Our H23.5 is new to me and I was curious as to how many passengers or combined weight I can bring aboard. Also, how full should the water ballast tank be filled? Does it need some air at the top? Thanks in advance.
How many passengers?
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Passengers
Ballast must be as full as possible. After you launch, simply open the valve, when the air stops coming out from the vent, you are full. I suspect that as you add weight (bodies) and the boat rests lower in the water, you could add more ballast, but it is not necessary. As far as passengers are concerned, how many did you have in mind? I would suggest that you keep your sailing skills and that of your passengers in mind. Remember, as you sail, you will need room to change positions and trim the sails.
Ballast must be as full as possible. After you launch, simply open the valve, when the air stops coming out from the vent, you are full. I suspect that as you add weight (bodies) and the boat rests lower in the water, you could add more ballast, but it is not necessary. As far as passengers are concerned, how many did you have in mind? I would suggest that you keep your sailing skills and that of your passengers in mind. Remember, as you sail, you will need room to change positions and trim the sails.
How high's the water, Mamma?
I eventually figured out that my first sailing season with my 95H23.5 was spent with the ballast tank not completely full. It was very tender. The next year, with the tank full, was a completely different handling boat. In my defence, I'll just say that you can see water when you look in the vent hole long before it is full! ;-) The trick is to place the corner of a square of toilet paper over the vent hole as it is filling. Put someting on the other half of the paper to hold it in place so it doesn't slip away from the hole. The air rushing out the vent as the water fills blows the paper up. When the tank is full, it will lay flat and still over the hole. If the water is choppy it may flip as the boat moves in the waves but you'll be able to tell that. I haven't timed it, but it takes many more minutes to fill then I allowed that first year. At the end of the season it drained for a lot longer too. ...RickM...
I eventually figured out that my first sailing season with my 95H23.5 was spent with the ballast tank not completely full. It was very tender. The next year, with the tank full, was a completely different handling boat. In my defence, I'll just say that you can see water when you look in the vent hole long before it is full! ;-) The trick is to place the corner of a square of toilet paper over the vent hole as it is filling. Put someting on the other half of the paper to hold it in place so it doesn't slip away from the hole. The air rushing out the vent as the water fills blows the paper up. When the tank is full, it will lay flat and still over the hole. If the water is choppy it may flip as the boat moves in the waves but you'll be able to tell that. I haven't timed it, but it takes many more minutes to fill then I allowed that first year. At the end of the season it drained for a lot longer too. ...RickM...
I believe the coast guard has a formula
This does not really count, but I once had a dinner party on my H23 with three other couples and my son for a total of 9 on the boat. We were at the dock however and basically eating and drinking. As far as looking at the boat, you could not tell it was that loaded at the time. I sailed with 7 (three were kids - all with life jackets on),on an old 17' AFC 17. It sailed like a dog, but it got us around. I could sail a beam reach, but pointing the boat was problematic. I ended up motoring back to the dock. Light winds that day. Prior to all that insanity, I looked up the coast guard information. If I remember right, based on the weight and volume of the H23, I could have had up to 12 or 13 people on the boat if I had life jackets for everyone. ( I made sure everyone had a legal life jacket even when I was at the dock for the dinner party event.)
This does not really count, but I once had a dinner party on my H23 with three other couples and my son for a total of 9 on the boat. We were at the dock however and basically eating and drinking. As far as looking at the boat, you could not tell it was that loaded at the time. I sailed with 7 (three were kids - all with life jackets on),on an old 17' AFC 17. It sailed like a dog, but it got us around. I could sail a beam reach, but pointing the boat was problematic. I ended up motoring back to the dock. Light winds that day. Prior to all that insanity, I looked up the coast guard information. If I remember right, based on the weight and volume of the H23, I could have had up to 12 or 13 people on the boat if I had life jackets for everyone. ( I made sure everyone had a legal life jacket even when I was at the dock for the dinner party event.)
Just make sure...
...that you have enough life vests to go around or elde the CG will have a field day with you.
...that you have enough life vests to go around or elde the CG will have a field day with you.
Maximum Capicity
Check the owners manual. Sailboats do not have a maximum capicity plate like motor boats. For the Hunter 240, a very similar boat, the maximum is 8 people (makes no differerance their age) OR 765 kg (I think, see the attached web page). http://www.ayesail.net/sailing/Hunter/ManualH260/Page35A.htm
Check the owners manual. Sailboats do not have a maximum capicity plate like motor boats. For the Hunter 240, a very similar boat, the maximum is 8 people (makes no differerance their age) OR 765 kg (I think, see the attached web page). http://www.ayesail.net/sailing/Hunter/ManualH260/Page35A.htm
Full Ballast
By the time I launch, park the car, and walk back to the boat, the tank is full. That 4" or so diameter hole in the bottom of the boat allows the tank to fill pretty quickly. Rob S/V Kinship
By the time I launch, park the car, and walk back to the boat, the tank is full. That 4" or so diameter hole in the bottom of the boat allows the tank to fill pretty quickly. Rob S/V Kinship
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