bertram31.com

At the Altlantic City Rendezvous there was a lengthy discussion about weight distribution on the 31. Seems the consensus was that moving weight aft (if possible) would improve the angle of attach at cruise and therefore improve speed and fuel economy. My question is, if this is true, why not move the batteries to the area behind the rear engine compartment bulkhead? Put them on either side of the tank.
I have Cabrera's decks which gives me broad access to that area.
Hep me, hep me.
Your humble admirer
Mikey

I disagree. I think that the best spot for ballast is right where the fresh water holding tank is. Low.....on center......and just forward of the engines.

Getting the nose down just a hair will help a lot in a head sea, as will the extra weight.

Mike,
So if I'm not using the water tank, haul it out and put the batteries there? Wonder why the difference of opinion on weight distribution. Weird.
Tanks, Buckwheat
Spanky

maybe now we should talk about TRIM TABS.

No trim tabs, big dog. They cut fishing line.

My guess is that the different models are balanced differently. Then you add towers, and all sort of other crap....and who knows.

Not all, but most of the 31's I've been on do ride a bit bow proud. And the boat is known to pound in a head sea. A little extra weight, dead low, just forward of the current center of mass is probably not a bad idea.

Of course.....I can only guess at the current center of mass, but it seems fairly apparent just from looking at the boat.

I don't know if I would put the batteries down where sea water is most likely to get at them, but a little lead couldn't hurt. Cut the top off the old water tank and put lead bars in it.

Although Richard Miller will probably disagree..........

I put tabs on my boat this past winter. The best thing I have done in a long time. I fish Delaware Bay and we get a 3 to 4 foot chop very close together, by putting the bow down it eliminates the pounding. I can now go offshore without the pounding with all the added weight towards the stern. ( ice, fuel & big bodies.) Just my 2 cents.

Mike,
When I put the new blukheads in I sealed the drain between the cabin and the engine compartment with a bilge pump for the accidental water entry. If seawater gets up there I have a whole lot more to worry about than battery placement, know what I mean Vern? Seriously I had considered putting the batteries in the bilge between the engines, low center of gravity and all. So, why not cut the top off the water tank and put in batteries? Then with 6BTA's the next discussion is battery selection before I start wiring. I see several with 4H's, 8H's and some with just standard deep-cycle 12 volts. The big deal as I understand it is schlepping those heavy units. What say gang?
Mikey

Mikey: My vote would be for Optima deepcycles AGM batteries wired in parallel. Mine have lasted 6 years and are still going strong!!

Sweet

Professor,

I beg to differ with you on one point. I have fished 2 boats in the last 30 years. They both have trim tabs, and I have never cut off a line while fighting a fish due to the trim tabs. The same could be said for rudders, props, or anchor lines, but we use those every day.

Stop using the 200 pound nylon and see what happens......

Rawleigh,
We'll talk, again.
Mikey
Going to see Chris' BAron in a while.