...when sitting empty at the dock. The reason is obvious - the motor, gas tank, battery and PortaPottie are all on the starboard side. The only thing on the port side is the water tank for the sink, but I just keep it empty. I saw a 2002 (or 2003) 240 and they've moved the battery and gas tank to the center line. Anyway. I'm thinking of putting around 150 pounds (steel bars or something?) in the storage "channel" that runs along the port side of the aft berth (starts just aft of the sink). Does this sound like a good idea? Anybody done it? Any suggestions for the weight itself? ...RickM...
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Bryan
ballast
We had a 26.5 set up just like you said. We had, well yeah about 150 pounds 3 steel/lead bars. rested right where you said. Worked very well, just don't drop them. Try to put them near reenforced areas of the boat. maybe keel area, or bulk head. Doesn't matter too much where the weights goes as long as it is balanced! Good luck! be careful wear steel toed shoes! have several friends help. Hard to get through the companionway! think ahead!
We had a 26.5 set up just like you said. We had, well yeah about 150 pounds 3 steel/lead bars. rested right where you said. Worked very well, just don't drop them. Try to put them near reenforced areas of the boat. maybe keel area, or bulk head. Doesn't matter too much where the weights goes as long as it is balanced! Good luck! be careful wear steel toed shoes! have several friends help. Hard to get through the companionway! think ahead!
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Rick Macdonald
more ballast
Ah, great to hear I have the right idea. The boat is 90 minutes away and I forgot to look at the shape of that "trough". My main concern is that the ballast doesn't roll out if heeled over hard to starboard. I'd hate to have that weight go rolling over the aft berth and bash the other side. I plan to look for a more secure location. It might fit in the storage under the port side solon bench, IE where the bilge pump is. I have no idea yet the size and shape of 150 pounds of steel/lead. I too was thinking of 50 pound chunks. Did you fasten the weight down in any fashion?
Ah, great to hear I have the right idea. The boat is 90 minutes away and I forgot to look at the shape of that "trough". My main concern is that the ballast doesn't roll out if heeled over hard to starboard. I'd hate to have that weight go rolling over the aft berth and bash the other side. I plan to look for a more secure location. It might fit in the storage under the port side solon bench, IE where the bilge pump is. I have no idea yet the size and shape of 150 pounds of steel/lead. I too was thinking of 50 pound chunks. Did you fasten the weight down in any fashion?
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Alan Long
Relocate Batteries
I had the same problem with my 23.5. The batteries (I have 2) were relocated to a tray constucted in the storage bin area just aft of the sink. I'm referring to the storage area the runs parallel to the aft bunks. It has worked very well, no more listing. Some people here on the forum have relocated batteries to the storage area under the v berth to shift weight forward. Seems to me that a mass of steel bars in the bilge would turn into a rusty mess before long. Hmmm...I just had a thought. How about those plastic coated lead weights that scuba divers use? That might work. Or a bag of sand. Hope this helps Alan Long
I had the same problem with my 23.5. The batteries (I have 2) were relocated to a tray constucted in the storage bin area just aft of the sink. I'm referring to the storage area the runs parallel to the aft bunks. It has worked very well, no more listing. Some people here on the forum have relocated batteries to the storage area under the v berth to shift weight forward. Seems to me that a mass of steel bars in the bilge would turn into a rusty mess before long. Hmmm...I just had a thought. How about those plastic coated lead weights that scuba divers use? That might work. Or a bag of sand. Hope this helps Alan Long
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Rick Webb
Very Dangerous Situation
You are just covering up the symptoms there. This a very dire situation that needs immediate rectification. Your boat is seriously low on beer that is why the cooler is on the other side to act as a counter weight. A couple or more cases should do the trick. Or if you are like Ol' Craaaaazzzzzyyyyyy Dave a couple of plastic jugs full of "Corn Liker". I moved both of my batteries forward, there are some picturs in the photo forum helped out a lot.
