Sailing Performance: List OK? Or Balance with Opposing Weight

[rardiH36]

How important to sailing performance is being on even keel?

My boat lists to port due to more weight on my boat's port side (two G27 batteries and one back-up emergency battery, galley and refrigeration, tv) that is not balanced by anything heavy on the starboard side. The list is visually noticeable, and a weighted-at-the-end halyard hanging down from the masthead touches the deck about two feet to port of the center-line.

Since I only day-sail my boat, I've kept my port and starboard fresh H2O tanks empty. Adding water to the starboard tank will balance the boat side-to-side, but due to the H2O tanks location, this starboard weight will be forward of most of the port weight.

What's best: Correcting the list by ballasting the starboard water tank, or sailing with a list but with less weight?

Thanks for insights.

regards,
rardi

 

[Stu Jackson]

Don't sweat it at all

Most of our Catalinas come with lists, one way or the other, rarely fore and aft!

Some guy said he put extra lead weight to balance the list. I simply suggest people use the opportunity to enlarge their house battery bank.

 

[Ed Schenck]

With a little math I suppose we could calculate the "angle of the dangle". But two feet sounds like a lot. Could you always sail on a port tack? That is obviously your fastest tack, kind of like built in "rail meat". You are probably wanting a serious answer though.

If you ever go cruising you will want both tanks full. So maybe you should try for something more permanent. Your H36 is the opposite plan from my H37C. My galley and batteries(4) are on starboard. But I have nearly fifty gallons of diesel on port. Moving and adding batteries to starboard is the only thing that might help. Can you put batteries in the bilge? I have one there.

I don't think filling just the starboard tank would cause any problems meanwhile. The fore to aft weight shift should not be that noticeable. And probably compensated by crew in the cockpit.

 

[Calif. Ted]

I have a couple large bricks of lead bullets encased in epoxy that have a card from the factory on the surface that a friend found in his Capri, they were in the coaming in the cabin behind the settee cushions on starboard side to counteract the notorious "Catalina Port List."

 

[Ted]

Sailing Performance:List OK? Or Balance with Opposing Weight

Listing two feet to port from centerline is significant especially considering the fact that this is a 36 foot boat. Are you sure your mast is centered correctly? You might want to check that too as it would not only give you a false measurement but will contribute to the listing issue. Sailing light is fast. In any event, once you're sailing, nobody will notice.

 

[rardiH36]

Re: Sailing Performance:List OK? Or Balance with Opposing Weight

Ted: Thanks for the thought about the mast being centered. Firstly, looking at the boat from the stern, the deck itself noticeably tilted toward port ... and confirmed by measuring the distance from the toe rail to the waterline on each side at point of max beam. Also as part of the process, I had checked that the mast was centered using a masthead halyard (it was). I read that hoisting up a long metal tape measure is more accurate, but the halyard pulled to approximate same tension on both sides seems good enough for casual sailing.

Ed: I forgot to include the weight of fuel on my posted list. The 30 gallon tank on the Cherubini 36 is on the port side located right under the primary winch. Another culprit for the list to port.

After my original post this morning with the question, I saw that the website that reports the wind on San Francisco showed promising conditions for the afternoon. I hopped on my bike and cycled down to the marina. Before heading out, I filled the starboard H2O tank to 3/4 full which leveled the boat. Hard to be sure, but I perceived that performance did seem more balanced on each side. Also when motoring, I don't think I needed as much rudder deviation to counter the prop walk as when the boat was listing.

 

[Don12364]

Think of it this way

No boat ever goes to windward dead level due to the action of wind on sail.
Race boats use crew weight to minimize heel because 'more upright' is faster than 'heeled'.
Using your 'dangler', walk towards the high side until the boat is level. This will indicate how much weight it takes and at what distance from the centreline. It will also indicate how much you are loosing by effectively having a man sitting to leeward whilst hard on the wind on starboard tack - and your corresponding gain on port tack.
If you get the boat level by only moving half way to the rail I would say not to bother correcting for it unless racing. If the out of balance is more like one man on the rail then look for something heavy to relocate. I would not suggest adding ballast as this will only make the boat slower overall.
If you need more than 'one man on rail' then something is seriously wrong and needs urgent attention.

 

[Joe]

Adjusting the trim of a vessel's hull by shifting ballast is significant to its performance. Whether cruising, racing or daysailing it's importance is the same. In your case you have the boat overloaded to one side.... and perhaps the fore and aft need some consideration, also. Since it is unlikely you will relocate your battery bank, I suggest you look for other ways to trim out the hull.

 

[Ed Schenck]

You make me envious Rardi. You rode your bike to the boat for a sail? On San Francisco bay? Lucky guy there.

I figure your list at less than three degrees. And it took about 250 pounds of water to right the boat I calculate. I think your tank is 40 and you put 30 in it? Did you notice anything with having that weight forward? And if you could concentrate the weight farther off the centerline then you would obviously need less. I just don't know enough about the configuration of your boat to recommend anything.

 

[Dan Johnson]

Those of us...

with H34's are accustomed to having about a 2 degree list to starboard due to the placement of galley, holding & fuel tanks, and batteries on that side. It doesn't seem to affect performance, sail or powered to a noticable extent.

If possible, place the spare battery in a starboard locker (held down if not connected!) and keep that starboard water tank at least half full and you should be good.