Weight distribution on a Hillyard 9-Ton

[grumpydog]

I was sailing this weekend gone, with a friend who had a few weight distribution suggestions. My boat is a Hillyard 9-Ton (it weights about that as well). It has a full-length iron keel, and a canoe-sterned shape (aft cockpit, 1932). He suggested A: moving the windlass as far back as practicable (IE in front of the mast and cabin trunk), and siting the chain locker aft of the forepeak (there is a suitable space). His reason for suggesting these was to reduce pitching motion, so that the boat can make better headway against an oncoming sea. I would be grateful for any comments on this.

 

[Roach1948]

I think this is a known problem on smaller yachts. The original design of the Dallimore's 4 tonner were modified to include a chain locker by the mast and a chain pipe just forward of the mast - these alterations were possibly made by Mr. Dallimore after reading the Cruising Hints article of the time (now published on my blog). The forward hatch was offset to allow the chain to run freely to the bow. Over the years the hatch was re-centralised and a chain locker moved to the bow again (probably for more accommodation space below and reduce chance of hatch leaks over the pipe-cot).

Now I use an old wine box for my chain that fits in the bow locker and can be moved aft to sit on chocks by the mast if I feel like it. This is a good compromise.

 

[Mirelle]

Yes, it's a good idea.

Bristol Channel pilots and North Sea smack skippers were both zealous about keeping weight out of the ends of the boat - they liked them completely empty.

I've been moving weights into the middle aboard Mirelle for a long time, now - the chain has come aft and the big water tank that used to be in the counter has turned into a pair under the bunks. She is certainly better for it.

 

[Transcur]

You need to be carefull about moving too much weight towards the middle of the boat. If you have a lot of bouyancy forward and you move the weight aft assuming you dont alter the trim too much, then in a sea the bow will lift sooner and the pitching motion will increase and slow the forward progress. Putting weight into the ends but not excessive will cause the yacht to perhaps dive a bit more, be a bit wetter, but will keep her on more of an even keel.

On a smack yacht we used to own she used to nod like 'parcel shelf dog' until we moved some weight forwards. It improved the motion considerably. Imagine if all the weight were in the centre, then even the smallest wave would cause the bow to rise qiuckly.

All boats will behave differently, some people will say "have no ballast forward of the mast". We have at least one ton of lead forward of the mast , it suits the boat fine. I suggest you experiment with easily movable ballast before you do any thing too drastic.

 

[Porthandbuoy]

My Hillyard has the waterline scribed into the planking. My mistake was to shift the internal ballast so she lay to her marks. I should have allowed for a brace of adults in the cockpit. Having done that she points and sails a little bit better.

 

[Gordonmc]

Hi.

I have an 8-ton with very much the same config.
All of the trimmable balast has been shifted aft of the mast. Apart from the engine, diesel tanks and water tank which are all close to midships the only weight at the extremes is in anchor chain and windlas.
Moving the anchor chain aft would cost nothing if you have somewhere to put it to guage the effect. Little point if you cant bring the anchors back as well, though.
Moving the windlas would be a major job and make using it awkward. I don't really think it would make an appreciable difference.
I would try moving things about stopping short of irreversable changes.

 

[trouville]

On my old hilyard i had all my chain forward, i once brought it back to the mast while i put new lats in the chain locker. Sailing was just as wet!

On my new sail boat moving the cain just behind the mast helps the speed but shes just as wet.

Just sail her for speed when you get her flying? then she right! You wont stop the spray unfortunatly!