Water Ballast Bags

[rwappleton]

Our boat has had a Starboard list since we have owned her and it drives me nuts ! The only thing we suspect is the PO allowed the new generator to be installed further to the right than the old one. We can find nothing else out of place and the list is the same when the boat was empty including furniture.

A dock mate suggested water ballast bags. Seems they use them on sail boats and wake board boats. I had never heard of them.

Has anyone used them? I have found the wakeboard ones on line and I have a place I can put them. I need about 300 pounds to port and that would be just under 40 gallons.

Thoughts? Ideas?

Thanks!

 

[racclarkson@gmail.com]

In my boat, 1983 55C, two gen set-up was changed to one on port side. PO added 750# of lead (30 25# bags of shot) under stbd. exhaust pipe at transom to compensate. I've wondered about using the ballast space more efficiently, but think it's more trouble than it's worth. I settled on relocating tool boxes and extra stores of motor oil, etc. outboard to the fullest extent possible. As a result, I have been able to remove 350# of the lead to keep level. If you're anywhere near Charleston, SC I'll make you a deal on some lead.

IMO, I would use something like a fuel bladder to hold any liquid given the numerous sharp edges, etc. below decks. It'll take a lot of volume to equal a bag of lead.

BTW, I'm just a bit worried about the lead sacks giving way one day from the dam conditions in the bilge. I have the ability, but not the motivation just yet, to melt the shot down into pigs.

Best of luck.

 

[Cricket]

If your boat doesn't have an isolation transformer the Charles 50amp model weighs around 250lbs.

 

[Pascal]

That could work and cheaper than lead ! Cost of lead shot in ingots has been skyrocketing

I am not a fan of dead weight until absolutely necessary. I d rather increase the size of a battery bank, and add a water tank even. Often you can also move batteries around to balance the boat, especially on some of the hatts with generator / battery rooms

 

[oscarvan]

Oy yeah, the listing in the slip OCD attack.... been there, done that.

I'm with the "no dead weight" camp.

Move heavy things like batteries, tools, beer, anchors, the piano.....every pound counts twice (removed on one side, added on the other)

Only as a last resort would I add weight and then indeed in the form of a fluid tank with usable fuel or water.

Last question, can't see it from here, but how hard would it be to slide the genny over?

 

[rwappleton]

ra......PM sent

Oscar everything that can go Port has. Our boat has batteries outboard of engines. Some time in the next two years adding inverters and batteries. until then ballast it is.

Water weighs over a pound a gallon more than diesel.

 

[Pascal]

Week then use water but if you spend time on the hook you should pump the poly tank or bladder to feed the tank or be transferable If need be.

So far, in th course of my 53 refit I am putting more weight on the stbd side because of the fridge, moving the forward head to stbd etc

If moving all th batteries to port isn't enough I will add a water tank, more batteries, or possibly an additional 30 gal water heater since my current water heater isn't big enough to fill up the new master whirlpool

 

[SEVEN]

Move all of the jewelry to the opposite side.

 

[jim rosenthal]

Right, and install a safe over there, too. That should help.

 

[brico]

I am puzzled with my 1980 Hatteras 37 Convertible list to Port side of about 3 inches. My fresh water and holding tanks are in the middle. My fuel tanks on each side have exactly the same level. My Generator is on the Starboard side. I have a smalish water heater on the Port side. My Battery charger is on the Starboard side. My three batteries are between Fuel tanks, practically in the middle. My original galley is on the Port side with the fridge and the stove but my "U" shaped settee and the table are on the Starboard side. this is to my knowledge not original design, as there was just an empty space to fit whatever people wanted. I do not have air conditioning. So, in all likelihood i would have the list to Porto Starboard side but instead I have it to Port side unless something that was heavy was removed from the Starboard side, as I do not see that anything would have been removed from the port side.... Any ideas why and what?

To correct the list, any weight placed higher up and closer to the side shell will have larger effect if it is really required to do so.

 

[Glory]

Oy yeah, the listing in the slip OCD attack.... been there, done that.

I'm with the "no dead weight" camp.

Move heavy things like batteries, tools, beer, anchors, the piano.....every pound counts twice (removed on one side, added on the other)

Only as a last resort would I add weight and then indeed in the form of a fluid tank with usable fuel or water.

Last question, can't see it from here, but how hard would it be to slide the genny over?

ditto, if you travel at planning speed, double ditto.

JM