EXTRA BALLAST IN KEEL

[TREVOR]

HAS ANYONE EVER PUT EXTRA WEIGHT ON THE END OFTHERE KEEL TO HELP WITH STABILITYI THOUGHT MABYE 10KG (20 POUND) MIGHT HELP A LOT

 

[Sean Coerse]

No Keel

This boat has a ballast tank and a centerboard. If the board was altered for example with a bulb at the bottom it would not retract. This boat sails well the way it was designed. It is set up for sailing on protected waters and bays in lighter air. If the wind picks up reef the main. The main is the driving force on this boat. I do not own a 260, but I have owned my 240 since 1998 and have cruised it and raced it on the Chesapeake bay. They are set up rig wise very similarly. Dont mess with a good thing.

 

[Jeff Peltier]

structure

I have had the board out and examined the structure around and including the pivit plate. My observation is, there isn't enough structural strength to add weight to the board without making serious modifications.Jeff Peltier

 

[Tom Wootton]

20 lbs, even at the end of a 6' CB....

...probably wouldn't make much difference on a boat with 2000 lbs water ballast, and if you put enough weight on to make a difference you wouldn't be able to raise the board. I know a guy who made a replacement centerboard for his H26 out of heavier material, and had to abandon it because the short travel length of the control line made it impossible to raise it. Rerouting the control line is not an option because you'd have to penetrate the ballast tank. IMO, the boat sails very well with the reefed main.