Thinking about the mac 26 gave me a few ideas, probably useless but I
have time on my hands.

The water ballast is useless as long as it is underwater since it is
the same density as the water and until it rises above the water there
is no righting moment asociated with it. All the righting moment is
from hull shape till then. Why not make a hull with air inflatable
panels on the sides so that when you heel you simply inflate the panels
on the leeward side to increase righting moment?

Another idea about water ballast. Why not pump water into a bladder
mounted on the windward side of the hull that is out of the water to
increase the righting moment. This would be similar to putting people
on the rail.

Why not put these bladders on extendable booms that extend out a few
feet to increase the righting waaaaaaay more than you could otherwise
achieve? If these bladders did not drag in the water, would they be
better than amas on a tri that provide righting moment due to buoyancy?

I wouldn't think the water ballast was useless (unless it was free surface)
since it is replacing air which of course, is lighter. The air panels could
work, but making the hull wider (both sides) would also.

You're right, water ballast to windward is a good idea, and was popular for
the round the world races until these canting keels came out. I always
thought one big advantage of water ballast that wasn't utilized (or
mentioned, anyway) was that it would not be difficult --when faced with
possibly sinking-- to use them for floatation.

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ps.com...
Thinking about the mac 26 gave me a few ideas, probably useless but I
have time on my hands.

The water ballast is useless as long as it is underwater since it is
the same density as the water and until it rises above the water there
is no righting moment asociated with it. All the righting moment is
from hull shape till then. Why not make a hull with air inflatable
panels on the sides so that when you heel you simply inflate the panels
on the leeward side to increase righting moment?

Another idea about water ballast. Why not pump water into a bladder
mounted on the windward side of the hull that is out of the water to
increase the righting moment. This would be similar to putting people
on the rail.

Why not put these bladders on extendable booms that extend out a few
feet to increase the righting waaaaaaay more than you could otherwise
achieve? If these bladders did not drag in the water, would they be
better than amas on a tri that provide righting moment due to buoyancy?