T&T: Ballast

[Bucks2 at aol.com]

Two ballast questions. One answer. Since we're talking about trawler  style, 
semi displacement hulls, we aren't overly concerned about weight. Well,  at 
least not as much as we would with a planing hull. Assuming that you have  
waterline depth available you could just add to the stern as much as you want to  
even things out. Or if waterline depth is a problem, (thru hulls too close to  
the waterline, waterline is low already, etc) then you might want to  relocate 
some heavy items to a different spot. I.E. That 60 pound toolbox in the  bow 
might be moved to the stern, a 120 pound difference in trim. 
 
Now how do you know how much ballast you need? Rent  some self propelled 
portable ballast. It only costs a bottle of wine at the  local marina. Have your 
friends move to different parts of the boat and watch  how the boat reacts. Be 
especially sensitive about how you estimate their  weight..... ;-) 
 
Where to put the ballast? In the lowest part of the  boat is generally best. 
Keep the center of gravity low to maintain boat  stability. Virtually anything 
can be used. Sand bags, lead pigs, water, or  anything else. Some people are 
able to move their batteries from the front of  the engine to the rear and get 
good results. Lead pigs are expensive, but  compact and easy to move later. 
Sand is cheaper, but more difficult to store  where it won't get wet or loose 
in the bilge. Plastic 5 gallon square pails  filled with sand work pretty well. 
 Water can be difficult to store  but think about gallon jugs, 5 gallon 
pails, flexible bladders, or small  poly tanks. Depending on your specific boat you 
might need to be creative with  any of these. Make absolutely sure that 
whatever you use cannot shift  when underway. A 5 gallon pail against your rudder 
arm will make you pucker  pretty quickly.
 
The same things will hold true for minor  problems with list. Moving items 
from side to side will help balance you out.  Or, an extra pail or two on one 
side will take out the list you see at the  dock.
 
Another small point, make sure you are in your  normal cruising mode when you 
do this. If you bring 150 pounds of "stuff" to  store in the bow on vacation 
have it there when you balance the boat. If you  normally cruise with full 
water tanks, fuel tanks, etc. have them full when you  balance.
 
As always, do things safely. If it takes a lot of  ballast to even things out 
look for other causes. Saturated laminate, major  remodeling by a previous 
owner, etc may make the boat unstable and unsafe. If in  doubt, consult an 
expert.
 
Ken Buck
A Couple of Bucks
40 Puget Trawler
Puyallup, WA
 
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


------------------------------

Message: 36
Date: Mon, 12  May 2008 19:58:29 -0700
From: "Rich Werner"  <poco at werner2.com>
Subject: Re: T&T: Ballast
To: "'Peggy Carr'"  <chesapklady at comcast.net>, "'Trawlers and
Trawlering'"  <trawlers-and-trawlering at lists.samurai.com>
Message-ID:  <00e101c8b4a5$399552b0$acbff810$@com>
Content-Type: text/plain;  charset="iso-8859-1"

Similar question for a GB32.  We have 180 ft of  3/8" chain plus windlass etc
and the bow seems low.  The chain weight is  about 280 pounds.  Would an
equal amount of weight at the back of the  boat in the lazarette provide a
balance.  We do have a problem with  water draining out of the  cockpit.

Rich
______________________________

Rich & Laura  Werner
GB32-277








**************Wondering what's for Dinner Tonight? Get new twists on family 
favorites at AOL Food.      
(http://food.aol.com/dinner-tonight?NCID=aolfod00030000000001)