Sailing w/ & w/o the ballast tank full

[Greg]

I just bought a 94 H23.5, the previous owner tells me that he doesn’t fill the ballast tank when sailing on lakes or intercoastal areas. Only fills in blue water.I was wondering how this affects the handling of the boat while underway. Can anyone give me some pointers on if I should fill the tank or not? Most of my sailing will be done on the lakes and intercoastal areas.Thanks...

 

[Rick Webb]

He is Either Full of Shit or Nuts

Maybe both. Do not even think of it.

 

[Alan]

The boat will be less stable half full than empty

Water will slosh over to the lee side in the tank (the lower side when heeling) and make you prone to capsize. The ballast tank is sealed. If completely full, the water and tank act as a solid unit, that is no net mass will shift from side to side. To convice yourself try this; freeze water in a cup half full, then compare the stability of this cup in a sink of water with another cup half filled with liquid water. You could do this with toy boats for a more graphic example. alan addendum: I realized that you mentioned filled or empty. It is difficult to completely empty the tank when in the water and if left empty in the water it may fill gradually thus the above still applies. As subsequently mentioned an unballasted boat is unstable and will not self right if knocked down and will get knocked down much easier. Your boat is not like a Sunfish and will not right as easy nor dry out as well. alan

 

[Ken Shubert]

Risky

I'd only try motoring or sail in very light wind with no ballast. This boat is self righting only if the ballast tank is full so if you get knocked down you'll probably turtle: expensive experiment. Folks have been know to blow out the ballast and pull up the keel board when racing downwind in very light winds. It makes the water contact area smaller, but they don't leave them empty!KenS/V WouffHong

 

[Russell Hudson]

Try it and see, If you're nuts

I think the previous owner may have been one who's boat rode the mooring or docklines more often than not.I made the mistake of not filling the ballast in a 15 mph wind once, not pretty. Fill that tank if your wise.Russell Hudsons/v summer luvin'

 

[Steven Gautney]

Fill the ballast tank.. . .

I sail a 1993 23.5. I cannot imagine sailing in any kind of reasonable wind without a full ballast tank. The 23.5 and other "water ballast" boats are considered "tender" when refering to their behavior in a substantial wind. Reducing the ballast would make this even more tender. . .

 

[BART FORD]

NO-BRAINER

I HAVE A 240 AND FILL THE TANK EVEN IF I'M JUST RIDING AROUND WITH THE MOTOR. IT MAKES THE BOAT A LOT MORE STABLE. WHEN YOU LAUNCH THE BOAT, AND FILL THE TANK, YOU WILL BE ABLE TO FEEL THE STABILITY FORM.