I bought a new 15hp Johnson for CD25. It's a great engine that helps me get thru rough areas like Hell gate, NY. Problem is it is quite heavy, so the stern sits lower in the water then it was meant to. Should I try to ballast it by putting weight in the front?
ih38@columbia.edu
15HP engine heavy for CD25
Moderator: Jim Walsh
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eric
Re: 15HP engine heavy for CD25
This is a common problem. 15 HP is a LOT of engine for this boat. I have a 9.9 Mariner on mine, and many on this board would say I'm overpowered.
Regardless, the squatting in the stern is not pretty. I filled my H2O tank to the top this spring for the first time and that has balanced her out. I have made a habit of not storing anything heavy in the aft 1/3 of the boat. I may be nuts, but I think the boat sails/moves better flat, even if it means adding artificial ballast up forward.
Last summer I was motoring from York Maine to Cape Ann in a 25-knot headwind with 6-foot waves in my face. It was all I could do to keep forward progress (I was glad to have the 9.9 HP). When I moved my movable ballast (also known as my girlfriend) to the forepeak the boat handled better. I know in theory I should have been see-sawing more, but it didn't seem to happen. I think the bow gets so high up in the air that the waves and wind were lifting the bow even further up. Just getting it down a bit seemed to help me cut through the sea, rather than hobby-horsing.
Or maybe I imagined it:)
Other than the water tank solution, I know some people have put sand bags around the water tank. I was considering cutting a piece of heave sheet metal to fit under the forward berths. Another option would be to get the anchor rode all the way up forward somehow (mine is stored behind the head now)
EW
Regardless, the squatting in the stern is not pretty. I filled my H2O tank to the top this spring for the first time and that has balanced her out. I have made a habit of not storing anything heavy in the aft 1/3 of the boat. I may be nuts, but I think the boat sails/moves better flat, even if it means adding artificial ballast up forward.
Last summer I was motoring from York Maine to Cape Ann in a 25-knot headwind with 6-foot waves in my face. It was all I could do to keep forward progress (I was glad to have the 9.9 HP). When I moved my movable ballast (also known as my girlfriend) to the forepeak the boat handled better. I know in theory I should have been see-sawing more, but it didn't seem to happen. I think the bow gets so high up in the air that the waves and wind were lifting the bow even further up. Just getting it down a bit seemed to help me cut through the sea, rather than hobby-horsing.
Or maybe I imagined it:)
Other than the water tank solution, I know some people have put sand bags around the water tank. I was considering cutting a piece of heave sheet metal to fit under the forward berths. Another option would be to get the anchor rode all the way up forward somehow (mine is stored behind the head now)
EW
Isaac wrote: I bought a new 15hp Johnson for CD25. It's a great engine that helps me get thru rough areas like Hell gate, NY. Problem is it is quite heavy, so the stern sits lower in the water then it was meant to. Should I try to ballast it by putting weight in the front?
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John
Re: 15HP engine heavy for CD25
Don't know about adding more weight, but can suggest making sure your new engine is trimmed correctly. Mount it so that the thrust line is angled slightly down into the water relative to the boat's waterline (engine head is tipped back). This will effectively lift the stern as the motor runs. Adjust the angle until the boat motors ahead level at it's waterline.
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Isaac
Re: 15HP engine heavy for CD25
Thanks for the advice regarding my heavy engine. I've thought about stoirng my anchor under the v-birth. But the sand bag idea is a good one. After reading The Perfect Storm, i began thinking about correct ballast. I'll let you know what i deceided to do