Getting the ballast out?

[Pacamac-uk]

Some will recall my problems the other week on the with jammed centreboard, rudders and winch strap breaking! (Bruise now gone)

We've overcome some things and are putting up with others but one thing really bugs me....getting the water out of the ballast tank before recovery back onto the trailer.

We've tried motoring for 10-15 minutes with the valves open but still appeared to have a nearly full tank when trying to get the boat back on the trailer. We can only motor at upto 6 knots due to harbour speed limit so what are the tricks if any?

Anybody use an air pump to pressurise the tank to assist? How about a small submersible electric camping container pump dropped into the tank via the vent hole? Just how much, volume, of water is there in there anyway?

Any ideas?

[Boblee]

You will probably need to go faster than 6 knots but I usually leave it in until the boat is on the trailer (especially if it's windy) and then open the valve so that the water drains as the trailer comes up the ramp.
If water spilling out at the top of the ramp is a problem bring it up slowly so it drains into the water (doesn't take long).
Even going flat out there will always be some in there and if it's windy this can be a problem.

[epennewell]

I met a fellow MacGregor sailor who was showing me his boat and on a shelf had a D.C. airpump used to inflate dingy's. He reduced hose diameter to about 3/8" and put it through a rubber cork one like you would find in a science lab, place it in ballast tank opening then would wait for bubbles to rise from below boat telling him tank was empty..Looked simple and straight foward but ,did not see it work or make one myself..It's on my list @ #43d thing to do..At the rate Lake Mead is going down everybit left in lake is a plus or are we calling it even...