Weights in the transom

[wpcv1776]

It seems that most of the 31TE's have several hundred pounds of weights in a box on the port side of the transom. I understand this was done for balance. I'm just curious if anyone has tried removing them and if so, was there a noticeable difference in handling? I've heard some people speculate that it just keeps the boat from listing in the slip, and that when you're underway the trim tabs should take care of everything. But I'm thinking there's more to it than that. I'm not a marine architect but I have a hard time thinking they did this for no good reason. I'm sure it's been discussed here before but my search didn't turn up anything definitive.

[Pitou]

With Albin not being one to provide one extra inch of hose or wire there is no way that they would have expended dollars for lead weights if they didn't have good reason. A bit of a head scratcher as to why, I wonder as well.

In my searching for a 31 I found those with generators mounted under the rear cockpit port side did not have any weights and those that did not have generators had weights mounted to the bilge from center bilge and slightly out to port. I thought that I had some pictures, but cannot locate them.

I'm curious as to your set-up. Do you have a generator?

[amber jj]

When we brought our 2000 31 home and started going through her bowels we found a bunch of divers weights on the port side forward of the generator.We just left them there .She sits level when she's at rest and we make up any listing issues while underway with the trim tabs.

[Pitou]

Well there goes my theory .. had a feeling. No weights found .. yet on Pitou. Only place I haven't been is under the two outboard fuel tanks and don't want the need anytime soon!

[RobS]

The OP does not have a genset

[wpcv1776]

We don't have a genset. I figured if we added one that we could get rid of and equal amount of lead weight. I'm just curious how bad she would list if we took them out completely. We just had the boat shipped cross country and during the shipping the box came loose and weights got scatter everywhere. Luckily no major damage was done. Trying to restack them in a way that they fit neatly below the box again didn't work very well. We'll take it out this weekend and see if they stay put.

[RobS]

... I'm just curious how bad she would list if we took them out completely. ...

If you know, or can determine, how much they weigh you could try putting a similar amount of weight on the opposite side of the boat and see how she reacts. Since they are loose, you can just weigh one and figure out what you have all total.

I know you are a diver, so a quick tangent: I worked in the scuba industry (dive shop and charters) for years and one of the instructors that I worked with had a business called "Weight & Sea" Would be an appropriate name for her What is her new name?