Does anyone know of books or videos that address sailing a water ballasted boat. We have a 1995 Hunter 26 and have read everything we can find but nothing that deals with water ballasted boats and their differences. Thanks for your help. Ray
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How long have you had the boat and what is your level of sailing? The only books I know devoted exclusively to water ballasted boats are the owners manuals
. There are plenty of knowledgable people here, I am not one of them. However I can tell you that the boat should be pulled when there is a danger of freezing the ballast and that for a given displacement and sail area that it will be more tender than a keel boat. The latter is due in part to a higher center of gravity and that more of a keel boats mass is in the midline of the boat. This mean that you will need to reef the main sail earlier. I have a '94h26 and sail with a friend with a fixed keel 260. He reefs at about 5 knots of wind more than me. alan
How long have you had the boat and what is your level of sailing? The only books I know devoted exclusively to water ballasted boats are the owners manuals
. There are plenty of knowledgable people here, I am not one of them. However I can tell you that the boat should be pulled when there is a danger of freezing the ballast and that for a given displacement and sail area that it will be more tender than a keel boat. The latter is due in part to a higher center of gravity and that more of a keel boats mass is in the midline of the boat. This mean that you will need to reef the main sail earlier. I have a '94h26 and sail with a friend with a fixed keel 260. He reefs at about 5 knots of wind more than me. alanMore Info
Thank Alan, I see that I could have been clearer. This will be our second season sailing and I am fairly knowledgable about the boats systems and equipment. What I was interested in is along the lines of "swing keel adjustments on various points of sail, Jib adjustments while reefed," etc.,and finer adjustments for the differences caused by the water ballast. Ray
Thank Alan, I see that I could have been clearer. This will be our second season sailing and I am fairly knowledgable about the boats systems and equipment. What I was interested in is along the lines of "swing keel adjustments on various points of sail, Jib adjustments while reefed," etc.,and finer adjustments for the differences caused by the water ballast. Ray
Article on general ballast
Ray, i think you have yourself a book to write. Can't say I've ever come across any media focusing on WB/CB techniques. Did recall this really good posting discussing physics of ballast, including WB. But its hardly the thorough coverage you're after. http://www.trailersailor.com/content/features/read.cgi?14 The TS forum crowd is a pretty talkative and yet knowledgable bunch - bet you could get enuf material for a book from a thread started there. If you ever find anything, pls pass it on.. Brian
Ray, i think you have yourself a book to write. Can't say I've ever come across any media focusing on WB/CB techniques. Did recall this really good posting discussing physics of ballast, including WB. But its hardly the thorough coverage you're after. http://www.trailersailor.com/content/features/read.cgi?14 The TS forum crowd is a pretty talkative and yet knowledgable bunch - bet you could get enuf material for a book from a thread started there. If you ever find anything, pls pass it on.. Brian
videos about water ballast sailing
I had a very similar question about water ballast sailing and I stumbled on this web page about a family that goes out trailer sailing, but they happen to do it on a Hunter 26! I ordered the tapes and have enjoyed them very much. The part I like most is that they stress the simplicity factor. You don't need all the bells and whistles, the most important thing is to just get out and have a good time. He stresses how flexible you become in a water ballast boat. It seems to me that we can "think too much" about "tenderness" and such, the most important thing is whether the boat you choose helps you (and your family) enjoy your time together, and fulfull your needs. Hope this helps. I found these very helpful http://www.visual-thinking.com/trailersailor/ Tim Mason
I had a very similar question about water ballast sailing and I stumbled on this web page about a family that goes out trailer sailing, but they happen to do it on a Hunter 26! I ordered the tapes and have enjoyed them very much. The part I like most is that they stress the simplicity factor. You don't need all the bells and whistles, the most important thing is to just get out and have a good time. He stresses how flexible you become in a water ballast boat. It seems to me that we can "think too much" about "tenderness" and such, the most important thing is whether the boat you choose helps you (and your family) enjoy your time together, and fulfull your needs. Hope this helps. I found these very helpful http://www.visual-thinking.com/trailersailor/ Tim Mason
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