Touch and go
New Member
Have removed both motors from my Sundancer 300. I want to put it back in the water for now. What is the best thing to use for ballast? Any negative / positive thoughts on bags of playground sand from Home Depot?
Ballast
- Thread starter Touch and go
- Start date
you could use one or two 55 gallon drums full of water that would weigh 463 pounds each they would be easy to fill.You could set them between the motor mounts and fill them when you pull the boat out to put the motors back in you can just drain them.
Last edited:
Gofirstclass
Well-Known Member
OK you got my curiosity up. If the motors are out, why put it back in? Saving on land storage fees?
Also, why worry about ballast?
Just curious.
Also, why worry about ballast?
Just curious.
Windjammer
Well-Known Member
I'd stay away from the Home Depot play sand. The plastic bags tear real easy so you'll wind up with sand everywhere.
boatman37
Well-Known Member
- Jun 6, 2015
- 4,251
- Boat Info
- 2006 Crownline 250CR. 5.7 Merc BIII
Previous: 1986 Sea Ray 250 Sundancer. 260 Merc Alpha 1 Gen 1
- Engines
- 5.7 Merc BIII
well the ballast would be to keep the stern lower so any water will remain in the rear to be picked up by the bilge pump. can't answer why he wants to put an engineless boat back in the water though
Touch and go
New Member
I live in St Louis and the boat is in Florida. I stay on it when I'm there so I need it back in the slip temporarily. I agree about the sand, and yes I want stern lower for proper bilge pump operation. Thanks for the input.
trit21
Active Member
I live in FL and they have these things called hotels, not sure if they have them in St Louis but they offer accommodations when traveling. 
Bt Doctur
Well-Known Member
Of course a hotel is the better option.
start by blocking off the Y pipes/exaust system , cap the transom exausts , cap the water inlet lines of the outdrives(if you have drives)
make sure the charger is actually hooked up to the batteries, make sure each bilge pump is wired to its own battery. you do have 2 pumps, right?
start by blocking off the Y pipes/exaust system , cap the transom exausts , cap the water inlet lines of the outdrives(if you have drives)
make sure the charger is actually hooked up to the batteries, make sure each bilge pump is wired to its own battery. you do have 2 pumps, right?
hottoddie
Well-Known Member
- Jan 11, 2012
- 2,229
- Boat Info
- 1986 Sea Ray 390 EC
Garmin 4212 Chartplotter
Garmin 24 HD Radar
Garmin 546s Plotter
- Engines
- 454 Crusaders
The 1989 Sundancer has outdrives. Be very careful as it is much more difficult to stop water intrusion in the area around the outdrives. I would not try it. I would also check with my insurance company as to whether or not the boat would be covered with engines removed. Some marinas may also not allow the boat in water either.
