Hello! I'm about to take delivery on a Hunter 23.5 and the broker could not explain to me how the water ballast system works. (He was very helpful otherwise..) Can anybody offer insight as to operation, care, and feeding of the water ballast system? I imagine this is common to all Hunter water ballast boats in the 23 foot size range.
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Water Ballast
Congratulations on your new boat, Chris! The water ballast system is simple but must be managed properly. Here are the steps I recommend you follow. I have a Hunter 260. I don't know where the valve is on a 23.5 or how it works so I'll be general about that part and let someone who knows give you the details of where the valve is and how to operate it. 1) Close the valve before launching so water doesn't rush in before you get the boat off the trailer. 2) Once away from the trailer and safely tied to the dock or floating free away from other boats, open the valve to allow the water to flood the ballast tank. 3) There should be a 1" hole with a drain plug fitted that you will use to determine when the tank is full. When you can put your finger in water by sticking it in the hole, it's full. 4) Close the valve securely so when you're heeling it won't run out. 5) When coming back to load the boat on the trailer, remove the plug and open the valve. Then pull the trailer up the ramp slowly to let water drain. Remember it's hundreds of pounds heavier now, so instruct the driver to be smooth and slow about taking the boat and trailer up the ramp and parking it for de-rigging. Email me directly if you have other questions since I don't check this board every day. dfhoch@yahoo.com Best wishes and great sailing to you, Chris.
Congratulations on your new boat, Chris! The water ballast system is simple but must be managed properly. Here are the steps I recommend you follow. I have a Hunter 260. I don't know where the valve is on a 23.5 or how it works so I'll be general about that part and let someone who knows give you the details of where the valve is and how to operate it. 1) Close the valve before launching so water doesn't rush in before you get the boat off the trailer. 2) Once away from the trailer and safely tied to the dock or floating free away from other boats, open the valve to allow the water to flood the ballast tank. 3) There should be a 1" hole with a drain plug fitted that you will use to determine when the tank is full. When you can put your finger in water by sticking it in the hole, it's full. 4) Close the valve securely so when you're heeling it won't run out. 5) When coming back to load the boat on the trailer, remove the plug and open the valve. Then pull the trailer up the ramp slowly to let water drain. Remember it's hundreds of pounds heavier now, so instruct the driver to be smooth and slow about taking the boat and trailer up the ramp and parking it for de-rigging. Email me directly if you have other questions since I don't check this board every day. dfhoch@yahoo.com Best wishes and great sailing to you, Chris.
Some more...
The valve is under the bottom wooden step going down into the cabin. The ballast weighs 1000 pounds, so unless there are people on the ramp yelling at you, you might want to pull it up just a few feet and stop for a few minutes while the water runs out. 6) The manual suggests leaving the ballast tank valve open during winter storage if you live in a freezing climate. 7) Some sailors say they put a cup of bleach in the tank to help control odor. I assume this is only in salt water, and only if they have a slip or mooring and leave the boat in the water for months at a time? Or maybe they do it even for weekend launches? Maybe in fresh water too? Sorry, I'm not sure. I sail on fresh water that is relatively cool and it doesn't smell after 4 months. Enjoy the boat! ...RickM...
The valve is under the bottom wooden step going down into the cabin. The ballast weighs 1000 pounds, so unless there are people on the ramp yelling at you, you might want to pull it up just a few feet and stop for a few minutes while the water runs out. 6) The manual suggests leaving the ballast tank valve open during winter storage if you live in a freezing climate. 7) Some sailors say they put a cup of bleach in the tank to help control odor. I assume this is only in salt water, and only if they have a slip or mooring and leave the boat in the water for months at a time? Or maybe they do it even for weekend launches? Maybe in fresh water too? Sorry, I'm not sure. I sail on fresh water that is relatively cool and it doesn't smell after 4 months. Enjoy the boat! ...RickM...
Bleach
I sail and moor my 23.5 in a fresh water lake, and have for 10 years. At first launch each Spring, after flooding the ballast tank and closing the valve, I add a full gallon of household bleach to the tank, using a funnel to pour through the air-escape hole. I have never had a problem with odors, or with any ill effects from the bleach. A gallon of bleach in a couple hundred gallons of water is minimal.
I sail and moor my 23.5 in a fresh water lake, and have for 10 years. At first launch each Spring, after flooding the ballast tank and closing the valve, I add a full gallon of household bleach to the tank, using a funnel to pour through the air-escape hole. I have never had a problem with odors, or with any ill effects from the bleach. A gallon of bleach in a couple hundred gallons of water is minimal.
1/2 liter of bleach
I keep my 240 on a mooring in salt water. I put a half liter (a water bottle full) of bleach down the vent hole on the ballast tank once it's in the water, and I've never had any detectable odors, with the boat in the water for up to eight months.
I keep my 240 on a mooring in salt water. I put a half liter (a water bottle full) of bleach down the vent hole on the ballast tank once it's in the water, and I've never had any detectable odors, with the boat in the water for up to eight months.
Chris
If you’ve launched in an area with murky water and you’re going to motor out into an area with cleaner water, I suggest you hold off filling the ballast until you’ve reached that cleaner water. Maybe I’m just anal, but I see no reason to get silt or other debris in the ballast tank. Enjoy your new boat!!! Paul s/v The Lord Nelson h260
If you’ve launched in an area with murky water and you’re going to motor out into an area with cleaner water, I suggest you hold off filling the ballast until you’ve reached that cleaner water. Maybe I’m just anal, but I see no reason to get silt or other debris in the ballast tank. Enjoy your new boat!!! Paul s/v The Lord Nelson h260
water ballast
I sail a 1993 Hunter 23.5. I keep the boat on a trailer in the Marina and fiil the tank at each launching. My valve closes before the tank fills completly unless I hold the valve down with my hand. Be sure the tank is completly filled. When I first bought the boat I went out a few times with the tank only 2/3 to3/4 full.with a partial tank it heals 25 to 30 degrees in 5-10 knot winds and rounds up in gusts of 15+.
I sail a 1993 Hunter 23.5. I keep the boat on a trailer in the Marina and fiil the tank at each launching. My valve closes before the tank fills completly unless I hold the valve down with my hand. Be sure the tank is completly filled. When I first bought the boat I went out a few times with the tank only 2/3 to3/4 full.with a partial tank it heals 25 to 30 degrees in 5-10 knot winds and rounds up in gusts of 15+.
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