What to use for ballast

[trayscool]

Hello again iboats! Thanks for your help as always.

I just purchased my 3rd boat, a 1999 seaswirl striper. The boat is great and came rigged to the gills with all kinds of extras and a 15hp 4 stroke kicker motor. the problem is the kicker is mounted on the driver side of the boat. When you get in to take off, the boat lists heavy to the right side, and with self bailing decks actually fills up with water a little until to come to a plane. you have trim the boat out to balance the heavy side as well.

I am thinking about adding some ballast to even out the load. I have some lead weights that I can install safely in the left side rear of the hull or should I use something else? the lead is toxic. I was thinking about sandbags maybe, but they will get waterlogged and moldy eventually. Have any ideas??

here is a picture for good measure. thanks in advance....

 

[jevery]

Re: What to use for ballast

I had a boat that didn't sit level in the water for some reason, bugged the h*** out of me. I finally lifted a floor panel and carved two circular indentions in the foam. Wrapped two 20 lb steel dumbell weights in heavy plastic and put them under the floor. Doubt it was the best solution, but it worked.

 

[Bondo]

Re: What to use for ballast

I have some lead weights that I can install safely in the left side rear of the hull or should I use something else? the lead is toxic.

Ayuh,....

Lead is only Toxic if you eat it.... It's totally inert til melted or Eaten....

Before I went to adding more weight to the boat,..
I'd try rearranging the stuff that's onboard now....
Batteries, trim pump, Whatever, can be moved to a better position...

 

[BillP]

Re: What to use for ballast

Batteries make good ballast. Relocate the ones you have or use old dead batteries. It's a good place to increase battery capacity too. They weigh approx 75-95lbs each. Extra gas would be nice but it doesn't usually weigh enough to be practical for ballast. Lead is approx 750lbs cu ft and gas is approx 24lbs cu ft.

bp

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: What to use for ballast

i would move the kicker, before adding ballast. remember every pound requires more fuel, as cut your capacity of passengers and gear.

 

[scipper77]

Re: What to use for ballast

Is moving the kicker to the other side an option??? (Wrote this before I saw TD's post above)

Also, is it best to add the ballast at the stern? I would think that somewhere mid deck might be another option. I actually removed the 2 seats in the back of my boat because everyone sits there first and the boat wouldn't plane at low speed. This is why I ask if it's best to add ballast at the rear.

 

[BillP]

Re: What to use for ballast

Sure you can move the engine. All you have to do is make sure it fits and doesn't get in the way of something on the other side. For placement of ballast I'd do it at the widest part of the boat and definitely not at the transom. You may also consider relocation other gear to that side. Adding 75lbs at midships on that rig isn't going to change your mpg enough to notice. The extra weight fwd might actually help at low speed cruise. Cockpit adjustable trim tabs would zero out all of your weight distribution problems and let you tweak each outing for best running economy.

One last thought...a 15hp on that boat is marginal at best if trying to make way against wind, current and chop. If you fish offshore it might be better to take the kicker off and spend $120 annually for a tow service. Add another $10 and it gives trailer tow service during transport to the ramp. I did that yrs ago and quit carrying a spare kicker...never looked back either. I use TowboatUS (BoatUS) because it has the best coverage in my area but there are others.

bp

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: What to use for ballast

even with a kicker, seatow, or towboat is a deal. i've had to be towed several times, and it has pay for itself, over and over, last tow would have been $400.

 

[trayscool]

Re: What to use for ballast

Thanks for all the replies.

The boat is perfectly balanced in every way I can think of. The fuel tank, batteries, etc are all in the center of the boat.

The kicker motor is only going to be used for trolling or if I get stuck close to home. There is no way im going to spend 12hrs to get back from catalina, and I do have Vessel Assist membership already. Also if i move the kicker to the other side of the boat I will have the same problem in reverse. A 4 stroke kicker plus a heavy hydro bracket weighs a ton. I have a 15hp 2 stoke motor that I may throw on a regular bracket instead but it will be a lot more hassle to use.

The boat has trim tabs but I hate having to trim it out just because of the weight offset and nevermind the deck loads with water when your not moving. We went hoping on friday and with myself, my partner, the dog all on the left side the boat fills up quick!


I have come up with this idea. The bait tank is also on the kicker side of the boat. I am going to install a bait tank on the swim step to balance out the weight, but what about when Im not fishing? plus this is a lot of weight (500lbs) just at the back of the boat. Thanks again for the help

 

[reelfishin]

Re: What to use for ballast

Just a thought...
Is there maybe another problem that's causing the boat to ride so low in the water? A friend of mine has a walk around Striper boat much like yours with a single 150 Suzuki and an older 9.9 two stroke kicker. His rides pretty high in the water, the scuppers have never taken on water even with four big guys fishing on the stern. His has no trim tabs or ballast that I know of. Is the boat heavier than it should be due to water in the bilge or flotation foam? I believe his boat is about the same age, give or take a year, I think he said its a Seaswirl 2300 model.

 

[trayscool]

Re: What to use for ballast

i thought about it and your friends older 2 stroke kicker probably weighs half of my newer 4 stoke plus im sure the hydro bracket weighs another 100lbs or so.....