River boating/ballast or no ballast?

[Steve]

I'm putting my Mac on the Cumberland River this weekend just for two days. Going to be docking downtown Nashville and hanging out with some friends and family.

I've removed the mast to free up room and avoid any overhead issues, just wondering if after dunking it I should fill the ballast or not? Any other tips for running the Mac on a river (the current issue, etc.)?

Thanks everyone!

Steve

[DLT]

In my mind, Ballast = Extra Stability and No Ballast = Extra Speed. So, I ask myself which is more important in a given situation...

If you're not sailing (which would be hard to do without the mast) and you're not overloading the boat, no more than 4 adults on board, then you don't have to have ballast. Just make sure every one is in the cockpit or cabin.

I find that the little ones really light to be at the bow. But, I never let anyone up top without ballast, unless we're stopped... So, we have to put in ballast for them to be "the king of the world"...

[Pouw Geuzebroek]

Steve, I always have balast when cruising on a river. The Mac is so light that even with balast you are easily blown accros and ending up in a 90 angle when waiting for a bridge to go open and you did not tie up the boat since the waiting would be only a couple of minutes. Happened to me and ever since I am having the balast tanks full. (And then it still occurs sometimes) Don't forget if the wind comes from behind and you go into a lock to tie up the helm cleet first. otherwise you end up at a 90 angle in the lock, upsetting all boats behind you.
Yes it is fun cruising rivers

[Ben]

I have my X berthed on the Delta. I prefer to have the ballast in because of the extra stability. Much more comfortable when you meet a big cruiser throwing a 2 or 3 ft wake. I usually have no more than 3 or 4 people on board so I don't consider it a safety issue.

[Randy Smith]

I am in the mid-Columbia Basin. Long streches of river and I run without ballast if the water is smooth. Better economy and yes, more speed. If I get in chop or am in busy, tight areas with other boats, like a marina, I use the ballast and boards down. We have big barge traffic and I am not bothered by the big wakes without ballast or with. The boat is very stable without ballast.........like someone said, there is a lot of freeboard, so wind can be a major factor.....you have to learn the feel of your boat and when to put the ballast in.....remember always, it is all ballast or none.....you can't have water in there unless you are planning on filling the tank. The boat is stable without ballast, yes more stable with...especially if you have a lot of weight on deck..........

[mssydnie]

My wife and I spend most of our time on the Detroit River (3 to 5 knot current) Have gone both ways with ballast and prefer with ballast...in fact we never empty out any more for entire season. Much more stable. Yes..we use a little more gas but the Suzuki df50 just sips it at 2500 to 3000 rpm anyways...and I might be the only one on this website that doesn't care about speed...powering or sailing...I go "fast" all week..."slow" on the water is just great! Lets me enjoy the peacefulness.

And yes we do sail on the river and as we can stay at what is basically a powerboat marina because of our shallow draft... just 6-7 miles from Lake Erie...we can go out on the big lake from time to time.