Just bought my boat this fall and I am wanting to leave my boat in the water during the winter months......wanted to know if anyone has successfully drained their water ballast while in the water...and under power. In Tennessee, we may see 15-20 degree days, but they are few. I was told by a friend who has a new MacGregor 26, that while motoring, he opens his ballast and removes the 'air plug......this allows his ballast to empty. Didn't know if the same might be true of the Hunter 23.5. I don't want to have to pull my boat out of the water after sailing and drain the ballast, unless it is necesary. I also don't want to destroy my boat with a frozen ballast. Anyone have any thoughts on this? Thx! John Johnson
draining ballast while under power
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Not likely
I'm pretty sure it can't be done motoring. There are post in the archives that some have pumped them overboard. It would seem that if the body of water your boat is sitting in doesn't freeze and the temperature doesn't get too far below zero for too long, there shouldn't be much chance for freezing the ballast tank. The circulating lake water should keep the ballast from freezing.
I'm pretty sure it can't be done motoring. There are post in the archives that some have pumped them overboard. It would seem that if the body of water your boat is sitting in doesn't freeze and the temperature doesn't get too far below zero for too long, there shouldn't be much chance for freezing the ballast tank. The circulating lake water should keep the ballast from freezing.
Keep in mind....
...that the hull may "insulate" the ballast tanks by keeping the relative warmth of the lake water out, thereby subjecting the tanks to whatever the ambient air temperature may be. 15 degrees overnight could do a number on the tanks....
...that the hull may "insulate" the ballast tanks by keeping the relative warmth of the lake water out, thereby subjecting the tanks to whatever the ambient air temperature may be. 15 degrees overnight could do a number on the tanks....
winterization of water blast
have you found out any info yet, i am trying to leave my boat in the water also, and i am also looking for information
have you found out any info yet, i am trying to leave my boat in the water also, and i am also looking for information
Pump Out Your Ballast
I have a 260 and when I want to pull it out, I have a high pressure, high volume pump that I hook up to the ballast tank and pump the contents overboard. Depending on the configuration of your ballast tank, you may have room to install an inspection plate and then just drop a bilge pump into the tank and pump it out that way. On mine, I don't have that kind of room so I use a regular 12V pump.
I have a 260 and when I want to pull it out, I have a high pressure, high volume pump that I hook up to the ballast tank and pump the contents overboard. Depending on the configuration of your ballast tank, you may have room to install an inspection plate and then just drop a bilge pump into the tank and pump it out that way. On mine, I don't have that kind of room so I use a regular 12V pump.
Boat may become unstable
The 23.5 was not designed to be motored or sailed without water ballast. The boat will probably become unstable and possibly capize. I think Crazy Dave posted a comment on this subject. The Mac 26 is a different animal (although I don't know what animal it wants to be) that can be motored without water ballast up to a certain point. It may have something to do with weight carried on the boat. Don't attempt this! the results could be catastrophic. Someone rigged a bilge pump to pump it out. You might try some sort of self priming pump.
The 23.5 was not designed to be motored or sailed without water ballast. The boat will probably become unstable and possibly capize. I think Crazy Dave posted a comment on this subject. The Mac 26 is a different animal (although I don't know what animal it wants to be) that can be motored without water ballast up to a certain point. It may have something to do with weight carried on the boat. Don't attempt this! the results could be catastrophic. Someone rigged a bilge pump to pump it out. You might try some sort of self priming pump.
draining ballast
I didn't explain that I would be motoring with the sails down, on my way in the the dock. Would there still be an issue of capsizing if sails are down?
I didn't explain that I would be motoring with the sails down, on my way in the the dock. Would there still be an issue of capsizing if sails are down?
refer to posts, am going to attempt today?!?!
I am going out this afternoon to sail, I will try to empty the ballast this afternoon while under power and let you know.
I am going out this afternoon to sail, I will try to empty the ballast this afternoon while under power and let you know.
Can't have it both ways
Even if you were able to remove the water in the ballast tank there is a chance it may fill again on its own. Have you ever looked at the stopper under the boat? It's not always a tight fit and some water could seep back into the tank. Be realistic in your approach; if there is a chance your area could get a hard freeze, is it worth cracking the ballast tank for a few winter sails? It could be a very costly repair should that happen, probably more than the boat is worth.
Even if you were able to remove the water in the ballast tank there is a chance it may fill again on its own. Have you ever looked at the stopper under the boat? It's not always a tight fit and some water could seep back into the tank. Be realistic in your approach; if there is a chance your area could get a hard freeze, is it worth cracking the ballast tank for a few winter sails? It could be a very costly repair should that happen, probably more than the boat is worth.
Still probably unstable!
I understood when you said you were going to empty it while motoring and not with the sails up. You may be successful this time but don't press your luck. I would be willing to bet the wake from another boat or a shift in weight while on the boat would make for a hairy situation. The boat was not designed to be used with an empt ballast tank. Chime in Crazy Dave. Good Luck.
