Lead ballast in bow - why?
 

hi all

I have a Halvorsen Island Gypsy 30 displacement cruiser built in 1978. The
boat has the original Ford 120hp engine. I have owned the boat for a couple
of months. Someone has placed about 10 ingots of lead in the bow "v" which
sit unsecured but somewhat wedged and immobile.

The boat sits quite level (if anything with a slight bias toward being low
in the bows - not surprising) and floats within its marked waterline
(apparently fine).

Does anyone know if this is a standard fitting or has someone just had a
bright idea at sometime and should I take it all out? I would have thought
this would have been glassed in if it were deemed necessary by the
manufacturer . . . Kong and Halvorsen.

regards Shawn
"Scallywag"
Brisbane Australia

Lead ballast in bow - why?
 

Maybe it was build with an oversized and therefore overweight engine
(120 hp is unusually large for a 30' boat) and the weight was
necessary to level it out. Maybe the engine was a replacement - not
the original engine - replaced since 1978? Maybe with full water and
diesel tanks it's not bow heavy?



On Sat, 17 Jul 2004 21:56:17 +1000, "Shawn"
wrote:

hi all

I have a Halvorsen Island Gypsy 30 displacement cruiser built in 1978. The
boat has the original Ford 120hp engine. I have owned the boat for a couple
of months. Someone has placed about 10 ingots of lead in the bow "v" which
sit unsecured but somewhat wedged and immobile.

The boat sits quite level (if anything with a slight bias toward being low
in the bows - not surprising) and floats within its marked waterline
(apparently fine).

Does anyone know if this is a standard fitting or has someone just had a
bright idea at sometime and should I take it all out? I would have thought
this would have been glassed in if it were deemed necessary by the
manufacturer . . . Kong and Halvorsen.

regards Shawn
"Scallywag"
Brisbane Australia

Lead ballast in bow - why?
 

thanks Wally

The engine is the standard fitting for the boat and sits approx midship.The
boat is still being made in 32ft mode (although I suspect they are just
measuring the hull length vs waterline length and it is the same) and is
powered by a 220 approx cummins i think, these days.

The boat sits as per my email below (level with if anything, a slight low
bow bias) with full fuel (mid ships) tanks and full water (aft)

I'm thinking of taking the lead out and trying it - its loose so I can put
it back if needed. I was just hoping to understand if this was a standard
fitment or someone's "great idea"?

I once had a little 22ft yacht with additional lead atop the keel and after
a year or so I took it out to see if it made a difference and gained half a
knot on a reach with no loss of stability.

regards Shawn
"Scallywag"
Brisbane Australia



"Wally" wrote in message
...
Maybe it was build with an oversized and therefore overweight engine
(120 hp is unusually large for a 30' boat) and the weight was
necessary to level it out. Maybe the engine was a replacement - not
the original engine - replaced since 1978? Maybe with full water and
diesel tanks it's not bow heavy?



On Sat, 17 Jul 2004 21:56:17 +1000, "Shawn"
wrote:

hi all

I have a Halvorsen Island Gypsy 30 displacement cruiser built in 1978.
The
boat has the original Ford 120hp engine. I have owned the boat for a
couple
of months. Someone has placed about 10 ingots of lead in the bow "v"
which
sit unsecured but somewhat wedged and immobile.

The boat sits quite level (if anything with a slight bias toward being
low
in the bows - not surprising) and floats within its marked waterline
(apparently fine).

Does anyone know if this is a standard fitting or has someone just had a
bright idea at sometime and should I take it all out? I would have
thought
this would have been glassed in if it were deemed necessary by the
manufacturer . . . Kong and Halvorsen.

regards Shawn
"Scallywag"
Brisbane Australia

Lead ballast in bow - why?
 

On Sun, 18 Jul 2004 10:42:43 +1000, something compelled "Shawn"
, to say:

I'm thinking of taking the lead out and trying it - its loose so I can put
it back if needed. I was just hoping to understand if this was a standard
fitment or someone's "great idea"?

I can't imagine a reputable boat builder doing this. I'd remove
it and see what happens. As you state, you can always put it
back.

Lead ballast in bow - why?
 

thanks Steve

regards Shawn

"Steve Daniels" wrote in message
...
On Sun, 18 Jul 2004 10:42:43 +1000, something compelled "Shawn"
, to say:

I'm thinking of taking the lead out and trying it - its loose so I can
put
it back if needed. I was just hoping to understand if this was a standard
fitment or someone's "great idea"?

I can't imagine a reputable boat builder doing this. I'd remove
it and see what happens. As you state, you can always put it
back.

Lead ballast in bow - why?
 

"Shawn" wrote in message
...
hi all

I have a Halvorsen Island Gypsy 30 displacement cruiser built in 1978. The
boat has the original Ford 120hp engine. I have owned the boat for a
couple
of months. Someone has placed about 10 ingots of lead in the bow "v" which
sit unsecured but somewhat wedged and immobile.

