I am restoring a 37 ft sailboat, after removing the old steel diesel and water tanks the boat is riding very high. It is a full keel, any suggestions for techniques and materials to lower it
ballast
- Thread starter mike4118
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Lots of variables
Are you replacing the diesel with a new one or going engineless? All diesels I know of are made of steel/iron. A newer model may be lighter, but a hundred pounds or so should not make that much difference. Water tanks: When they are empty - or nearly so - a well found vessel should not be critically effected as far as safety is concerned. What type of boat are you talking about? How high above the waterline are you talking about? Go out sailing in various conditions and determine how the boat responds. That is the ultimate test.
Are you replacing the diesel with a new one or going engineless? All diesels I know of are made of steel/iron. A newer model may be lighter, but a hundred pounds or so should not make that much difference. Water tanks: When they are empty - or nearly so - a well found vessel should not be critically effected as far as safety is concerned. What type of boat are you talking about? How high above the waterline are you talking about? Go out sailing in various conditions and determine how the boat responds. That is the ultimate test.
A different idea
You didn't say how high it was riding, or what kind of boat it may be. I am assuming it is an older boat. It is very possible that some previous owner raised the water line on the boat. Many do this, as some cruisers have a tendancy to somewhat overload the boat. My last boat I raised the waterline 4 inches as I was one of those who sometimes overload. Keep in mind that the waterline, is just painted on, and is subject to the whims of whoever is holding the brush.
You didn't say how high it was riding, or what kind of boat it may be. I am assuming it is an older boat. It is very possible that some previous owner raised the water line on the boat. Many do this, as some cruisers have a tendancy to somewhat overload the boat. My last boat I raised the waterline 4 inches as I was one of those who sometimes overload. Keep in mind that the waterline, is just painted on, and is subject to the whims of whoever is holding the brush.
Mike, More to the point , How much other junk
did you remove? A boat that size probably carries about 800-900 pounds per inch. So removing a couple of hundred pounds of thanks didn't make all of the difference. Was the weight removed from above or below the waterline?
did you remove? A boat that size probably carries about 800-900 pounds per inch. So removing a couple of hundred pounds of thanks didn't make all of the difference. Was the weight removed from above or below the waterline?
Increased ballast to Displacement ratio
So now more of your displacement is weight in the keel!!! Isn't that a good thing??? As I understand yacht design the more of the displacement that is in the keel the better. Racing boats go to extremes. Also if the boat has been out of the water for a month or two the hull will dry out some. Polyester fiberglass soaks up a significant amount of water. The boat should be faster with less wetted area. Sail the boat and if it handles well be thankfull. If all else fails add cases of beer until you like the position of the waterline. I have read that one of the best things that you can do to improve a boat's performance is to remove all of the useless stuff that tends to accumulate and lower the waterline.
So now more of your displacement is weight in the keel!!! Isn't that a good thing??? As I understand yacht design the more of the displacement that is in the keel the better. Racing boats go to extremes. Also if the boat has been out of the water for a month or two the hull will dry out some. Polyester fiberglass soaks up a significant amount of water. The boat should be faster with less wetted area. Sail the boat and if it handles well be thankfull. If all else fails add cases of beer until you like the position of the waterline. I have read that one of the best things that you can do to improve a boat's performance is to remove all of the useless stuff that tends to accumulate and lower the waterline.
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