I understood when you said you were going to empty it while motoring and not with the sails up. You may be successful this time but don't press your luck. I would be willing to bet the wake from another boat or a shift in weight while on the boat would make for a hairy situation. The boat was not designed to be used with an empt ballast tank. Chime in Crazy Dave. Good Luck.
Dangerous on a Mac!
John: There was an article in Latitude 38 a couple of years ago about a Macgregor with 4 or more people aboard that was motoring without any ballast that capsized around Treasure Island. Have your friend try to find the article and see if he still thinks it is a good idea. The water will drain once you get it up on the trailer, that should be soon enough.
John: There was an article in Latitude 38 a couple of years ago about a Macgregor with 4 or more people aboard that was motoring without any ballast that capsized around Treasure Island. Have your friend try to find the article and see if he still thinks it is a good idea. The water will drain once you get it up on the trailer, that should be soon enough.
you won't be able to
drain the tank under power. The Mac ballast drain in at the stern of the boat on the transom. They are designed to drain once the Mac is going fast enough for the water to drop away from the transom, the tank will drain. Macs are designed to plane under power with a big enough motor, and get their "stability"(I use that term cautiously)under power by planing. The owners manual is full of warnings not to have passengers on deck when the tank is empty, sit in the cockpit or cabin, etc. Once you stop in a mac they are like trying to sit on a beachball and don't have much stability. The Hunter is NOT designed to be used in ANY situations with the tank empty, other than trailering and launching. The ballast drain is on the bottom and you can't push the boat fast enough for it to drain. Leave your tank full. Think about what would happen if the tank was empty and you build up a couple of hundred pounds of ice on your rigging. If your lake surface temp goes below 36-38 degrees, pull the boat. If you really wanted to, you could pour about 30 lbs of salt in your tank. That would lower the freezing point to about 26 deg. F
drain the tank under power. The Mac ballast drain in at the stern of the boat on the transom. They are designed to drain once the Mac is going fast enough for the water to drop away from the transom, the tank will drain. Macs are designed to plane under power with a big enough motor, and get their "stability"(I use that term cautiously)under power by planing. The owners manual is full of warnings not to have passengers on deck when the tank is empty, sit in the cockpit or cabin, etc. Once you stop in a mac they are like trying to sit on a beachball and don't have much stability. The Hunter is NOT designed to be used in ANY situations with the tank empty, other than trailering and launching. The ballast drain is on the bottom and you can't push the boat fast enough for it to drain. Leave your tank full. Think about what would happen if the tank was empty and you build up a couple of hundred pounds of ice on your rigging. If your lake surface temp goes below 36-38 degrees, pull the boat. If you really wanted to, you could pour about 30 lbs of salt in your tank. That would lower the freezing point to about 26 deg. F
THx! to all for your responses
As you can tell, I am very new to this sailing thing!! My intent was not to worry with putting the boat on the trailer after every sail in the winter months. A simple draining in calm waters/winds would have been ideal, however, many of you have said "you are asking for trouble". Thanks so much for all the advice. For those of you, who like me...are "slightly off of center"...and might want to try this, don't waste your time. I was on the water yesterday, in a large cove, late in the day, with no wind and no boats around, I tried to empty the ballast while under power?!?!? Hats off to the Hunter boat designers......even if I wanted to, in the best conditions, I couldn't empty the ballast before docking. So, if I really want to sail in the winter, I need to take a few minutes and put the boat on the trailer, and drain the ballast...end of story. Have a great day.
As you can tell, I am very new to this sailing thing!! My intent was not to worry with putting the boat on the trailer after every sail in the winter months. A simple draining in calm waters/winds would have been ideal, however, many of you have said "you are asking for trouble". Thanks so much for all the advice. For those of you, who like me...are "slightly off of center"...and might want to try this, don't waste your time. I was on the water yesterday, in a large cove, late in the day, with no wind and no boats around, I tried to empty the ballast while under power?!?!? Hats off to the Hunter boat designers......even if I wanted to, in the best conditions, I couldn't empty the ballast before docking. So, if I really want to sail in the winter, I need to take a few minutes and put the boat on the trailer, and drain the ballast...end of story. Have a great day.
Freezingtemps
I don't know how cold it gets in Knoxville but at our lake here in NM it frequently gets in the 20's at night for a few hours during the winter. We left our boat along with everyone else in a slip all winter ; no problem. Unless your lake freezes, your ballast should be fine. BUT, if it stays cold long enough the water lines might freeze.
I don't know how cold it gets in Knoxville but at our lake here in NM it frequently gets in the 20's at night for a few hours during the winter. We left our boat along with everyone else in a slip all winter ; no problem. Unless your lake freezes, your ballast should be fine. BUT, if it stays cold long enough the water lines might freeze.
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