CD330 ballast

[distand]

After 5+ years of enjoying a CD31 I took the plunge and purchased a CD330. She just recently arrived from Whitehall, MI to my homeport in Noank, CT. The picture is of Slainte, soon to be Dove Tale, leaving Crosswinds Marina in Whitehall, MI headed east.

After poking around some I noticed that additional lead ballast bricks seem to have been added in the bilge (basically under the cabin table). I say "seem" because I'm not 100% sure that these bricks are not original. Is anyone familiar with why ballast may have been needed on the 330's? Are there any 330's owners with similar "modifications"? Perhaps it was just a prior owner's personal preference to lessen heel or something.

Thanks

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[Doug Gibson]

Some 33's and 36's were out of trim port-starboard (typically listing to port) when empty. The factory actually provided a retrofit kit to add 200 pounds to starboard side (outboard of settee). Sounds like your lead bricks are center line versus outboard? I have not heard of the factory adding ballast to adjust fore/aft trim. Perhaps the previous owner wanted a stiffer boat and added the weights.

[K Chiswell]

Our 330 doesn’t have any additional lead ballast and there is no sign there ever was any.

[JD-MDR]

I think there was some discussion about this a few months ago. maybe you already saw it. Its under re balancing the keel on a CD31

[hilbert]

To right a list in my 28, Cape Dory added a battery shelf on the starboard side and encapsulated about 70 lbs of lead into the base.
I also found six lead bricks (they look like bricks and were painted red), under the starboard settee.

I subsequently moved the fuel tank from port to starboard and placed all batteries on the starboard side.
I'll probably keep the extra lead in the bilge for now. Maybe sometime in the future, a Cape Dory 28 owner will wonder why it is there!

[Paul D.]

Our 33 will take on a slight list to port when the starboard fresh water tank goes empty. I can always tell when we are running low on water. It is not a big issue but I do plan to remove the berth next year after I go all chain rode and put about 120lbs of the old chain down in the space outboard of the tank on the starboard side. I am adding chain weight to the bow too as she has always sat a little down at the stern.

[distand]

Thanks for all of the responses. I am planning to remove the extra ballast and will see how she sails without it. I can always put it back on if I really miss the extra weight.

Don

[MFC]

Don -
I can't imagine you'll miss the extra weight one bit. I moved to my 330 from a Hobie 16 which is as weight sensitive and responsive as a motorcycle. I was (still am) extremely surprised to note how much the 330 responded to weight shifts underway -- particularly when singlehanding -- if I move forward (amidships) it dramatically changes the sailset and attitude of the hull. Get out in some open water and spend an afternoon watching how the boat responds when you move around . . ..
Matt