We keep a six-gallon tank in the fuel locker, with a five gallon gas can at the aft end of the cockpit floor if needed. It's a lot of weigh aft in an already stern-heavy boat, but I never could see carrying fuel on deck on a C22.
It was 1/2 gallon per 1/2 hour (1 gal / hr), but that still sounds like a lot for that sized motor.
Please tell me more about that. I would think aft weight, when in a good wind, would counter the forward, bow-down tendency of forward pressure on the mast. I understand that one doesn't want the bow to come up, that changes the helm balance, but with people hanging davits and transom arches, etc. on sterns, the wider modern designs actually contribute to better floatation while adding weight aft.
Two words. Mass centralization.
I will read up on it. Sounds like something worth learning more about.
High performance sailboats will do everything possible to get fixed weight out of the ends. Look at this view of the Sunfast 3600, an offshore racer. No vee-berth, just sail storage and a minimal head in front. NO anchor stored there! Aft, lots of open space, and then the spartan crew berths. Everything in the middle.