The boat sits quite level (if anything with a slight bias toward being low
in the bows - not surprising) and floats within its marked waterline
(apparently fine).

Does anyone know if this is a standard fitting or has someone just had a
bright idea at sometime and should I take it all out? I would have thought
this would have been glassed in if it were deemed necessary by the
manufacturer . . . Kong and Halvorsen.

Placing lead in the bow of a boat is a relatively common practice.
Especially with large boats. The lead helps keep the boat sitting level and
helps it plane easier with smaller engines. I had a 68' Luhrs Sport
fisherman with a 318 Chrysler crown and it had a little over 500lbs of lead
in the bow. You can remove it but will find the boat will not be as stable
in rough water and will not plane as easily. I would leave it and if you
are concerned with it moving around then pour some A/B foam around it. That
stuff is so "sticky" it now use as an adhesive in some applications...

mark

Lead ballast in bow - why?
 

With the number of engine options and cabin layouts you can get in a boat I
would think that some sort of ballasting would be needed.


"Steve Daniels" wrote in message
...
On Sun, 18 Jul 2004 10:42:43 +1000, something compelled "Shawn"
, to say:

I'm thinking of taking the lead out and trying it - its loose so I can
put
it back if needed. I was just hoping to understand if this was a standard
fitment or someone's "great idea"?

I can't imagine a reputable boat builder doing this. I'd remove
it and see what happens. As you state, you can always put it
back.

Lead ballast in bow - why?
 

There are a lot of boats out there with what is called "trim ballast". Small
boat design is still a combination of art and science and sometimes the science
can be a little off, especially when it comes to displacement calculations.
Trim ballast can be a good thing. As an example if you ever wanted to carry
heavier ground tackle, you could remove the trim ballast and add more chain
etc...
Jared Crane

Lead ballast in bow - why?
 

One of the only "manufacturers" that I've ever heard of that allowed for
variations in optioning when ballasting was the much maligned Hank
McCuen (Yorktowns)

He took the finished boat, with a hollow keel (no ballast at all),
floated the hull, on it's side to start with, then added lead pigs to
the hollow keel until the boat floated as it was meant to.

Everyone else would have added to the finished hull in addition to the
original ballast. The loose pigs tells me someone added this to trim
the boat. The manufactured would have fastened it down.

My boat floats galley side down. I am moving the water heater outboard
to try to fix this.
Jim

Shawn wrote:
hi all

I have a Halvorsen Island Gypsy 30 displacement cruiser built in 1978. The
boat has the original Ford 120hp engine. I have owned the boat for a couple
of months. Someone has placed about 10 ingots of lead in the bow "v" which
sit unsecured but somewhat wedged and immobile.

The boat sits quite level (if anything with a slight bias toward being low
in the bows - not surprising) and floats within its marked waterline
(apparently fine).

Does anyone know if this is a standard fitting or has someone just had a
bright idea at sometime and should I take it all out? I would have thought
this would have been glassed in if it were deemed necessary by the
manufacturer . . . Kong and Halvorsen.

regards Shawn
"Scallywag"
Brisbane Australia

Lead ballast in bow - why?
 

"rock_doctor" wrote in message
roups.com...
Placing lead in the bow of a boat is a relatively common practice.
Especially with large boats. The lead helps keep the boat sitting level
and
helps it plane easier with smaller engines. I had a 68' Luhrs Sport
fisherman with a 318 Chrysler crown and it had a little over 500lbs of
lead
in the bow. You can remove it but will find the boat will not be as
stable
in rough water and will not plane as easily. I would leave it and if you
are concerned with it moving around then pour some A/B foam around it.
That
stuff is so "sticky" it now use as an adhesive in some applications...

Edit that was a 1968 28ft Luhrs not a 68 ft luhrs... Someplace somebody is
saying, "I did not Luhrs built boats that large".... :-)

Lead ballast in bow - why?
 

I am going to assume that you are talking about a 120hp Ford Lehman diesel,
and that the vessel is a powerboat, not a sailboat? If that's the case,
there just doesn't seem to me to be any rational argument for the lead
ingots . I would pull them. They can only add to the pitching moment.

"Shawn" wrote in message
...
hi all

I have a Halvorsen Island Gypsy 30 displacement cruiser built in 1978. The
boat has the original Ford 120hp engine. I have owned the boat for a
couple
of months. Someone has placed about 10 ingots of lead in the bow "v" which
sit unsecured but somewhat wedged and immobile.

The boat sits quite level (if anything with a slight bias toward being low
in the bows - not surprising) and floats within its marked waterline
(apparently fine).

Does anyone know if this is a standard fitting or has someone just had a
bright idea at sometime and should I take it all out? I would have thought
this would have been glassed in if it were deemed necessary by the
manufacturer . . . Kong and Halvorsen.

regards Shawn
"Scallywag"
Brisbane Australia

Lead ballast in bow - why?
 

thanks all

The Ford is similar to a Lehman but it is a 120 hp 6cyl "Tempest" - There
were a few different types of Ford conversion engines as I understand it:
Lehman, Lees, Tempest and Bowman. Yes it is a displacement cruiser, a power
boat. A trawler style/passagemaker as folk seem to be calling them these
days.

