remove ballast

[series3]

The vents on my gas locker are just under the waterline when my water tank is full. I did add some batteries to the center of the boat. What I didn't do was remove ballast at the time. I was thinking about taking some out from under the centeral part of the boat to trim as it was before. Would this be ok?

[Murflynn]

yes

[series3]

Thanks..

[The Bagdad Boatman (waits)]

less balast could mean the boat is tender and sways more remove balast from the frount

[Drayke]

less balast could mean the boat is tender and sways more remove balast from the frount

Or more in the stern.

[ditchcrawler]

Or more in the stern.

And then it will be deeper as it will add to the weight of the batteries you added if the vents were clear of the water before you added them.

[Neil2]

TBH lots of boats these days have their gas locker drains in the water, I wouldn't worry about it especially if the boat trims level or thereabouts. But removing ballast from the centre isn't going to make much difference anyway.

[Murflynn]

TBH lots of boats these days have their gas locker drains in the water, I wouldn't worry about it especially if the boat trims level or thereabouts. But removing ballast from the centre isn't going to make much difference anyway.

it does matter if the bottom of the gas locker rusts.

 

BSS allows it to be underwater, but it is much better practice to keep it dry and well painted.

[ditchcrawler]

 

 

BSS allows it to be underwater,

If it is dont the drainage holes need elongating above the water level so the gas can get out.

[WotEver]

If it is dont the drainage holes need elongating above the water level so the gas can get out.

Yes.

[blackrose]

If it is dont the drainage holes need elongating above the water level so the gas can get out.

I read it as the base of the drain holes were underwater but the top part of the holes were still above.

[series3]

My batteries are at the middle of the boat. They are around 460kg. The gas locker drains can still let gas out.

I was just going to take some weight from under the batteries to even up what I put in.

[Murflynn]

I read it as the base of the drain holes were underwater but the top part of the holes were still above.

that is what was said already.

[WotEver]

I read it as the base of the drain holes were underwater but the top part of the holes were still above.

It depends on how much of the vent is blocked by the water. The vents might need enlarging.

[Arthur Brown]

Have you checked the ballast? How easily removable is it?

[series3]

Yes .floor is up and ready to go.

[series3]

When I say floor is up, I am down to the ply sheets. I'll either move some of the fixtures or cut my way in.

[Catnip King]

You may find no ballast in there. I know my boat is only ballasted in the engine room and in the gas locker at the front.

[ditchcrawler]

My batteries are at the middle of the boat. They are around 460kg. The gas locker drains can still let gas out.

I was just going to take some weight from under the batteries to even up what I put in.

That is almost half a ton, that would probably take the boat down half an inch in total, that may not be even all over.

[series3]

When i put them in I also used their positioning to even the boat out. They are almost central to the boat in both axis, maybe a foot or so to the opposite side of the engine (if that makes sense) my boat is 57ft. I will be removing some and will be doing it evenly. I''m slipping the camera in to have a good look around tomorrow before cutting sone holes to get it out.

[series3]

I took 12 - 600x600x50mm flags out.

the boat lifted enough to leave around 40mm clear under the gas locker vents at the front. The back lifted around the same.

I didn't weigh the slabs but would estimate about 540kg of ballast out. Around the same as my batteries and sofa.

No difference that we have noticed in roll/stability.

Also nice and dry under there. If I need to add any in future, I may go down the cans of cider route