ttings: one on the outside to
hold the fl ange in place with a
step wrench and the other inside
to tighten the fi tting nut.ILLUSTRATIONS: TIM BARKER; PHOTO: COURTESY WAKEMAKERSCORED
HULLS
If your boat’s hull or
transom is cored with
foam, balsa or plywood,
there are additional
steps you should take to
prevent water ingress
into the core material.
For more information,
visit boatingmag.com/
drilling-into-cored-
boat-hulls-and-cored-
boat-decks.