High speed motoring ballast empty or full
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- Chief Steward
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- Sailboat: MacGregor 26M
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High speed motoring ballast empty or full
So much conflicting data!
High speed motoring should the ballast be full or empty.
My 26m is way more nimble and faster empty.
The Macgregor video says empty, the owners manual says full?
High speed motoring should the ballast be full or empty.
My 26m is way more nimble and faster empty.
The Macgregor video says empty, the owners manual says full?
2010 26m, suzuki bf70a.
San Diego Bay
San Diego Bay
- Jimmyt
- Admiral
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- Location: Mobile AL 2013 26M, 60 Etec
Re: High speed motoring ballast empty or full
With few crew, all seated in cockpit, no one on deck, rudders and dagger up, absolutely NO SAILS UP, relatively calm seas, relatively light wind, you should be fine motoring fast with the ballast empty. It was designed for that.
If you're going Commando (Gazmn); i.e. No mast or sails, you should be fine motoring fast without ballast. Again, keep the crew in the cockpit or cabin and don't overload the boat. You should be fastest in this configuration due to the reduced wind drag achieved by removing the rig.
Motoring with the ballast in is more forgiving. Rougher conditions, more wind, you might want to keep the ballast in and lose a little top speed.
If you're going Commando (Gazmn); i.e. No mast or sails, you should be fine motoring fast without ballast. Again, keep the crew in the cockpit or cabin and don't overload the boat. You should be fastest in this configuration due to the reduced wind drag achieved by removing the rig.
Motoring with the ballast in is more forgiving. Rougher conditions, more wind, you might want to keep the ballast in and lose a little top speed.
Jimmyt
P-Cub-Boo
2013 26M, Etec 60, roller Genoa, roller main
Cruising Waters: Mobile Bay, Western Shore, Fowl River
P-Cub-Boo
2013 26M, Etec 60, roller Genoa, roller main
Cruising Waters: Mobile Bay, Western Shore, Fowl River
- dlandersson
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- Admiral
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Re: High speed motoring ballast empty or full
It would not surprise me if the conflict is because of safety concerns and liability. It's safest to motor with ballast full, but safest isn't always what the owner wants. It's safer (legally) for MacGregor to advise owners to motor with ballast.
MacX 2000 Honda BF50A 'SeaSaw'
- Russ
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Re: High speed motoring ballast empty or full
The M also has 300lbs of fixed ballast.
When my M is dry (no ballast) it is noticeably more tender. So much so that when two people are on the upper deck, the boat feels very unstable. I don't like it.
I will run without ballast when I first launch for fun. But I always keep the ballast in for a more secure feel. I don't need 2 mph more for the cost of more tender feel to the boat.
When my M is dry (no ballast) it is noticeably more tender. So much so that when two people are on the upper deck, the boat feels very unstable. I don't like it.
I will run without ballast when I first launch for fun. But I always keep the ballast in for a more secure feel. I don't need 2 mph more for the cost of more tender feel to the boat.
--Russ
- NiceAft
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Re: High speed motoring ballast empty or full
Could not agree more.Russ wrote: ↑Tue May 16, 2023 7:20 pm The M also has 300lbs of fixed ballast.
When my M is dry (no ballast) it is noticeably more tender. So much so that when two people are on the upper deck, the boat feels very unstable. I don't like it.
I will run without ballast when I first launch for fun. But I always keep the ballast in for a more secure feel. I don't need 2 mph more for the cost of more tender feel to the boat.
When running without ballast, the Mac captain has to be ready to turn into the wake of any power boater who passes too close and/or too fast.
Ray ~~_/)~~
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- Chief Steward
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Re: High speed motoring ballast empty or full
Thanks for the replies. Safety is an issue and i appreciate the guidance. But what really brought up the question is how much spray hits the cockpit when going fast with ballast full. I got drenched.
Any way to keep some of the water out?
Any way to keep some of the water out?
2010 26m, suzuki bf70a.
San Diego Bay
San Diego Bay
- Jimmyt
- Admiral
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Re: High speed motoring ballast empty or full
What was the sea state, and how much wind (what direction compared to your direction of travel)?
I've had three adults recently planing fast in calm water without anyone getting wet. If you're pounding in surf, there's not much you can do about it. You can't put the bow up with trim like a small power boat (at least mine hasn't seemed to respond to trimming the bow up). Also, if you have a cross-wind, I've noticed spray in the cockpit.
Maybe others spend enough time motoring fast to have noticed a pattern.
I've had three adults recently planing fast in calm water without anyone getting wet. If you're pounding in surf, there's not much you can do about it. You can't put the bow up with trim like a small power boat (at least mine hasn't seemed to respond to trimming the bow up). Also, if you have a cross-wind, I've noticed spray in the cockpit.
Maybe others spend enough time motoring fast to have noticed a pattern.
Jimmyt
P-Cub-Boo
2013 26M, Etec 60, roller Genoa, roller main
Cruising Waters: Mobile Bay, Western Shore, Fowl River
P-Cub-Boo
2013 26M, Etec 60, roller Genoa, roller main
Cruising Waters: Mobile Bay, Western Shore, Fowl River
- NiceAft
- Admiral
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Re: High speed motoring ballast empty or full
When I first bought my , I was telling someone about it; he said “Oh, that’s a wet boat.”
Who knew?
Who knew?
Ray ~~_/)~~
- Highlander
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Re: High speed motoring ballast empty or full
All boats r wet boats unless they r dock queens
https://www.google.com/search?q=sail+bo ... ERZRKICJ2w
check out what they use for a Sat ph that connects to their Cell ph
J
https://www.google.com/search?q=sail+bo ... ERZRKICJ2w
check out what they use for a Sat ph that connects to their Cell ph
J
- ris
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Re: High speed motoring ballast empty or full
Our boat is totally dry But we use our Mac as a trawler and we have a complete inclosure of the cockpit. It can poure down and we can motor in comfort.
- pitchpolehobie
- First Officer
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Re: High speed motoring ballast empty or full
Ballast is for women and small men.
2002 MacGregor 26X: Remedium
Tohatsu 25HP
Cruising Area: Inland Ohio, Lake Erie
Tohatsu 25HP
Cruising Area: Inland Ohio, Lake Erie
- NiceAft
- Admiral
- Posts: 6157
- Joined: Tue Feb 01, 2005 7:28 pm
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Re: High speed motoring ballast empty or full
(1) Those can be famous last words.
(2) If you’re ever in Philly, look me up and say that to my face. *
* ONLY KIDDING.
Ray ~~_/)~~
- pitchpolehobie
- First Officer
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Re: High speed motoring ballast empty or full
You know Ive never even had the mast up on my boat without the ballast in...
I think these ships were the forebeaerers of our mighty macs. seems the ones that "ballasted down" survived the storm.
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Typhoon_Cobra
2002 MacGregor 26X: Remedium
Tohatsu 25HP
Cruising Area: Inland Ohio, Lake Erie
Tohatsu 25HP
Cruising Area: Inland Ohio, Lake Erie