Peter,
re the pumping out of the ballast tank in my plastic BR 'Tipsy', I have now three bungs inserted into the aft facing wall of the tank (facing into the sump), the one in the middle has an opening of 1", the two side ones have an opening of 1/2". The two side ones are set as far out as ever possible, on starboard and port, and all are as low down in the wall as ever possible.
I have two manual bailing pumps fitted onto the outboarder bracket, on either side of the engine. Their intake hoses are laid crosswise i.e. the portside pump sucks the starboard side of the sump. Photo in the thread
http://www.swallowboats.co.uk/component/option,com_smf/Itemid,28/expv,0/topic,198.60 .
The sump itself has two 'Mini' selfbailers for outside mounting, starboard and port.
The tank has a standing vent.
Thus, when I open the three bungs, the tanks gravity drains into the sump. From there, I either manually pump the water, or, when the speed suffices,the water is sucked out by the selfbailers. I no longer use the selfbailers inside the tank.
In my other BR 'Llafurio' I have an electric bilge pump integrated into the sucking intake of one pump, thus I can empty the sump just by clicking a switch.
But let's not forget over this the pivot thing which this thread is all about.
Regards,
Claus