<div>I just removed the bow ballast by chipping away at the resin with hammer and screw driver (and safety glasses!). Total weight was 300 lbs (60 ingots). It took me about 4 hours and can be somewhat gratifying if you feel a need to vent anger. The waterline at the bow came up about two inches. Since the CG moved aft as a result, the stern sank in a bit (about an inch max). I have not had a chance to sail her since, to see the effect on helm, but I was recently (before the removal of the ingots) sailing upwind in 8-10 ft seas and the boat seemed to be slow to rise and pitched excessively. I have two CQRs and 50 ft of chain on the bow, and keep all sails and scuba tank and tools up there, as well as 6 golfcart batteries, so there is no need for the ballast. I expect the boat to handle better now. I am tempted to move the waterline to reflect the new trim, because she looks awkward with all that bottom paint exposed forward.Incidentally, I decided to install a battery box for the house batteries forward because it was the only spot on the centerline where I had the space to hold the six batteries. It works well. I cut a large access panel in the center of the "V" and glassed up the box. I also used mongo wires (00 gauge) to run aft with minimal loss. Total amp-hours is 360. Note that someone else in the bulletin board talked about having installed six golfcart batteries for a total of 680 amp-hours. This is probably the 6 volt capacity. For 12V you must divide the batteries' rating by 2 (or, more precisely, consider the batteries in pairs). Nevertheless, because of the smaller form-factor of the 6V battery, you have more options in installation and will therefore end up with a slightly more efficient use of space (amp-hours/square-inch of footprint) than going with 4Ds or 8Ds. I could only fit 2 4Ds in that space (total 220 amp-hours) before. Finally, Sam's wholesale sells the golfcart batteries for $50 which is the best amp-hours/dollar rate going.
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