I have had a reply from the manufacturer Mr Halvorsen himself and I will
include it below as this thread has attracted some interest.

Many thanks to all for your considered responses.

regards Shawn
"Scallywag"
Brisbane Australia

ps anyone who may be interested and would like to see a picture please email
me :-)

~~~~~~~~~~~

Dear Shawn,
I'd take the lead out. Someone may have put them there to trim out for the
dinghy and davits, but if she trims OK now then get rid of it. These boats
are better if kept lighter in the bow, i.e. better to be down by the stern,
rather than by the bow. Happy boating.
Regards Harvey Halvorsen.



"Max Lynn" wrote in message
news:HjGKc.1793$ci.841@lakeread04...
I am going to assume that you are talking about a 120hp Ford Lehman
diesel,
and that the vessel is a powerboat, not a sailboat? If that's the case,
there just doesn't seem to me to be any rational argument for the lead
ingots . I would pull them. They can only add to the pitching moment.

"Shawn" wrote in message
...
hi all

I have a Halvorsen Island Gypsy 30 displacement cruiser built in 1978.
The
boat has the original Ford 120hp engine. I have owned the boat for a
couple
of months. Someone has placed about 10 ingots of lead in the bow "v"
which
sit unsecured but somewhat wedged and immobile.

The boat sits quite level (if anything with a slight bias toward being
low
in the bows - not surprising) and floats within its marked waterline
(apparently fine).

Does anyone know if this is a standard fitting or has someone just had a
bright idea at sometime and should I take it all out? I would have
thought
this would have been glassed in if it were deemed necessary by the
manufacturer . . . Kong and Halvorsen.

regards Shawn
"Scallywag"
Brisbane Australia

Lead ballast in bow - why?
 

In article s.com,
"rock_doctor" wrote:

Placing lead in the bow of a boat is a relatively common practice.
Especially with large boats. The lead helps keep the boat sitting level and
helps it plane easier with smaller engines. I had a 68' Luhrs Sport
fisherman with a 318 Chrysler crown and it had a little over 500lbs of lead
in the bow. You can remove it but will find the boat will not be as stable
in rough water and will not plane as easily. I would leave it and if you
are concerned with it moving around then pour some A/B foam around it. That
stuff is so "sticky" it now use as an adhesive in some applications...

mark

Hey Mark,
The guy said "Displacement Cruiser"! That means it DOESN'T plane.


me who actually reads the posts first......

Me wrote:
In article s.com,
"rock_doctor" wrote:


Placing lead in the bow of a boat is a relatively common practice.
Especially with large boats. The lead helps keep the boat sitting level and
helps it plane easier with smaller engines. I had a 68' Luhrs Sport
fisherman with a 318 Chrysler crown and it had a little over 500lbs of lead
in the bow. You can remove it but will find the boat will not be as stable
in rough water and will not plane as easily. I would leave it and if you
are concerned with it moving around then pour some A/B foam around it. That
stuff is so "sticky" it now use as an adhesive in some applications...

mark


Hey Mark,
The guy said "Displacement Cruiser"! That means it DOESN'T plane.


me who actually reads the posts first......

Who snips the Q so nobody can use the thread, except avec toi, eh?

And complains, instead of contributing. Talk about me, me, me.

Lowering the bow may raise the transom reducing suction behind it,
feeding a prop a little better and lengthening the waterline a
little, especially with a swept stem.

My row boat, a 14' cartop Alumi, goes easier with the mate in the
bow than in the stern thwarts.

Terry K

all fixed folks and thanks. I have removed the lead which was completely
unnecessary in a displacement cruiser and it is sitting more level and I
think steers a little sweeter in a following sea. Thanks all.

Shawn
"Scallywag"

"Terry Spragg" wrote in message
rs.com...
Me wrote:
In article s.com,
"rock_doctor" wrote:


Placing lead in the bow of a boat is a relatively common practice.
Especially with large boats. The lead helps keep the boat sitting level
and
helps it plane easier with smaller engines. I had a 68' Luhrs Sport
fisherman with a 318 Chrysler crown and it had a little over 500lbs of
lead
in the bow. You can remove it but will find the boat will not be as
stable
in rough water and will not plane as easily. I would leave it and if
you
are concerned with it moving around then pour some A/B foam around it.
That
stuff is so "sticky" it now use as an adhesive in some applications...

mark


Hey Mark,
The guy said "Displacement Cruiser"! That means it DOESN'T plane.


me who actually reads the posts first......

Who snips the Q so nobody can use the thread, except avec toi, eh?

And complains, instead of contributing. Talk about me, me, me.

Lowering the bow may raise the transom reducing suction behind it,
feeding a prop a little better and lengthening the waterline a
little, especially with a swept stem.

My row boat, a 14' cartop Alumi, goes easier with the mate in the
bow than in the stern thwarts.

Terry K