(We just launched)…an Angelo Lavranos 43 (Barefoot) in British Columbia. It is unpainted. However, I was surprised to find a couple of deck leaks: One in an interior corner of a deck locker, one where the weld was apparently polished too far, and a burn-through where the genoa track flat bar is welded to the 3/16” deck plate. The builders are good welders so I was surprised by these. In your experience with unpainted aluminum boats have you seen this before on new boats? Regards, David
David: It is not unusual to have one or two things that are missed. Best way to fins them is with a fire hose. Once they are welded tight there should not be more problems. Enjoy your new boat! Steve
Posted by Steve Dashew (November 30, 1999)
August 24th, 2009 at 10:06 am
Dear Mr & Mrs Dashew,
We have been admirers of yours for a long time—sailboat designs & cruising handbooks—especially since you seem to be real believers in Al.
We had an Al cat—Lock Crowther 52′ and now are building a 65′ French Al design shallow-draft monohull—strongal system. The monohull will have a hydralically lifted centerboard—11 ft draft when down, 3.5 ft draft when up. We are playing with the idea of putting water ballast in. Reading your book several times, I have not found any details on where ballast becomes efficient. I can hide approximately 1.5 tons water per side without any problems–in furniture, etc. Building the tanks would be approximately 200 kg Al weight per side. How much water ballast did you carry in your vessels? Nearly 0.5 tons extra building weight is a consider amount for our vessel, but our vessel has a reasonably high beam so the water ballast may be extremely efficient.
We are watching your adventures in the north with jealousy.
Fair winds,
Gerd & Melissa Marggraff
August 25th, 2009 at 3:07 am
Hi Gerd:
There is no easy answer without evaluating the lines and stability curves.Rather than guessing the best thing to do is go back to the designer and have him do some with and without stability and performance runs. Then you can trade off the gains with the cost and complexity.
Centerboard designs typically are beamy which makes the water ballast efficient, and the odds are it would prove a benefit.
Beowulf carried up to 7000 pounds of water ballast of which 4000 pounds was typically used. This was good for about six degrees reduction in heel angle.