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Bow Down W32

  • July 14, 2013 2:37 PM
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    Reply # 1340168 on 1335941
    Deleted user

    To everyone a correction:

    I owned a W32 that was one of the first with the new lead ballast and the fiberglass sheer clamp. Due to a dispute with Westsail Corp, the company had to take the boat back (see previous posts in this category), but I may have mentioned that boat's hull number incorrectly. Any number that I cited, is uncorrect and I apologize for any misidentification. Besides when I noticed that I mentioned a number, I edited this away at the earliest. It has been thirtyfive plus years since this happened. My wish is, that it would have never happened and I would have been a year closer to realizing my dreams.

     As to the quality issue with the boats with the "nose down ballast": I am certain that any problem that involves safety would have shown up in that period.

    Happy sails to you!

    Mike
  • July 16, 2013 3:24 PM
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    Reply # 1342190 on 1335941
    Deleted user
    "Moon Dance" was built in 1976 and I believe it has the lead ballast. The bowsprit tang is only about an inch under water, however the boot stripe at the bow is easily 2" under water and show at least 2' of bottom paint at the stern. The boat sail beautifully and has a nice rise to the shear and fore deck. So at this point I guess there is really nothing to do accept live with it, maybe raise the water line a weee bit when next she is hauled.
  • July 16, 2013 9:38 PM
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    Reply # 1342325 on 1335941
    Anonymous member

    Chris,

                     A few suggestions if I may. If you have the 3 piece lead ballast, the bilge under the companionway will be about 3 1/2 feet deep. All the way down to the hull invert. If this is true and you have moved all excess junk, parts, weight etc from the forward compartments and she still is bow down then its time to trim her level. If it were mine I would gather some lead ingots, diver weights,or misc scrap lead and start stacking it into the aft bilge until she sits level. Weigh each piece as you put it in so you can document the weight added. Stack it as tightly as possible then encapsulate it in resin, fiberglass it well on top and this is your new bilge pump floor. This is how it was done with wooden ships. They were ballasted, launched and finally trimmed with more ballast. This will bring up the bow and lower the stern. The added weight will be down low where it will do the most good.  

                                       Lee

     

     
  • July 17, 2013 3:05 PM
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    Reply # 1342935 on 1335941
    Anonymous member
    No worries Norm. Always nice to get another opinion. Lee
  • July 17, 2013 10:30 PM
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    Reply # 1343100 on 1335941
    Deleted user

    To everyone who read my post of July 10,2013:

    Again, hull numbers of boats that had the ballast too far forward are probably in the files of the defunct Westsail Corp. When I discovered the problem, I met with some of the owners of the affected boats by chance. After over 35 years I can't even remember my telephone numbers at that time. That was an opportunity for the legal profession to justify their existence. - Maybe you should ask Snider Vick or some of the subsequent owners of Westsail Corp for the numbers. I am wondering, who made the decision to place the all lead ballast so far forward?

    Bud and Jay,

    you have my permission to use my posts if you want to revise the still on going saga of the Westsails.

     
  • July 19, 2013 10:13 AM
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    Reply # 1347345 on 1335941
    Anonymous member
    The mistake was made by the engineer that Westsail had working at the time and the decision was made to go with cast lead ballast.  I do not recall his name though, as I was no longer working for Westsail.  I believe that there were only five to ten boats affected before the problem was corrected.  It took that many boats because of the time delay in getting the first one in the water and discovering the problem, and Westsail was laminating at least a W32  every two or three days.
  • July 19, 2013 12:56 PM
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    Reply # 1347463 on 1343100
    Anonymous member (Administrator)
    Michael Zorn wrote:

    To everyone who read my post of July 10,2013:

    Again, hull numbers of boats that had the ballast too far forward are probably in the files of the defunct Westsail Corp. When I discovered the problem, I met with some of the owners of the affected boats by chance. After over 35 years I can't even remember my telephone numbers at that time. That was an opportunity for the legal profession to justify their existence. - Maybe you should ask Snider Vick or some of the subsequent owners of Westsail Corp for the numbers. I am wondering, who made the decision to place the all lead ballast so far forward?

    Bud and Jay,

    you have my permission to use my posts if you want to revise the still on going saga of the Westsails.

     

    Thanks for the permission -- Jay
  • July 21, 2013 5:26 PM
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    Reply # 1348416 on 1335941
    Anonymous

    I know this isn't exactly what this posting is about, but it illustrates how a little weight affects the bow.  We try to keep our bow light. The 330' 5/16 of Hi-test is pulled back to the mast and the lockers in the V-berth are mostly filled with sails.  We have a 45# CQR on the bow with 250' of double braid anchor rode in the chain locker for the Bruce.  Unless we are cruising the 35# Bruce stays in the stern locker.  We are always very conscious about keeping the bow up but our cut water fitting was still 1-1/2" down in the water.

    Today we decided to remove the chain to mark it.  We had reversed it a couple of years ago and knew it was badly rusted, but it was worst than we had remembered.  Since we can't remember using more than 200' we decided to lighten the load and cut the bad 105' off, leaving with 225' . Our cut water fitting is now well over an inch out.

    Jim

     

     

    Last modified: July 21, 2013 5:28 PM | Anonymous
  • July 22, 2013 4:21 PM
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    Reply # 1349113 on 1335941
    Deleted user
    I think the idea of adding additional ballast to the bilge makes a lot of sense. I am wondering due to the fact that I am carrying only a couple of gallons of fuel if this is a consideration affecting my trim?
  • July 24, 2013 12:38 AM
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    Reply # 1350388 on 1335941
    Deleted user

    Chris,

    you have not answered Lee Perry and Norm Rhines. They posted great information. Do you have the all lead ballast, i.e. is the bilge deep under the companionway? If so, it is most likely that you have the all lead ballast. I have two small fuel tanks (aprox.25 gallons in there and a bilge pump (it was always dry). In any case, if the boat sails to your satisfaction, repaint the boot stripe, because otherwise you are doing great!  Underway the bobstay fitting will be under water anyway. Minute trim will only make you neurotic. Have the race committee give you a more reasonable handicap before entering their race. Everything is negotiable.

    To protect against corrosion add a zink to the fitting. Exchange the pin that goes through the toggle onto the bobstay fitting with a SS screw and  locknut of the same diameter as the was the pin and add one of those bullet shaped sacrificial zinks next to the locknut.

    Happy sailing to you,

    Mike

    P.S. A heavy boat sails like a heavy boat (see my earlier post where I told Bill Crealock about the ballasted submarines in Disneyland). I sailed my first (bow down compensated with a ton of extra lead aft)  W32 to the Westsail slips in Newport Beach,Ca.empty except for the interior furniture, anchoring stowed aft and engine. It was noticeably faster.  One consideration: Adding weight on both ends is not good either, but for cruising unavoidable.

    Last modified: July 24, 2013 12:58 AM | Deleted user
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