I am considering replacing the sole boards on my 23 with powder coated diamond plate steel for weight. (they need replaced anyway). is this off-the-wall? is this low enough to actually reduce some of the tenderness. seems like i read about someone trying to add sand bags to the sole of a 22 and the results were negligable. don't know what i would actually be adding in pounds but if it is feasable i could double-up on the plate, spread it across the 4 wood sole boards, and maybe add 200#. tia~ william
Replacing Sole plywood w/ diamond-plate steel
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Hunter 23 303
"Is this off-the wall" YES!!!
The reason the boat is tender is that wing keel, it only draws two and a half feet. Have a friend lay on the sole of the cabin, I don't think thats going to do much for how tender the boat is. Diamond plate in the cabin??? It's a sailboat not a tug boat. The last thing you want to do is add weight to the boat. Maybe you need to add a boom vang and a backstay adjuster. Make the travler adjustable. Learn how to shape and depower the main sail. sail with a jib instead of a genoa. Learn how to reef the main sail. The h23 is a good boat but it came pretty stripped down as far as sail controls.
The reason the boat is tender is that wing keel, it only draws two and a half feet. Have a friend lay on the sole of the cabin, I don't think thats going to do much for how tender the boat is. Diamond plate in the cabin??? It's a sailboat not a tug boat. The last thing you want to do is add weight to the boat. Maybe you need to add a boom vang and a backstay adjuster. Make the travler adjustable. Learn how to shape and depower the main sail. sail with a jib instead of a genoa. Learn how to reef the main sail. The h23 is a good boat but it came pretty stripped down as far as sail controls.
I have an alternate Method
William, I approached the extra ballast situation by placing diver's weights in 10 and 15 lb pieces in the bilge below the cabin sole. They are thin enough to go under and I have enough to add 80lbs. In addition, I've secured 20 lbs each under the port and starboard settes. I've noticed that stabilizes the boat by some amount. This does not substitute for reefing at the appropriate time or proper rig tuning. /Chuck S/V Windsongs H23
William, I approached the extra ballast situation by placing diver's weights in 10 and 15 lb pieces in the bilge below the cabin sole. They are thin enough to go under and I have enough to add 80lbs. In addition, I've secured 20 lbs each under the port and starboard settes. I've noticed that stabilizes the boat by some amount. This does not substitute for reefing at the appropriate time or proper rig tuning. /Chuck S/V Windsongs H23
Thanks for the info Chuck
so, when you say "stabilizes" are you talking more about damping some of the choppiness or slowing how quickly a gust can heel her? i can live with either but a little less choppiness would truly be more what i was hoping for. i agree with proper sail balance, reefing early and possibly a vang. not sure if a backstay adjuster would bend my kenyon mast enough to be of much use. maybe some day when i get to the point i am tweeking that precisely i'll ask about that. the weight thought is not actually as much for "tenderness", (maybe that's because of that 800# wing keel thingy that was called to my attention that i hadn't previously noticed), as, for lack of a better term, inertia damping. thanks~ william
so, when you say "stabilizes" are you talking more about damping some of the choppiness or slowing how quickly a gust can heel her? i can live with either but a little less choppiness would truly be more what i was hoping for. i agree with proper sail balance, reefing early and possibly a vang. not sure if a backstay adjuster would bend my kenyon mast enough to be of much use. maybe some day when i get to the point i am tweeking that precisely i'll ask about that. the weight thought is not actually as much for "tenderness", (maybe that's because of that 800# wing keel thingy that was called to my attention that i hadn't previously noticed), as, for lack of a better term, inertia damping. thanks~ william
E
ed
if your racing the weight is not legal
Secondly when the boat broaches and the bottom becomes the top what happens to all the weight. if it is not secured well you may kill somebody. The idea of adding internal balast is not too good eventhough it has been done alot. think about how to ad it to the keel and you acomplish a heck of a lot more advantage. and more leverage!
Secondly when the boat broaches and the bottom becomes the top what happens to all the weight. if it is not secured well you may kill somebody. The idea of adding internal balast is not too good eventhough it has been done alot. think about how to ad it to the keel and you acomplish a heck of a lot more advantage. and more leverage!
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Cliff
Face it, it's a small boat
I had a H 23 for a long time and we raced and did well. We sailed it on Lake Erie and another smaller inland lake. Learing how to Tweek the boat is all part of making it sail flat. The tenderness also comes from the Hull shape. Yes the keel is not all that big but it is a small boat. The keel weight is about right for this boat. Having a 200 lb person lay on the cabin floor will give you an idea of what effect adding weight will do. Fact is it is a small boat. Keeping it flat comes from sail trim and learing how to sail it. Cliff
I had a H 23 for a long time and we raced and did well. We sailed it on Lake Erie and another smaller inland lake. Learing how to Tweek the boat is all part of making it sail flat. The tenderness also comes from the Hull shape. Yes the keel is not all that big but it is a small boat. The keel weight is about right for this boat. Having a 200 lb person lay on the cabin floor will give you an idea of what effect adding weight will do. Fact is it is a small boat. Keeping it flat comes from sail trim and learing how to sail it. Cliff
If one asks advice, one should consider...
...taking it. thanks to all. i'll consider either refinishing what i have or ordering some new ply sole material and work on my technique. i'm not a racer so have no need to really push the limits except for comfort. ed, i had of course considered the need to secure them but you bring up a more interesting point. i know adding internal ballast is not legal in racing. i believe thats where the word "sandbagging" came from. and a sliding weight has been deemed illegal too as have certain "low" mounted motor configurations. if the purpose of these "ballasting" attempts is not to keep the boat more upright and more sail area to the wind what are they for? william
...taking it. thanks to all. i'll consider either refinishing what i have or ordering some new ply sole material and work on my technique. i'm not a racer so have no need to really push the limits except for comfort. ed, i had of course considered the need to secure them but you bring up a more interesting point. i know adding internal ballast is not legal in racing. i believe thats where the word "sandbagging" came from. and a sliding weight has been deemed illegal too as have certain "low" mounted motor configurations. if the purpose of these "ballasting" attempts is not to keep the boat more upright and more sail area to the wind what are they for? william
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Kevin Keen
Seek advice of a naval architect
William: Changes of the sort you are contemplating should be reviewed by a qualified naval architect before proceeding. You might consider asking a marine surveyor for an opinion first though. - Kevin.
William: Changes of the sort you are contemplating should be reviewed by a qualified naval architect before proceeding. You might consider asking a marine surveyor for an opinion first though. - Kevin.
No Racing if With Weight
William, The alternate method I proposed is not to be done if you're racing. The objective when racing is to reduce the weight as mush as possible and to use crew and sail trim techniques to stabilize the boat. When I'm out with the family, I'm not racing and the weight helps dampen the rolls. This weight would be no more than if you packed food and supplies for a few days out. (i.e. food, water, cloths, etc.)
William, The alternate method I proposed is not to be done if you're racing. The objective when racing is to reduce the weight as mush as possible and to use crew and sail trim techniques to stabilize the boat. When I'm out with the family, I'm not racing and the weight helps dampen the rolls. This weight would be no more than if you packed food and supplies for a few days out. (i.e. food, water, cloths, etc.)
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