T&T: Ballast

[Peggy Carr]

Our boat, Aqua Vitae, is a 43' Albin Classic trunk style trawler. One of 
the things that we've always loved about her is the flare of her bow, 
and the way she takes head seas (she parts them, like Moses!) But at 
anchor or at the dock she has a tendency to be bow down on her lines.
Tell me about ballast. . . how do we know "how much?" What kind do we 
use to make it easy but stable? Where do we put it (exactly, if anyone 
knows.) We don't want heavy stuff rolling around anywhere, but it would 
be nice to see a level waterline.
Any advice on ballast would be welcome.

Thanks,
Peggy Bjarno
Aqua Vitae
1986 Albin 43' Classic
Baltimore, MD