Introducing the UP1-TB Turbo Ballast: Marco's Most Powerful Flexible Impeller Pump Yet
- 6 days ago
- 3 min read
Updated: 4 days ago
With a flow rate of 133 l/min — 20% above industry standards — the UP1-TB redefines what a marine ballast pump can deliver. Here's everything you need to know before it ships.
When it comes to ballast pump performance, speed and reliability are non-negotiable. Whether you're racing a performance foiler, managing stability on a superyacht tender, or running commercial fill-and-drain cycles on a professional vessel, every second counts — and every pump failure matters. That's why Marco engineered the UP1-TB Turbo Ballast pump to operate at a level the market has never seen before.
Designed, engineered, and manufactured entirely in Italy, the UP1-TB is the newest addition to Marco's acclaimed Turbo Ballast series. It is a self-priming flexible impeller pump built around a single goal: deliver the highest possible flow rate with the lowest possible power draw, in a compact and reversible package that installers and captains can trust unconditionally.
Why 133 L/Min Changes the Game for Ballast Systems
The flexible impeller pump market has long converged around a certain performance ceiling. Most comparable pumps on the international market top out at approximately 110 l/min under extreme flow conditions. The UP1-TB obliterates that ceiling, delivering a verified 133 l/min in its Extreme Flow configuration — a figure that is roughly 20% higher than the current market benchmark.
"Delivering a 20% higher flow rate than international market standards isn't an incremental step. It's a category redefinition — especially for performance ballast applications where fill and drain speed directly affects a vessel's competitive and operational capability."
That delta matters enormously in practice. On a ballast tank that needs 200 litres to fill, a pump delivering 110 l/min takes approximately 109 seconds. The UP1-TB completes the same fill cycle in roughly 90 seconds. In racing or time-critical operational scenarios, that 19-second difference can change an outcome. Scaled across a full day of ballast management cycles, the cumulative time savings — and the associated reduction in motor run time and energy consumption — are substantial.
Technical Specifications at a Glance
Who Is the UP1-TB Built For?
The UP1-TB Turbo Ballast is engineered for professionals and serious recreational mariners who operate in demanding conditions where pump performance is a safety and efficiency variable, not just a convenience feature.
It is particularly well suited to performance sailing and racing applications — foilers, offshore racers, and performance cruisers where ballast management is integral to boat speed and dynamic stability. In these contexts, the 20% flow advantage over standard solutions directly translates to faster tack sequences and quicker stability recovery after manoeuvres.
For commercial and professional vessel operators, the ISO 8846 and ISO 8849 certifications make the UP1-TB compliant for use in vessels operating under professional maritime standards. Its robust construction and long service life reduce total cost of ownership by extending intervals between servicing and component replacement.
For yacht builders and refit specialists, the compact footprint, Plug-and-SURF fitting system, and consistent electrical behaviour make the UP1-TB an exceptionally install-friendly product. Marco's engineering team has invested heavily in reducing installation complexity without any compromise to the pump's core performance.
Made in Italy: The Marco Commitment to Quality
Every UP1-TB is designed, engineered, and manufactured in Italy — not merely assembled there. This means that the material science, the precision tolerancing of the pump body and impeller cavity, the motor winding, and the final quality inspection are all conducted under Marco's direct quality management system.
That distinction matters in the marine industry, where counterfeit and low-grade components circulate widely. When you specify a Marco pump, the provenance and the quality standard are guaranteed from raw material to shipping carton.
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