Ski Ray Question

JustinBoots

New Member
Sep 10, 2019
8
Boat Info
22' Sea Ray Ski Ray Sportster BR Inboard
Engines
Inboard Mercruiser 260
I'm new to sport boats and bought the Sea Ray version of a "wake boat" and have a question...since I got no owner's manual. Under the passenger seat behind the windshield there is a Y splitter that has a single hose running through bottom of hull and two hoses running to the front of the boat...unknown end location. I can turn off either line using the valve. What do these lines run to? The bow seat storage is completely open for ski storage so there's no cooler boxes to drain. Is there a water ballast in bow that these lines feed?
 

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In stock configuration, this boat would not have had any type of ballast system. This is a "ski" boat, not a "wake" boat. It was designed to make as small of a wake as possible.

However... it may be something a previous owner added. The reason I say that is because it sounds like the the thru-hull fitting doesn't have a direct seacock - from what you've said, it sounds like the thru-hull splits to two hoses and then the two individual hoses each have a seacock. A seacock SHOULD be installed directly on the thru-hull - not downstream of a hose.

Got a picture of it?

You may just have to trace the hoses better.
 
I'm new to sport boats and bought the Sea Ray version of a "wake boat" and have a question...since I got no owner's manual. Under the passenger seat behind the windshield there is a Y splitter that has a single hose running through bottom of hull and two hoses running to the front of the boat...unknown end location. I can turn off either line using the valve. What do these lines run to? The bow seat storage is completely open for ski storage so there's no cooler boxes to drain. Is there a water ballast in bow that these lines feed?


the SeaRay sight has document down loads: owners manual, parts catalogs and the like.
I would think your owners manual could be down loaded.
 
the SeaRay sight has document down loads: owners manual, parts catalogs and the like.
I would think your owners manual could be down loaded.

Unfortunately the 1993 manuals are limited. Mine isn't there.
 
In stock configuration, this boat would not have had any type of ballast system. This is a "ski" boat, not a "wake" boat. It was designed to make as small of a wake as possible.

However... it may be something a previous owner added. The reason I say that is because it sounds like the the thru-hull fitting doesn't have a direct seacock - from what you've said, it sounds like the thru-hull splits to two hoses and then the two individual hoses each have a seacock. A seacock SHOULD be installed directly on the thru-hull - not downstream of a hose.

Got a picture of it?

You may just have to trace the hoses better.

I'll take some this evening. Thanks for the interest...it's weird that the hose comes directly from hull port to the splitter. There's a switch on dash that looks like water waves and has arrows pointing inward...that's why I thought it was possible ballast. But there's a raw water wash-down hose too so maybe it controls that.
 
The other thing that sounds odd is that you said it's under the passenger seat. Thru-hulls/seacocks are usually located more toward the center of the boat. Unless you meant the "center" portion of the passenger seat? As in, directly in front of the engine? It could be, that back in '93, that's how Sea Ray did those two hoses/shutoffs. Now we know better - if that first hose ruptures, there's no way to stop the inrush of water. On that note, carry a toilet wax ring onboard - you can stuff it into a hole in an emergency.

Turn the switch on and see what makes noise! :)

Do you have a cockpit heater?

Cool boat, for sure, though!
 
The other thing that sounds odd is that you said it's under the passenger seat. Thru-hulls/seacocks are usually located more toward the center of the boat. Unless you meant the "center" portion of the passenger seat? As in, directly in front of the engine? It could be, that back in '93, that's how Sea Ray did those two hoses/shutoffs. Now we know better - if that first hose ruptures, there's no way to stop the inrush of water. On that note, carry a toilet wax ring onboard - you can stuff it into a hole in an emergency.

Turn the switch on and see what makes noise! :)

Do you have a cockpit heater?

Cool boat, for sure, though!

LOL. Good ideas. Sorry to be more descriptive, Y is under seat and thru-hull port is in center under engine front portion.

No cockpit heater that I am aware of. :)
 

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OK, gotcha. No center seat. Some of these styles of boats had/have a center seat, too. I wasn't sure. There's a good chance that the switch you described is for the raw water - based on your description of it, it sounds like that is it.