You are just covering up the symptoms there. This a very dire situation that needs immediate rectification. Your boat is seriously low on beer that is why the cooler is on the other side to act as a counter weight. A couple or more cases should do the trick. Or if you are like Ol' Craaaaazzzzzyyyyyy Dave a couple of plastic jugs full of "Corn Liker". I moved both of my batteries forward, there are some picturs in the photo forum helped out a lot.
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Rick Macdonald
I tried that once
I filled the cooler with beer and that helped, but only for a few minutes. By the time I got out of the marina and head to wind to raise the main, the cooler was empty! I think it takes me (160 pounds after 3 beer) standing on the port cockpit seats to level the boat. I have one battery (maybe 50 pounds?) so moving it to the centerline or even to port side is not enough. I guess moving 50 lbs to the other side makes a 100 pound difference, leaving only 50 lbs of ballast still required. Could be worth the trouble, as I just called a metal shop and was told $100 for 150 pounds of anything they might have from their scrap bin. BTW, I spoke with a H23.5 owner last year who mentioned that his boat seemed to go faster on a starboard tack. I figure that's maybe because it heeled less given the extra weight on the starboard side.
I filled the cooler with beer and that helped, but only for a few minutes. By the time I got out of the marina and head to wind to raise the main, the cooler was empty! I think it takes me (160 pounds after 3 beer) standing on the port cockpit seats to level the boat. I have one battery (maybe 50 pounds?) so moving it to the centerline or even to port side is not enough. I guess moving 50 lbs to the other side makes a 100 pound difference, leaving only 50 lbs of ballast still required. Could be worth the trouble, as I just called a metal shop and was told $100 for 150 pounds of anything they might have from their scrap bin. BTW, I spoke with a H23.5 owner last year who mentioned that his boat seemed to go faster on a starboard tack. I figure that's maybe because it heeled less given the extra weight on the starboard side.
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Rick Macdonald
Kitty litter!
The sand bag idea (and the cost of solid steel) gave me the idea of Kitty Litter. (Thanks Alan) Sure, Kitty Litter! The clumpable stuff comes in tough plastic bags, and can be reshaped somewhat to fit here and there. The shape is such that they won't roll very far if I lay them in that trough aft of the sink. Dropping a bag won't do any damage. I'd have to make sure that they can't leak and get wet because that stuff dries like cement. I can buy 200 lbs worth and use the left-over for the cat. Ah, no kidding and it's just coincidence, but my wife and daughters named our new Ragdoll kitten "Hunter".
The sand bag idea (and the cost of solid steel) gave me the idea of Kitty Litter. (Thanks Alan) Sure, Kitty Litter! The clumpable stuff comes in tough plastic bags, and can be reshaped somewhat to fit here and there. The shape is such that they won't roll very far if I lay them in that trough aft of the sink. Dropping a bag won't do any damage. I'd have to make sure that they can't leak and get wet because that stuff dries like cement. I can buy 200 lbs worth and use the left-over for the cat. Ah, no kidding and it's just coincidence, but my wife and daughters named our new Ragdoll kitten "Hunter".
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Wayne
BALANCE
someone posted they used bags of water softener, check the archives. p.s. thanks for the photos Rick.
someone posted they used bags of water softener, check the archives. p.s. thanks for the photos Rick.
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Gerard
sandbags
I used sandbags to balance my H26 when I bought it 4 years ago and they've been fine since. Good luck...
I used sandbags to balance my H26 when I bought it 4 years ago and they've been fine since. Good luck...
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Debra B
More and bigger batteries?
Even a 4D weighs in at around 120. And this isn't "dead weight." Think of all the CDs you can listen too, and the instruments you can install with all that extra power.... failing that, you could fill the water tank.
Even a 4D weighs in at around 120. And this isn't "dead weight." Think of all the CDs you can listen too, and the instruments you can install with all that extra power.... failing that, you could fill the water tank.
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Frank Ladd
My solution
on the other side of a 23.5 opposite the battery aft of the sink along the berth it a storage area. I have spare anchors, fishing gear, deck brushes, the cockpit table, and s o much stuff the boat is level.
on the other side of a 23.5 opposite the battery aft of the sink along the berth it a storage area. I have spare anchors, fishing gear, deck brushes, the cockpit table, and s o much stuff the boat is level.
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