[bolger] Re: SV: WDJ supplemental ballast

Bjorn and Steve,
    I don't know what Bolger would have said if he had known I was 285 lbs.. light on ballast; but I would have been less likely to comment on tenderness and the subject might never have been discussed. I removed 1 foot, which weighed 5 lbs.. from each of the masts. I hollowed the gaffs, which lightened each by 6 lbs.. The total reductions aloft were 22 lbs.. Bolger thinks the weight aloft-ballast ratio on this boat is 1 to 10 so these operations should have equaled 220 lbs.. of ballast. Also, I hollowed the booms reducing their weight by 6 1/2 lbs.. each but I assume their lower position makes this reduction less significant.
    The rig works fine with the shorter masts. The original sail plan still fits.  Peak halyard tension must have increased; but I do not notice the difference.
    Steve, the total sail area is 462 sq.. ft. and yes I have sailed many times with all sail set. Most of the time, though, I do not use the main staysail (70 sq.. ft.) since it must be pulled down and reset for each tack. I don't know what the trailer weight is; but I do feel I've been overloading my single axle trailer so I am having a second axle added. I pull this load with a 1/2 ton GMC pickup with a 305 cu. in.
engine. I can climb the steepest mountain passes on the interstate at 40 + m.p.h.
Bill Jochems
   
-----Original Message-----
From:Bjørn Harbo <bharbo@...>
To:bolger@egroups.com<bolger@egroups.com>
Date:Thursday, March 30, 2000 11:23 AM
Subject:[bolger] SV: WDJ supplemental ballast

Bill, that is very interesting. A started a posting this morning actually questioning if Sapphire ever has sailed ballasted and built as per plan. Your first gaffs were solid and the battery ballast almost non-existant. If Bolger wasn't aware of the lacking lead ballast, would he still have recomended the shortening of the masts? I am about to make the masts and must say I would like to keep the original length if possible. Can anybody calculate the effect of removing 2x2 feet of spruce aloft contra adding 350 lbs of lead in the bilge?
Bjorn under the tree
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Bill, that is very interesting. A started a posting this morning actually questioning if Sapphire ever has sailed ballasted and built as per plan. Your first gaffs were solid and the battery ballast almost non-existant. If Bolger wasn't aware of the lacking lead ballast, would he still have recomended the shortening of the masts? I am about to make the masts and must say I would like to keep the original length if possible. Can anybody calculate the effect of removing 2x2 feet of spruce aloft contra adding 350 lbs of lead in the bilge?
Bjorn under the tree