Re: [Paddlewise] Ballast and trim question

writes,
" my P&H Quest rides a 
bit higher than I'd like unloaded in rough seas. I've been thinking about 
adding ballast in the form of lead shot sealed in a dry bag anchored just 
behind the seat. (snip) My question to you is how much weight and whether 
to move the seat to the 
forward mounted position, which the Quest includes as a design option. 
Tentative Answers:  50lbs of hardened lead shot in a dry bag"

I did this with my old IceFloe by using a Nalgene bottle with 25 lbs. of 
lead shot. Two wood 1x1s glued behind the seat with some bungee cord kept 
it stable and in the exact centerline. It was a real pain to deal with 
that boat on land so whatever you do make sure it easily removable when 
required and impossible to remove when in use. 25 pounds was OK and I had 
no option to move my seat. I liked the modification myself. Were I to do 
it again I'd go the bag route too but I'd establish my weight needs, and 
then set the lead in epoxy to mold it to the hull to take up minimum space 
and spread the load out along the centerline to balance it, however unlike 
a bottle you can't change the weight at will. For a high volume boat 25 
pounds behind the seat and 25 pounds in front of the seat would probably 
give you the performance of one of those punchy clowns; you'd pop upright 
again without half trying. If you do set the shot in epoxy in a bag, 
please use a release agent on your hull. I can't imagine how upset one 
could become finding that installation permanent.

Kevin





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