Sand Bags? :)

[PeterR]

iT WILL ONLY COST YOU THREE POUNDS TO FIND OUT AND NO HOLES.Their have been lots of ribs needing ballast in the bow to inprove handling i have about 20 kg huge improvement.I,m not suggesting the tabs wont work in your case but only the sand you should try first

[Chopppywaters]

ok....and last question how do i get the sand to stay up in the bow heh...

[Nate]

pack it into empty beer cans.

Next question: how do I get empty beer cans...

[ollyit]

courier some full ones to me, and I'll return them next day special delivery empty!

tabs mate are the way forward! - see pics of install http://www.ollysrib.741.com/images2.html

[John Kennett]

If the boat is fundamentally out of balance then tabs might help, but they really aren't the best solution. They can help heavier boats get onto the plane, and are useful for adjusting the ride in different conditions, but it sounds to me like you'd need to run with them down all the time.

Try adding some ballast forward and see what happens. It's easy enough to do for a trial. The obvious drawbacks are the space it will take up, and the overall weight increase.

Rather than adding weight, can you move anything forward? Console, fuel tank, anchor, battery etc?

John

[PeterR]

Originally Posted by Chopppywaters

ok....and last question how do i get the sand to stay up in the bow heh...

If this is a serious question try plastic rubble sack .Quarter fill them ,fold the remainder of bag around itself.Untill you have done enough.This way when testing boat you can remove or add weight with no fuss.Johns suggestion is better if you can do it though as you end up with less weight on boat

[Alan Priddy]

I remember Donald Campbell doing something like this in 1967, It didn't work then and it will not work now. Get the inside of the boat fitted in the right place during the winter months and do the job properly. Speak to the builder of the boat and ask him why it is not right (if it isnt) Alan P

[Jonny Fuller]

Originally Posted by Alan Priddy

I remember Donald Campbell doing something like this in 1967, It didn't work then and it will not work now.

Campbell did use sand bags to try shifting the weight aft, and it did work! he then installed lead ballast inside the boat to replace the test sand bags once he knew 'how much' and 'where'.

Alan, why do you always make such sweeping authoritarian statements of *fact*?

[kitten]

Balence chages with conditions, many OCR racers use sandbags, either for bateral(different navigator) or longditudinal balence. Get an old innertube cut into 24" lengths cable tie one end shut, fill with sand and cable tie the other end. these will tend to sit and stay put with the min of tying in.

[Jonny Fuller]

Originally Posted by kitten

Get an old innertube cut into 24" lengths cable tie one end shut, fill with sand and cable tie the other end. these will tend to sit and stay put with the min of tying in.

Bloody hell! a good idea from cahoonashark!

I like that idea Kitten darling!

[kitten]

Told you I was full of it!

[Jonny Fuller]

Originally Posted by kitten

Told you I was full of it!

What, sand?

[Chopppywaters]

heh would something like this work instead of sand?

http://www.wakeside.com/page/W/PROD/...fat_brick_W702

[PeterR]

First go and find out if sand and how much will solve your problem before dumping your cash on fancy hand bags

[codprawn]

I can't believe the people who say this will not work - why the hell do people use bow ballast tanks then???

[Chopppywaters]

im guessing about 130 lbs would be fine...the guy at the boat company told me the 90honda was the perfect for RIBCRAFT 5.85, but i still went with the 115, which is a around 130 lbs more than the 90.....and i still havnt received the boat yet lol im just gathering info so wen i do im ready

[PeterR]

Dont forget your anchor and chain in bow ,You could also perhaps have a longer section of chain to act as ballast. Allso i carry slightly smaller spare anchor etc.

[Cork Rib]

I've a Ribcraft 5.85 with a 115 4s that was also a little flighty in a big sea. I messed around with bags of sand in the bow locker until I settled on about 30kg. Then got my local boat builder to glass in 30kg of Stainless steel ofcut pellets into the bow locker. Only took up a very small ammount of locker space. Hope this helps.

Jon

[AndyB007]

Don't read this as being a killjoy, as I'm looking at the same thing for my Avon (using 20mm gravel), but has anyone adding ballast considered effect on maximum trailer weight and towball load??

Andy

[Alan Priddy]

[QUOTE=Jonny Fuller] Campbell did use sand bags to try shifting the weight aft, and it did work! he then installed lead ballast inside the boat to replace the test sand bags once he knew 'how much' and 'where'.

And then what happened? Alan P