My solution to the "knee-buster" problem..

Posted By: Tom Cannon, 2023A, Coupeville WA
Date: 4/26/08 11:02a.m.

Report: outside forum guidelines

In Response To: Yeah, no doubt! Shouldn't ever happen again, but, if it does... (Gary, Santana 2023A, Milwaukee)

was simple. The pin support was part of my larger modification plan to substitute 400 lbs. of steel weights for the same weight of water ballast. The weights are packed in foam in six boxes (marine plywood coated with fiberglass) inset into the access holes I cut in the sole. The box lips rest on the original sole and everything, including the "knee-buster", is then covered by a new plywood teak & holly sole of individually removable panels. I lost a bit over an inch of headroom, but since there isn't enough headroom to start with I really don't mind. Why the steel ballast? Because I plan to keep Skylark on a mooring and want some solid ballast for stability when I pump the water out of the ballast tank. I used steel lifting weights instead of lead because they were free and the boxes are larger than the space needed for the weights in order to displace an equivalent amount of water.