Who makes this boat?...and...Water Ballast???

[BryanL_FL]

I bought a sailboat a year ago and as a new sailor I am coming across things on it everyday.<br />Here are a couple photos of it:<br /> http://www.bryanleighty.com/images/hcl.JPG <br />And <br /> http://www.bryanleighty.com/images/sailors.jpg <br /><br />First ...anyone have any idea who makes this boat? The guy I bought it from said it was an "American" brand made in the 70's. I have not found anything online to support that...<br /><br />Also, inside the cabin at the very lowest point, there is a small hole. When water gets inside the cabin, it drains into this hole first, and then once the boat is pulled out of the water, you can empty it by pulling a rear plug. Thing I was wondering is if this may be some sort of water ballast. I guess I always thought it was a drain hole to keep the cabin dry until you empty it, but I am not 100% certain..<br /><br />Any ideas?<br /><br />Thanks!<br /><br />-Bryan

 

[ED21]

Re: Who makes this boat?...and...Water Ballast???

I think any boat made in the 70's should have an imprinted serial # & mfgr. code on the starboard stern. Coast Guard web site has a list of codes. Doesn't your title have the maker & model listed? I doubt if you have water ballast. I don't remember ever hearing about it until after the BOC races in the 80's. I don't think it was used much in production boats. MacGregor was one maker that did I think. I think a water ballast would have a fill hole with cap, not just a hole in cabin floor.

 

[flashback]

Re: Who makes this boat?...and...Water Ballast???

Brien, It sort of looks like an old rhodes 19'. as far as the water ballast goes, I would agree with Ed. Im not familiar with any water ballast used that far back.. mcgreagor did have a couple of models in the late 80s early 90s as well as hunter and catalina, but the best i remember is there was a valve in the bottom of the boat that you opened from inside the boat to let water in and drain it out (a seperate intergal tank built into the boat). I think yours is just to keep water out of the cabin...but if you keep the boat in the water all the time, you should have a bilge pump....good luck

 

[ED21]

Re: Who makes this boat?...and...Water Ballast???

It's not a Rhodes 19. They are keel boats for the most part. Most boats have some sort of access panel or removable floorboard to get a pump or sponge into the bilge.