Using ballast solo to increase speed and handling

**TraceF3** · 12-06-2022, 06:26 PM

2001 Grand Sport with a fresh 225X built with a Laser intake, Brucato, etc, all by Dave Driefort. Tells me it's probably more like 250-260 HP.

I'm 205 and there's virtually nothing in the starboard side of my boat. On the port side there's a 45 pound battery, 15 pound cooler, and some misc gear, all in the rear compartment.

I bought some 45 pound bags of ballast and I can do the simple math: 205 - 70 = 135. Is it that simple? 3 x 45 = 135. 3 bags of ballast in the port side cubby?

OR is the 70 pounds I count in the rear somehow more or less affecting the weight distribution? The ballast would be pretty close to beside me but the other 70 pounds is in the far left rear.

Any opinions?

**hellbents-10** · 12-06-2022, 08:27 PM

You will not need as much as you think when its that far over in the port side cubby. On mine it balances great with a 120-160lb passenger or when alone about 40lbs in the port side cubby. I use 10lb yoga bags.

**MattGreen** · 12-06-2022, 10:50 PM

HellBents is on the mark. I'm certainly no Allison expert, but I found the same thing on my Triad V21. Once I had achieved about 1/3 of my weight (I'm 165ish) worth of ballast (but further port and somewhat forward of the driver's seat), I was good. A friend of mine who has a lot more V-bottom experience than me suggested bags of lead shot, wrapped with two layers of duct tape. That worked awesome and has held up well. I also put in a good quality 5-pound capacity fire extinguisher with bracket (total weight 10-12 pounds I believe) , and a supplemental AGM battery in a custom box (forward of the passenger's feet, as far port as I could go) so I was packing around as little "useless" weight as possible. If you're loading up at least get some side benefit from the weight.

Matt

**moatorbotin** · 12-07-2022, 07:21 AM

In my V-21 I haver the battery on port, when solo I have 2-30lb dumbells that are rubber coated that sit perfectly in the gunnel storage. I typically put one in from under the hatch which ends up "next" to the back seat. I put the other in between the front and back seats. I weigh 185 and 60lbs works well for me.

Can't speak to the allison, but in my progression 24 I used about the same amount of weight.

As mentioned, it's not a 1:1 ratio

**TraceF3** · 12-07-2022, 08:48 AM

https://www.lakesurf.com/products/ro...SABEgKCqvD_BwE

Here's what I ordered. $26 for 45 pounds. 14" x 12" x 3". Larger than lead but a fraction of the price.

**mikesufka** · 12-07-2022, 08:55 AM

Another trick is move the drivers seat towards center a couple of inches - I did that on my first one. Battery was in the back opposite corner and I think I had a 10 lb bag of shot for running solo. I probably weighed 175 lbs back then.

MDS

**DOUBLE J** · 12-07-2022, 09:21 AM

I had a Grand Sport w/15" 280 and I found that 85#'s of ballast in port side cubby shoved as far forward as possible worked for me. I also had a soft Yeti ( about 15-20#'s with ice and drinks) behind front passenger seat pushed against port side wall. My battery was a 25# AGM which was in back port corner wing of boat. Your needs might change a little if you run a heavier battery. I weigh about 205#'s. This seem to work best for me.'

**Jimboat** · 12-07-2022, 09:21 AM

Originally Posted by TraceF3

I'm 205 and there's virtually nothing in the starboard side of my boat. On the port side there's a 45 pound battery, 15 pound cooler, and some misc gear, all in the rear compartment. I bought some 45 pound bags of ballast and I can do the simple math: 205 - 70 = 135. Is it that simple? 3 x 45 = 135. 3 bags of ballast in the port side cubby?

if you're having troubles with the lateral instability of your boat, particularly when you're at higher speed on the pad, then the weight imbalance can certainly be a contributor. Side-to-side weight distribution (or imbalance) is best when it's the same on each side (hence mikesufka's good suggestion for centralized seat), so equal weight on each side of boat is ideal. The miscellaneous weights from all the loads count, whether aft or fore. But your boat may well not show any dynamic instabilities if the lateral weight balance is just 'close'. so best to try some counterweights in increments to test when your problems subside, since you may not need to balance exactly. Adding weight to a performance boat setup can help correct a dynamic instability, but can also affect performance simply because of the extra weight carried. Weight distributions for any setup is also dependant on hull setup (engine height, propeller) and overall weight as operated.

Note that the longitudinal weight distribution can also affect your dynamic stability too, so placement of weights fore and aft can be important to performance and handling.

**moatorbotin** · 12-07-2022, 09:42 AM

Originally Posted by Jimboat

note that the longitudinal weight distribution can also affect your dynamic stability too, so placement of weights fore and aft can be important to performance and handling.

This.

I find with the ballast added in my boat if I keep it "behind" me, I can run slightly less trim and still carry the boat just fine, resulting in a little extra speed. How much is debateable as we all know how sensitive these boats are to other conditions (wind, chop, temperature, etc)

Others have indicated they like it up next to them or even slightly in front.

Do some experimenting. At the end of the day adding some ballast for me is more about less sawing the wheel and a boat that rides more level. Less about that last 3-5mph we're always chasing.

**Turtleherder** · 12-07-2022, 09:57 AM

Two trash bags double bagged, 30lbs of dry sand from the beach, double zip tied and placed as far to port in front of passenger seat.

**FUJIMO** · 12-07-2022, 10:48 AM

...i just bring a friend along & tell 'em where to sit...

...

**aj06bolt12r** · 12-07-2022, 01:13 PM

Throw the sand bags in the passenger seat so you can easily move them around to dial it in. If you think you have too much ballast take one of the bags of sand out of the passenger seat and throw it in the middle and make another pass...

As others have mentioned.. The closer to the outside of the boat the bags are, the more leverage they have to make a difference.

I would also say 45 pound bags are a little too heavy. The ones I use are only about 15-20lbs and have handles on them so when I add a passenger or move something around and need to balance again they are easy to just grab and throw around and you are not making such big changes at a time when moving one around.

I know in my XB03 (same bottom as your boat) just 15 lbs moved from the gunnel compartment to the middle of the passenger area makes a very noticeable difference in how much steering input it takes to keep the boat balanced on pad.

When you get it dead nuts perfect its awesome... Takes very little steering correction to stay balanced, of course you still have to "drive it" because there is always something happening that you have to counter, wind gust or small waves or your passenger moving around ect..

**aj06bolt12r** · 12-07-2022, 01:14 PM

I use these, they work great
https://www.amazon.com/GoSports-Weig...%2C102&sr=8-29

**mikesufka** · 12-07-2022, 04:52 PM

I think I put a 10 - 15 lb bag in the back opposite “glove box” ( if I’m remembering this right )

MDS

**4Speed** · 12-07-2022, 05:50 PM

Wonder how this thought process would work on a STV Euro vs. an Allison hull? I am 205 and my battery is on the same side as the drivers seat with the fuel tank in the center. Only thing on the Port side is the 3 gallon oil tank.