Still not sure about the Y and the two hoses - you'll know more once you trace them better.
 
What's the diameter of the line? Small like aquarium air hose or larger like a garden hose. Do you have dual speedometers? Any chance it's a splitter for two speedometers. Other thought is underseat coolers that can be drained?????
 
What's the diameter of the line? Small like aquarium air hose or larger like a garden hose. Do you have dual speedometers? Any chance it's a splitter for two speedometers. Other thought is underseat coolers that can be drained?????

Looks like 3/4" rubber hose from hull port to Y and then 1/2" line off each side of the splitter running forward and down in to the area beneath floor. It does have dual speedometers, not sure why but it does, but this line goes nowhere near dash and diameter isn't the same as tiny hose that comes of speed tips on transom. No coolers under seats.
 
Pitot's (speedometer) should be at the transom. It uses dual speedos to increase accuracy. This was a common thing to do a quarter century ago before GPS became prevalent. Remember, this was a slalom ski boat - slalom skiers are very sensitive to 1MPH one way or the other. It was important for the boat to pull a skier at an exact speed when running the course.

I'd really be surprised if it was a drain - otherwise the cooler could fill up with water when underway.

3/4" sounds like something being used for a washdown.
 
So I explained hose direction backwards...but still same confusion.
 

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Whatever it is, it didn't come from the factory like that. Looks like a previous owners attempt to either fix a problem or make some kind of modification. The only way you'll figure that out is to find the ends of the hoses.
 
Whatever it is, it didn't come from the factory like that. Looks like a previous owners attempt to either fix a problem or make some kind of modification. The only way you'll figure that out is to find the ends of the hoses.

Where's the crying emoji ;)
 
Oh my gosh, yes. That is definitely not factory and certainly not safe. My first suggestion would be to remove the hose at the thru-hull fitting and install a proper, bronze seacock and close it. Now, at least, you're not in danger of sinking the boat should one of the fittings fail or a hose ruptured.

It really shouldn't be hard to figure out where they go to. It's gotta be 22' one way or the other. They obviously go to SOMETHING. And maybe a PO did, in fact, install some fat sacks somewhere. Although, there's really not a whole lot of areas for those to hide on that boat. Take the hose off and blow compressed air into it and follow the sound.

For some reason, one of the hoses has red tape on it. Find the other end - probably has red tape on it, as well. And, it could be - if each hose goes to two different items, on opposite sides of the boat - that the red hose goes to the item on the port side of the boat. But hey, I might be thinking too "logically" about that one...

A couple side notes... blower hose is ripped and the battery is missing it's tie-down.
 
Oh my gosh, yes. That is definitely not factory and certainly not safe. My first suggestion would be to remove the hose at the thru-hull fitting and install a proper, bronze seacock and close it. Now, at least, you're not in danger of sinking the boat should one of the fittings fail or a hose ruptured.

It really shouldn't be hard to figure out where they go to. It's gotta be 22' one way or the other. They obviously go to SOMETHING. And maybe a PO did, in fact, install some fat sacks somewhere. Although, there's really not a whole lot of areas for those to hide on that boat. Take the hose off and blow compressed air into it and follow the sound.

For some reason, one of the hoses has red tape on it. Find the other end - probably has red tape on it, as well. And, it could be - if each hose goes to two different items, on opposite sides of the boat - that the red hose goes to the item on the port side of the boat. But hey, I might be thinking too "logically" about that one...

A couple side notes... blower hose is ripped and the battery is missing it's tie-down.

Agreed. I'll cap it until I can figure out what the intent was. Was hoping you wouldn't pick up on the crack in the hose and battery tie down. :D It's on my list before I hit the water this weekend. :) Trailer needed my attention first and just about done with replacing the bunks and rollers.
 
Bring her over to my place and I'd happily give you a hand figuring things out - I haven't been on a Sportster in a long, long, long time!

I figured you may have known about those other two things but only mentioned it "just in case". You'd be surprised what I see in some boats... or, more specifically, the LACK of what I see...
 

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