Just curious. Has anyone ever tried to add some weight to the bottom of the keel. I would think that even 25 or 30 lbs. could make a difference to heeling. The only problem I can think of is the abillity to pull the keel back up. I don't think there is much leverage on the retreival mechanism. I'm talking about a swing keel. I don't know much about the dagger board.
weighted keel
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Weight in any sailboat is crucial. On the V-25 the battery compartment is under the aft cockpit on the port side. I placed the battery, approx 40 lbs, under the dinette seat next to keel trunk. This gets some of the weight forward and over the keel and out of the stern. I also store as little weight as possible aft (anchors, etc.) to mitigate stern drag. I store anchors under the V-berth. The less weight you have the faster you will sail. That's why I require all my female crew to sail Naked.
Any weight added to the keel might add drag have the opposite effect. Fair Winds and Full Sails...
P.S. Is it getting cold up your way?
Any weight added to the keel might add drag have the opposite effect. Fair Winds and Full Sails...P.S. Is it getting cold up your way?
I would worry about the trunk and pivot pin and such being designed to carry that weight when the boat is heeled over, not so much raising and lowering it.
We have a lot more weight in the boat on this trip and can't say how much it has slowed us down, but it has made the boat feel much steadier.
I would think that the weight is going to hurt the performance in light winds and especially in tacking where you have to keep accelerating back up to speed. I wonder how much effect it has on longer runs on the same tack.
Ruth and I are more interested in cruising and thus have to have a heavier boat and don't have a problem with any slowing that might take place.
If the heeling is what you are trying to minimize maybe newer sails and a traveler might help more in that area vs. 20-30 lbs at the bottom of the centerboard.
Just my thoughts,
Sum
We have a lot more weight in the boat on this trip and can't say how much it has slowed us down, but it has made the boat feel much steadier.
I would think that the weight is going to hurt the performance in light winds and especially in tacking where you have to keep accelerating back up to speed. I wonder how much effect it has on longer runs on the same tack.
Ruth and I are more interested in cruising and thus have to have a heavier boat and don't have a problem with any slowing that might take place.
If the heeling is what you are trying to minimize maybe newer sails and a traveler might help more in that area vs. 20-30 lbs at the bottom of the centerboard.
Just my thoughts,
Sum
JohnS put some lead in his daggerboard... before he grounded and snapped it...
and a new 26M factory one-off had a bulb on the daggerboard... but on a swing keel, you'd need to modify the trl for it to work ...
If you really want to add more righting, I'd cut the water balast, and add 100# of lead (drill thru the hull and reseal), (that's been done with good results * for racing, and is cheating if not declared).
and a new 26M factory one-off had a bulb on the daggerboard... but on a swing keel, you'd need to modify the trl for it to work ...
If you really want to add more righting, I'd cut the water balast, and add 100# of lead (drill thru the hull and reseal), (that's been done with good results * for racing, and is cheating if not declared).
A guy in my cruising group told me that he added weiight to the centerboard of a 26s that he used to own. He said he drilled a hole and added about 30 lbs of lead shot in some sort of wax, then sealed the hole. He said it made a noticeable difference going upwind in moderate air. He also said it was a cast iron bi%$# to pull the centerboard up.
I agree with Sum that it would probably put too much strain on the trunk and pivot pin.
I agree with Sum that it would probably put too much strain on the trunk and pivot pin.
I'm sure the engineers at Macgregor figured out what would be the best weight placement possible to make the boat as safe and fast as possible. I would think a shorter mast and smaller sail would prevent heeling but then that would take the fun away!! Freedom 77 I like your thinking!!
Thanks for the info. Yes Freedom the weather here is getting cold and sucks. Not too bad yet. I had a feeling that the pivot pin and hole through the keel might not be stressed to take any extra weight. I've never had mine apart. I don't think my wife will go for the naked crew, so I may go with a traveller.
The problem with Hamilton bay is the wind shifts 90 degrees and can double in speed due to wind tunnel effects. Tends to scare passengers who are a little skiddish about such things.
The problem with Hamilton bay is the wind shifts 90 degrees and can double in speed due to wind tunnel effects. Tends to scare passengers who are a little skiddish about such things.
I assume you want to be able to keep more sail up in a blow... but...If you add weight to counter heel you might not actually be able to sail faster unless you also balance the helm. My experience with Macs (I've owned three Macs and two Coronados) is that they can experience significant weather helm unless you actively balance the sails. Doable but not everyone thinks this way. You will have to move the CE of the main forward and sheet the jib in harder to prevent your rudder from acting as a break.
Making mods to the keel sounds like a lot of work. You might be able to achieve the same effect by adding a few extra batteries to your DC supply and positioning them well inside the boat. And you could leave them on the dock on days the wind is light.
Making mods to the keel sounds like a lot of work. You might be able to achieve the same effect by adding a few extra batteries to your DC supply and positioning them well inside the boat. And you could leave them on the dock on days the wind is light.
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