Got ballast?

[canmac27]

Hi all,

Second season on a mooring and have read, heard different opinions regarding having the ballast in while on a mooring. What are some of the advantages for both cases? Ballast, no ballast.
My concern is the extra strain on the mooring, lines, etc ., with ballast in so unless there is a compelling reason to do so, I would rather not have the ballast tank full.

Ray

[Catigale]

The enemy on mooring lines is chafe and shock, not tensile stress. My guess is a ballasted boat sails less on a mooring than an in blasted boat and would be preferred. Hav some experienced look at your mooring lines, or use chain!

[133bhp]

when I was on a small but windy inland river, its the violent rocking that I went ballasted because - it was in the 30/40 degree area. the fenders would ride up and leave and leave it unprotected too. I even had to drop the mast one time. On the sea now, I always leave it in.

[Divecoz]

I would " THINK " The ballast as Cat said will only help as long as you provide protection for chaffing.. A Mooring anchor / Cement Hernia block / what ever style it is , is surely designed to handle a MUCH bigger and Much Heavier boat than a Macgregor..Or So I would think anyway.. most sailboat and many power boats weigh 3 to 10 X's a Mac.

[Russ]

Yup, chafe is the enemy here. Anchors and such hanging off the bow that can cut a line during a storm too. I've seen moorings fail many times from chafe and heat stress when a storm hits and a quiet mooring turns into your boat into a wild bronco on the mooring.
I would think exta ballast would also keep her upright if a sudden wind wave hit your boat. If it were me I would definitely keep ballast in.

[Russ]

Here's a report from the fleet captian a few years back when Tropical Storm Ernesto took out a big chunk of boats on moorings.
http://rbps.org/Ernesto_RYC.htm

I don't think any failures had anything to do with heavy boats. It was mostly chafe.

My friend got a call from the Navy saying his $300k Passport was sunk next to their pier.

[Teejay]

We always leave ballast in while on the water. We use an anchor sail when moored or anchored. Reduced the swing from near 180 degrees to about 30 deg (15 each way). Sure sleep a lot better even in a 15+ knot blow.

[bartmac]

The reason for water ballast is its ability to be removed....for trailering and planing...however whilst on the water not doing either of those things....ballast in would be my catch cry

[DaveB]

I agree with Chafe, no problem with my previouse 1963 35 Alberg, Sides a thinest point was 3/8 inch thick or more and at keel 1-1/8 inch thick. Take a long time to chafe thru that compared to same length 1/4 inch thick sides or less built in last 20 years or more.
Dave

[quote="RussMT"]Here's a report from the fleet captian a few years back when Tropical Storm Ernesto took out a big chunk of boats on moorings.
http://rbps.org/Ernesto_RYC.htm

I don't think any failures had anything to do with heavy boats. It was mostly chafe.

[restless]

Unless you have a really well sealed valve set, you may find you left the boat empty, only to find her half full... the most dangerously unstable configuration. I beached one night on the falling tide. Next day noticed we had lost half the ballast through poor valve seating. Ours is always in when on the water, and frequently checked!