Load her up ...

[eliems]

Having great fun on this learning curve!

Question: Are you all very careful about not taking on too much weight? Seems every time I visit the boat I add this and that, (dingy-motor, scuba equipment, drinking water jugs, etc etc).

Someone mentioned that my bottom paint line was right at the water line, (after I had filled the fresh water tank).

Does this extra weight slow the boat, use extra fuel, add to wear and tear, make the boat less stable in rough waters?

 

[Clark]

Responses to ??

Having great fun on this learning curve!

Question: Are you all very careful about not taking on too much weight? Seems every time I visit the boat I add this and that, (dingy-motor, scuba equipment, drinking water jugs, etc etc).
A: Not terribly much

Someone mentioned that my bottom paint line was right at the water line, (after I had filled the fresh water tank).

Does this extra weight slow the boat, - Yes
use extra fuel, - Yes
add to wear and tear, - Not Really
make the boat less stable in rough waters? - Not if everything has been secured and most of the weight is near or below the waterline

Please see answers in quotes

 

[Alan]

You bet your ass it does. 3/4 of the stuff that most folks carry is pure dead weight. You would be amazed at just how much more lively and responsive your boat would be if she was at her 'fighting' weight.

 

[soling42]

I'll 2nd that with "you bet your porky a$$ it does" because pork is still pork Cut the fat off and you'll definitely feel the difference, especially in a boat under 30' like ours.

Unneeded water and a full holding tank are the first, and easiest weight eliminated. Then it'd be things/clutter that I won't need for a "normal" day sailing that should simply stay at the dock or in the dock box like extra ground tackle, storm sails, giant full coolers, 14 fishing poles, 10 PFDs, excess blankets, 2cases of beer, giant dogs, computers, TVs, lazy boy.....

A week or longer(or if racing) on the boat would be entirely different but like most people our normal outing is usually an afternoon, overnight and back the next day. For that it's a basic cooler, change of clothes, eats, 5 or more gals fuel, beer, wine and a small bag of hand tools. Just the creature comforts and basics to make it back to the dock. No endless supply of spare parts, props, alternators, excess water toys, dinghy/motor, etc, etc, etc. Storing stuff on board all year for the annual 2week cruise or circumnavigation that never begins is just too porky, confining and labor intensive. Lighten up.

Recently we were convinced to travel for 2wks in Spain and Italy with only one carry-on bag each. It was shockingly ideal, entirely liberating and only happened because of our "keep it simple" sailing approach(and the Admiral doesn't demand a trunk full of shoes).

Good luck, get a dock box and KISS that stowed pork goodbye until you really need it(if ever).
Mike

 

[eliems]

Wow! Even a Lazy Boy.

So the dynamics of this might go something like... weight makes the boat sit deeper, displacing more water, increasing the Length of Waterline thus increasing the hull speed but requiring more power (fuel/wind)? You go faster and if the load is low centered, you are more stable?