Ballast Question

[brewskis]

New to the forums, but have learned a great deal since being here. So I am hoping someone can give me an education on Ballast in power boats.

I am in the process of rebuilding a 1972 33 ft Egg Harbor and have come across something I do not understand. On both sides of the boat located against the hull sides next to the motors are lead blocks, roughly 30 pounds each. One side has one and the other two. They are not anchored there, just sitting in between the stringers. Today, I pulled them out, they don’t look original – any reason they should have been added?

My only thoughts are that the boat had a very substantial radar pole to the starboard side that I have taken down and that would have raised the center of gravity, so these might have been added to compensate. Another thought is that the boat had a list and these were added to help correct it, although why on both sides.

There must be something that I am missing, any suggestions would be appreciated.

Thanks in advance,

David

[Dutch Peter]

Originally Posted by brewskis

Another thought is that the boat had a list and these were added to help correct it, although why on both sides.

David,

Maybe the boat had a list and trim problem!

[sharpii2]

Originally Posted by brewskis

New to the forums, but have learned a great deal since being here. So I am hoping someone can give me an education on Ballast in power boats.

I am in the process of rebuilding a 1972 33 ft Egg Harbor and have come across something I do not understand. On both sides of the boat located against the hull sides next to the motors are lead blocks, roughly 30 pounds each. One side has one and the other two. They are not anchored there, just sitting in between the stringers. Today, I pulled them out, they don’t look original – any reason they should have been added?

My only thoughts are that the boat had a very substantial radar pole to the starboard side that I have taken down and that would have raised the center of gravity, so these might have been added to compensate. Another thought is that the boat had a list and these were added to help correct it, although why on both sides.

There must be something that I am missing, any suggestions would be appreciated.

Thanks in advance,

David

Are you sure its really all lead? That little weight in that big of boat is going to do very little to effect trim. Kind of like a couple of bricks abourd a 14ft tin skiff. I suspect that the are there for another reason. I suggest you find out their volume and precise weight and compare that to the weight of lead for a similer volume. I'm probably wrong, but if I'm right you may have a hidden treasure.

Bob

[asathor]

vibration? crude but it could work.