Morgan Ohlson wrote:

Is "tap" a proper word for water-pipe switch?

I'm looking for some kind of tap /switch to open /close the tubing to the
ballast tanks.

Since one of the main goals is to keep empty weight down beg metall things
is not acceptable.

The pipes (plastic hoose) must be 15mm (dia), maybee 20-30mm.

Hints please!


Morgan O.

I use a plasic ball valve on 1/5 inch id (38.1mm) hose for my toilet
plumbing. Smaller sizes are available. Cost about 15 bucks, uses
threaded hose barb adapters. Seems OK so far after one season of
use. Available at home hardware stores.

As I use air pressure to purge and dump the holding tank contents.
An advantage of this is that the prime mover (the 12v electric tire
pump) does not get wet, or come in contact with tank contents. I
wonder if you plan on using air pressure to move the ballast?

The pressures involved for this application would not be more than a
few pounds per inch. An air pressure reserve tank is generally
lightweight, provides reserve floatation, can use a small air pump
to maintain a pressure reserve, and could move a lot of water quite
quickly. The idea might be suitable for your application. If you
need to you could use a bicycle tire pump to pressurize the system.
Are you constrained by racing rules? What might they say about
pumping ballast? Could you use a foot crank powered centrifugal pump
to move the ballast?

This raises a question in my mind concerning water ballast use. If
the windward tank is full and you are about to go about, do you just
open a valve to allow the ballast to flow to the lower leeward tank
and then tack, or do you tack first and then commence pumping? How
does your use affect handling before during and after going about?

Terry K