Pitch - Level

[brackish]

It is one of the first things I noticed when I first sailed my 23.  And one of the primary reasons for the plan to change motors, along with ease of mounting and dismounting.  Dropping 50 lbs. from the end of that moment arm should be very helpful.  Additionally, one battery goes and my new inflatable and accessories including a booster pak to replace the battery will fit in the locker just behind the anchor locker forward.  Considering moving other not used very often heavy items to the locker under the V berth.  Eventually getting rid of the sliders, and moving the galley components to the cabin bulkhead, including the often heavy cooler.  Every thing I can move forward, closer to or in front of the center of rotation is fair game.

[Bob23]

Good points.
   I really should move my battery forward...I didn't have enough on my winter upgrade list. It makes sense because, for it's size, it's probably the heaviest piece of equuiptment we carry and it's quite easy to relocate. And I could store the propane grill where the battery now lives.
   Although I love tiller steering, by nature it puts more weight aft. Iv'e toyyed with (in my mind at least) a small wood wheel on the starboard side next to the companionway with a variation of the old Teleflex steering. I love the look and location of the wood wheel on the Horizon Cat but my goal would be to move weight forward. Maybe keep a tiller option. On the other hand, why make things more complicated than they need to be? Can't get much simpler than a tiller, eh?
Bob23

[curtisv]

   I noticed this a few years ago while motoring. Dead calm water and no wind, we motored about 2 hours and out of sheer boredom, my brother in law went to the bow. We went from 4.5 knots to 5.5 knots. Not a joke.
 

Wow!  He must be really heavy.  :-)

   Iv'e also played around with shifting my weight from side to side while sailing. Seems the 23's are sensitive to this. With the tiller lashed, I'll stand on the bridge deck and move from side to side and "surf" the boat. What fun! I've also noticed that in light winds, I can point higher by sitting forward on the leeward side thus inducing some heel and even pick up a little speed.

I sailed with a Wianno sailor (see http://www.wiannosenior.org/rules.htm is you are not familiar with the Wianno) and he was big on sitting to leaward in light air.  It seemed to have a lot more effect on his Wianno than my CP23.  Apparently this is a dinghy sailor's technique although the wianno weighs over 4,000 pounds.

Curtis

ps - Matt on his Wianno, on the leaward side of course, though this was downwind (with the spinaker up).  Notice the two fingers on the tiller.  Now that is a balanced helm.

[Bob23]

"Heavy..there's that word again. Is there a problem with the earth's gravitational pull?"
He'a about 200 lbs but right on the bow that made a big difference. Little known but worthless fact: A few years ago, he and I got in a weight loss contest. I won by .6 lbs. We went out for pizza to celebrate!

I think I was just reverting back to my surfing days! But it's sorta fun to experiment while under sail. I first did this on my old SeaPearl 21. With the tiller lashed, I could stand on the bow in light air and she'd point at leat 5 degrees higher. Plus it's fun to watch the boat sail with no one at the helm!
Bob23