Ballast

[Dick]

Have any of you COM PAC 23 owners ever added ballast to your boat to improve stability? Is it possible. Is it advisable?

[Craig Weis]

Unless one knows more about the boat then the marine architect there seems no reason to consider such a modification.

As she lays over, she dumps wind from the sails and tends to right itself.

Why put more hull in the water to slow down the boat? If this is done put the extra weight up forward.
Squatting astern slows her down.

[ personally I don't even care to add the weight of water to the port-a-potty. ]

Craig

[Potcake boy]

Skip - Wasn't it you that added a metal "shoe" to the bottom of the keel? How much did that weigh? How did it effect performance. As to your statement about the designer's skill I agree, and adding weight does increase whetted surface and drag.

Weight should not be moved forward intentionally. According to everything I have ever learned, weight should be concentrated as much as possible low, and toward the center of the boat. A boat that is way out of trim will produce some quirky characteristics in handling and even raise the danger of a pitch pole or broach in a big following sea. Under power a boat will tend to "squat" because the propeller is below the center of resistance. When under sail, the center of effort is clearly above the center of resistance and normally pushes the bow down. Where do racers position their crew weight?

My 23 has an inboard diesel so the weight is in a optimum location under the companionway. It being a pilot house, the boom is a little higher so there is a slight reduction of area in the main. The boat is actually quite stiff considering the 7'11' beam and no hard chine midships.  

Dick - Perhaps there are other factors at play. One of the most common mistakes I see on older boats is wearing old exhausted sails. They may have three corners and no holes, but have you looked at the shape lately? A blown out sail is usually almost impossible to flatten which not only torpedoes your windward ability but you can't de-power this sail in a breeze and get blown onto your ear every good puff. The best solution I have found on these boats is a loose footed full batten mainsail. If you have an effective out haul you can can control the cord depth to your needs. Do you drive with bald tires on your car?

If you haven't already, you might get some reading material on sail shape and trim, then try it out on your sails. If you can't get the results you expect, consider new sails. These aren't race boats so you don't really need high dollar sails. I outfitted a 19 with sails from National Sails and they were perfect and cost effective.

Learning new stuff about how to make your boat do what the designer had in mind is half the fun. These boats do a nice job of sailing to their design purpose when maintained and sailed properly.

Would you provide all of us with feed back as you tackle this problem?

Thanx,
Ron

[Bob23]

I never thought of adding ballast. But I do store drinking water and extra fuel in containers lashed to the foredeck while sailing for any amount of overnight time. Seems to help in the pointing a bit but really, the main reason is there is so little storage below. And I certainly wouldn't store fuel below.
Bob23

[Potcake boy]

Bob,

Just get yourself a water bed and fill it with fuel - dual purpose!!!!!

You don't smoke in bed do you?

Ron

[HeaveToo]

Well, I finally figured out a new title for the Mighty Bob. 

Bob, the most interesting guy in a Compac

[Bob23]

YOU GUYS ARE KILLIN' ME!!!! In the interest of full disclosure, that is not me but rather my evil twin Arnie. Always getting me in trouble, he is!!!
Arnie23

[brackish]

Have any of you COM PAC 23 owners ever added ballast to your boat to improve stability? Is it possible. Is it advisable?

Dick, you need to understand that the 23 hull design is rather old school, rounded rather than the more modern flatter designs.  Consequently, initial stability is rather low, the boat has a tendency to react quickly to gusts or weight shifts, however, ultimate stability is really high.  Adding more ballast will not significantly change that characteristic in my opinion, but could make the hull sit lower in the water and affect performance.

[Potcake boy]

Brackish - I love the way you describe the 23 as "old school" and I couldn't agree more. After sailing high tech trimarans for a few (quite a few) years I am really enjoying being a sailing Ludite. The 23 and I come from the same origins and she as I is old and slow but steady. She may wobble, but she won't fall down. What a beautiful lady to spend one's later sailing years with. And to that I drink some rum.

Ron

[Craig Weis]

" Skip - Wasn't it you that added a metal "shoe" to the bottom of the keel? How much did that weigh? How did it effect performance. As to your statement about the designer's skill I agree, and adding weight does increase whetted surface and drag. "

Yes it is I ... a 6 mm [ 0.236220472 inches] saltwater grade aluminium 'keel Boot' that was band saw cut from a pattern and glued on the cleaned and flat bottom of the CP-19 keel so the boat could roll over our rocky beaches in Door County and not chip out the fiberglass. Approximate weight maybe 11 lbs hangs down 6 mm and continues the sculpted shape of the keel. I don't know it's there. It's only a quarter inch down.

What do 'they' say about the CP-19? One pound top-O-mast [twenty five foot above the waterline] needs 15 pounds in the keel? I think that came from Small Boat Adviser about twenty years ago.

craig