I bought a 1977 Catalina 30 over in New Orleans (Emma Jean out of Oak Harbour). When I began cleaning I found 6-8 gold shaped ballast bars. These suckers were HEAVY. Each probably weighing 5-10 lbs. WHY ARE THESE HERE. They were a mess. I don't have stainless steel keel bolts so there was rust deposits all over the ballast bars and keel bolts. So, should I put these things back after I clean them? My boat is a standard rig with fin keel. I am at a loss, PLEASE HELP Thank You, Tony
Ballast Bars
- Thread starter Traumaguard
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Sounds Like...
...the PO was trying to improve performance. Try it without them and you be the judge. Chances are you won't need them.
...the PO was trying to improve performance. Try it without them and you be the judge. Chances are you won't need them.
Off center?
If they weren't on the centerline of the boat, it will list to one side without them.
If they weren't on the centerline of the boat, it will list to one side without them.
You didn't say eactly where the bars were but,
My C-27 has a heavy 8 horse Honda 4 stroke off the stern and is tail heavy. She also listed a bit to starboard. I got rid of the permanent head and moved the batteries to the center line for that, but to balance her for and aft, I took all my anchor chain lengths and put them in that almost useless anchor well under the V berth. Still not perfect, but at least it doesn't look like a speedboat. Check your boat with the weight removed, look down the boot top and port to starboard from both forward to aft, you may want to find a place for that weight, or put something in that will do the same thing, like more batteries, fuel or water.
My C-27 has a heavy 8 horse Honda 4 stroke off the stern and is tail heavy. She also listed a bit to starboard. I got rid of the permanent head and moved the batteries to the center line for that, but to balance her for and aft, I took all my anchor chain lengths and put them in that almost useless anchor well under the V berth. Still not perfect, but at least it doesn't look like a speedboat. Check your boat with the weight removed, look down the boot top and port to starboard from both forward to aft, you may want to find a place for that weight, or put something in that will do the same thing, like more batteries, fuel or water.
What does
What does "gold shaped" mean? What shape is gold? Are these trapezoidal brick ingots? If they rusted, is it iron? How many of these approx. 10lb. weights did you find? If they were found on only one side, I'm with Bob: the PO may have been trying to correct for a weight distribution that caused a list to one side or the other.
What does "gold shaped" mean? What shape is gold? Are these trapezoidal brick ingots? If they rusted, is it iron? How many of these approx. 10lb. weights did you find? If they were found on only one side, I'm with Bob: the PO may have been trying to correct for a weight distribution that caused a list to one side or the other.
Trauma.....
Those are for ballast, although I must admit I've never heard of using them on that particular boat design. My old 1969 O'Day Mariner 19 had movable lead ballast bars to compliment the centerboard. In your case it appears someone added them to have movable weight.
Those are for ballast, although I must admit I've never heard of using them on that particular boat design. My old 1969 O'Day Mariner 19 had movable lead ballast bars to compliment the centerboard. In your case it appears someone added them to have movable weight.
Anchor down
They are shaped like gold bars. Sorry I'm bad on my geometric shapes. They are about the size of bricks and are pretty much rectangular with the tops tapered on two sides. /_ Pensacola
They are shaped like gold bars. Sorry I'm bad on my geometric shapes. They are about the size of bricks and are pretty much rectangular with the tops tapered on two sides. /_ Pensacola
Check your waterline.
Smugglers used to paint the waterline higher than it actually was to disguise the weight which they could be carrying. After unloading the waterline would sit way up in the water and soon it became a telltale sign which the authorities picked up on. To counteract some of these fellows would add ballast at their dock or mooring. I doubt very much that your 70 or 80 pounds of ballast were used for that purpose and they were just probably used to balance the boat. If you feel you need them clean them and paint them.
Smugglers used to paint the waterline higher than it actually was to disguise the weight which they could be carrying. After unloading the waterline would sit way up in the water and soon it became a telltale sign which the authorities picked up on. To counteract some of these fellows would add ballast at their dock or mooring. I doubt very much that your 70 or 80 pounds of ballast were used for that purpose and they were just probably used to balance the boat. If you feel you need them clean them and paint them.
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