How much weight do you leave in the boat?

Monkey · Newbie Joined: 05 Feb 2003 Posts: 31 City: Carlsbad, CA

When your boat's in storage, how much weight do you leave in it? How much is too much? I have about 300 pounds of lead in the ski locker, on seat cushions. Is that too much?
-Monkey

htownbdr · Posted: May 24, 2003 8:08 pm Post subject:

I leave some lead in the bow under the cushions, and I leave some on top of the ballast tanks in the back. Not much though. About 120 up front and 120 in the back. The rest of the weight is water and that gets emptied everytime.

MrBlean · Posted: May 25, 2003 2:57 am Post subject:

I guess much will depend on the roughness of the ride from the lake to your storage area. Can't believe the material of a ski locker is awfully strong so if the lead gets bounced around it may fracture the locker base. Cushioning is unlikely to help much as it's just the pure weight you'd have to worry about. A quick call to the boat manufacturer would be worthwhile but I bet they'll veer on the side of caution and the answer will be "no more than a pair of skis" i.e. what is was designed for.

squirrell · Outlaw Joined: 07 Feb 2003 Posts: 118 City: Pennsylvania

I used to keep two phat sacks filled when trailering the boat. I burned the breaks out really fast so I would definately not keep any weight in if driving far

Monkey · Newbie Joined: 05 Feb 2003 Posts: 31 City: Carlsbad, CA

I'm driving like 2 miles on neighborhood streets only. I guess I'm mostly wondering if the weight sitting there when it's in storage can cause any problems.
_monkey

MrBlean · Posted: May 27, 2003 3:42 pm Post subject:

If your locker survives till you get home, it'll almost certainly survive till yr next trip out. It's not the weight per se that's likely to be the problem but if the lead gets bounced around in transit. You may think your streets are smooth and flat but you'll be amazed at how your boat and trailer get bounced around when moving - even on relatively smooth surfaces. I punctured holes in the bottom of two batteries 'cos they leapt out of their securing tray and onto a small fixing lug then and popped right back where they were supposed to be before I figured out what was happening. (The shape of the holes in the battery bases finally gave it away). And that happened on the 100 metres from the boat park to the slip way! It's relevant 'cos batteries are pretty heavy - after all, they're about 70% lead! I would never have guessed this could have happened until I saw it myself. An expensive and messy mistake - twice!

Jeff

STPHNSN23 · Guest

i would try to spread the lead (hehe) around to distribute the weight if you can. i'd rather be safe and take some time to protect my boat than be in a hurry and end up with a hole in my ski locker or anywhere in my boat for that matter.