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I've installed the ribbons to my ballast intake as suggested elsewhere so I know when it's full. But if I empty my ballast on the water, how long should I wait and at what speed before I assume it's empty? The vent on my 97X was moved by the PO to the V berth with a capped tube running up to the forward dinette seat so I can't put a piece of dowel down to measure the depth.

We returned to our marina under power in heavy weather with the kids on Sunday night after visiting friends and I figure it cost us about $15 in gas. I'm told that this is way too much for that distance so we're going to try motoring without the ballast this weekend and I'm a little nervous since we've always kept it in. I've read that most of you motor with no ballast with no propblems. I guess I'm just worried about the boat being less stable (The kids aren't happy unless the boat is flat so we don't sail much with them on board) and I want to ensure we avoid the dreaded half ballast situation.

My other concern is that friends want us to join them on an overnight trip that may be 4 hours each way with no fuel available along the way. If we motor all the way and burn gas like we did the other night, we won't make it back. Any suggestions on where to carry spare fuel tanks?

When dumping the ballast, I watch my speed on the GPS. As the water exits, my speed increases, once it stops increasing, the water is out and I shut the valve. I've opened the valve at the ramp to check, and never had more than a cup of water remaining doing it this way.

As to ballast while motoring, I think the warning sticker says to fill if more than 4 people on board. In addition, where they are sitting makes a difference too. If they are sitting in the cabin, the weight is centered and lower than if they are sitting on top or the foredeck area. Sort of like a SUV will tip over easier because of a higher center of gravity.

As to fuel, how much are you carrying? $15 won't buy a lot around here, maybe 6 gallons. Others on line have up to 4 six gallon containers in the fuel lockers. ( 2 on each side) You should be able to add more tanks to yours also. Unless there is other stuff stored in there?

To expand on what jklightner said, I think the practical maximum fuel capacity would be about 31 gallons... a pair of 6 gallon tanks (or one 12 gallon) in each fuel locker, and a 7.5 gallon Tempo in the area just in front of the motor. We get by with just two 6 gallon tanks in the starboard locker, and only employ the Tempo 7.5 gallon on longer trips, for a total of about 19 gallons available.

Also, keep in mind that your speed will play a big role in the "mileage" you get. If we're just out for the day, no problem... semi-planing speed. But if we're on a long trip, and I know it's going to be a few days before we're able to get fuel, we sail if possible, or motor at hull speed (or just a little above).

--Mike

JUst as a sidebar to your discussion on fuel, m first rate mate isnt a big fan of the boat when it heals over either, but she is getting better. I only have a 9.9 on my 96X and so far this summer I havn't used 5 gallons ogfthe liquid gold. Where I am its approaching $1.00 a litrre(app.$2.70 US gal), so at least the boat runs cheap.THe 4x4, well its a dfferent story.I just dump my tank when I load the boat in the fall on the ramp. Can't get enough speed to effectively do it on the water, but I leave my tank full all summer. Makes the boat a lot more stable I think.

I filled up both tanks yesterday and I'm glad I did. Gas went up 8 cents overnight to $1.02 per litre this morning. Now I'm even more worried about my mileage (litreage?)

macsailor wrote:Where I am its approaching $1.00 a litrre(app.$2.70 US gal), so at least the boat runs cheap.

1 US gallon = 3.7854118 liters.

$1.00/liter * 3.7854118 liters/gallon ~ $3.79/US gal.

On my trip to Canada, I used about 20 gallons of Canadian gas on my boat. Managed to get the Tahoe in and out on US gas.

Someone better check my ciphering.

1 U.S. dollar = 1.21439987 Canadian dollars

1 U.S/1.21439987 Canadian * 3.79 Canadian = $3.12 US dollars per gallon

Beam's Reach wrote:. Any suggestions on where to carry spare fuel tanks?

I use 4 Duratanks (24 gallons) but like this idea better:


http://macgregorsailors.com/phpBB/viewt ... t=duratank

I also have an 6 plus gallon tank monted in front of the motor. I only sail when there is a good wind. (bored kid on board)

We use two 12 gallon Tempo LPT12 tanks installed by the PO. This requires slightly enlarging the openings, and we put deck plates in the cockpit seats to fill them. Different strokes for different folks.

Nice mod Moe.

Thanks, Mark. I was real apprehensive about whether passengers would feel the deck plates under the cushions. Tom Spohn said it's no problem, and as usual, he was right.

Beam's Reach wrote: ... if I empty my ballast on the water, how long should I wait and at what speed before I assume it's empty?

... we're going to try motoring without the ballast this weekend and I'm a little nervous since we've always kept it in. I've read that most of you motor with no ballast with no propblems. I guess I'm just worried about the boat being less stable

My other concern is that friends want us to join them on an overnight trip that may be 4 hours each way with no fuel available along the way. If we motor all the way and burn gas like we did the other night, we won't make it back. Any suggestions on where to carry spare fuel tanks?

Beam,
You received lots of good advice up there ... but a couple of added comments:

You don't say what motor? Try adding your hull and motor info to the "location" field in your membership profile. Then everyone will have a frame of reference for your posts. Two-stroke vs. 4-stroke is an important question for judging fuel mileage.

Ballast-empty isn't too difficult to judge by feel, but there's a more positive way. If you can lean aft to view your ribbon, do the same just after you get the boat on-plane - with the gate valve open. (Of course, you need a helmsman to watch the road, and maybe to keep a good grip on your belt = perform this exercise carefully). You'll clearly see the full stream of water exiting the valve. When you lean aft again just five minutes later, you'll see the ballast valve above water surface with only a dribble still exiting. Your tank is empty ... close the valve and power-down.

BE smart about WHERE you empty the ballast tank. It's not a good idea to try to get on-plane when you're amidst lots of waves or wakes. Choose the area where you can safely maintain 12 mph for about five minutes.

Motoring on MT-ballast & safety? I didn't see how many persons you have aboard, but with just 2 adults and 2 children, you'll feel plenty stable, no problem.

Fuel to cruise 4 hours each way with friends??? Ask them to stow 2 extra 6-gal tanks on their boat!

Hope you find some useful ideas there!

When are you empty?

After you motor for quite a while. Close the thing up and always check at the ramp afterwards to see if you allowed enough time. My 'guess' is about five minutes with the larger valve. I have come in with half ballast and it makes me upset. Sometimes you can't 'check' because it's so rough or windy, you have to take on ballast to get in the channel without banging into something.

To take on ballast, it's best to stop and wait for the water to get up to the vent so you can check with your finger.

I wonder how much difference it makes in jettisoning ballast to leave the front vent plugged. It doesnt make too much difference with a simple gas can to leave the back vent capped. Theres the necessary gurgling to get some air back, but I load the yard stuff this way to help keep from spilling gas all over a hot motor when it fills.

And for hauling gas, if youre going to Mexico, fill the cabin up with as many 2.5 gallon containers you can cram in there. Besides your PFD, youll want to strap on a small fire extinguisher and a parachute.

mark...cypherin never was my strong suit......fair winds

I talked to a lot of old school Canadians who didn't like the conversion to metric. They're still thinking in miles, gallons, feet and inches.

Canadian Metric

Course they had me going with that Pea Meal Bacon on the menu.

Thanks everyone. Lots of great info as usual. BTW, it's a 50HP Mariner 4 stroke. I'll add that to my profile. Thanks.