Bow Water Ballast

[sail sfbay]

Ever seen a sailboat like this? Came across this boat in Port San Luis, California in the middle of the California coast just north of Pismo Beach. Owner told me it is a fishing boat with a full keel, sails and bow water ballast for stabilization when heading into waves.

 

[PaulK]

Are you sure it's not a sonar dome for hunting submarines? Could it be an unmarked Navy spy ship, with the "owner" making up stories for the gullible public?

 

[dlochner]

Large freighters often have these bulbous bows. These bulbs provide buoyancy in the bow and help to keep the boat level in waves.

In most of our boats, the reserve bouyancy in the bow is above the waterline, this causes the bow to sink into a wave before it starts to rise. The bulbs keep the bow from sinking into a wave.

It also affects the formation of the bow wave making the boat more efficient.

What's The Importance Of Bulbous Bow Of Ships?

Marine Insight - The maritime industry guide.

www.marineinsight.com

 

[PaulK]

Large freighters often have these bulbous bows. These bulbs provide buoyancy in the bow and help to keep the boat level in waves.

In most of our boats, the reserve bouyancy in the bow is above the waterline, this causes the bow to sink into a wave before it starts to rise. The bulbs keep the bow from sinking into a wave.

It also affects the formation of the bow wave making the boat more efficient.

What's The Importance Of Bulbous Bow Of Ships?

Marine Insight - The maritime industry guide.

www.marineinsight.com

The OP specifically states that the owner calls it a "water ballast" bulb, apparently to provide weighted stability, not buoyancy. The bulb's size does not seem to be the right proportion for making the bow wave more efficient. Something that big might suit a 200' steamer, and would probably need to move faster than the hull speed of the boat in question to work. Sonar dome seems more plausible. If not that, maybe it's a hydrographic sonde for studying whale or mermaid songs?

 

[PaulK]

Lay awake last night worrying about this, but think I have figured it out. The owner is obviously planning to head to the Caribbean, and wants to be ready when the Venezuelan Navy comes to ram him for crossing their territorial waters.

Venezuela navy vessel sinks after 'ramming cruise ship'

The cruise ship's owners say the naval vessel rammed it, but Venezuela accuses the ship of "piracy".

www.bbc.com

 

[jssailem]

Bow shapes provide different boating experiences.

Types of Bow Designs Used For Ships

Marine Insight - The maritime industry guide.

www.marineinsight.com