Leaving ballast onboard?

[andrzej77ff]

SO I know it's a big no no too leave ballasts full while trailering however I have two small sacs that I would like to leave filled up just to cut some time and hassle off since I don't have plumbed in ballasts. One is an 85# brick I move around and the other is about 175# sac I throw in the bow walkway. I would move them to the center of the boat while launching and loading. What is your opinion on leaving these two in the boat?

[jake's02-22i]

I guess it is just like having someone else in the truck with you. i think it will tow the same and that isnt really that much weight.

[somebodyelse5]

That 175 up front should give you trouble loading and unloading the boat from the the trailer. I know it would with my boat. Just gotta have everyone in back. We leave the four 7 gallon jugs full in the trailer when we tow. thats like 250 lbs. 3 are in the back port side locker and 1 up front that we out in back when launching. Just gotta make sure everyone is in back and more on the starboard side to get the boat to sit on the trailer level when pulling it outta the water. Drain everything else you can tho.

[Roostergolf]

I used to do the same. I wouldn't worry about it at all. The gas tank has more weight than that. Hell, it may pull better!

[andrzej77ff]

Sounds good. I will give it a try. I'll just move them towards the back of the boat while launching and loading.

[talltigeguy]

I would leave them in the bow. The weight will be on the trailer jack instead of the springs. Remember when towing that will put more weight on the tongue, however. Depending on your tow vehicle, could be a problem.

[MoneyPity]

Rant ON

Zebra Mussels like your free ride to next lake because it might take a few minutes to drain your ballast and bilges. Please drain your ballast water and bilges to slow down this problem in our freshwater lakes, rivers and resevoirs. Have you ever cut your foot open because of them on dock ladders on a lake that has been infested in 1 year because someone wanted to save some time not draining ballasts and bilges

Most of us don't fish but some do. Fresh water fishing has same issue with foreign breeds of fish ruining fisheries because of bilge and ballast water. A section of the Illinois River was isolated and had over 200,000 pounds of fish killed recently trying to determine if a certain type of fish is getting close to the great lakes fisheries.Those fish were sure happy. Cause why, guess!!! Oops didn't drain bilge and ballast again. Takes too long.......

It will continue to amaze me and others. This is one issue I do not care to be politically correct on . On lakes in rural Indianna the problem is a nightmare and there is no solution to effectively kill off the zebra mussels and these breeds of fish that came on big ship ballasts and are transported in bilges and ballast tanks from our fishing boats and wakeboard boats and any boat that captures water from Lake A and later drained in Lake B. So, contrary to I don't care about tongue weight drain the ballast and bilge before you go to another lake.

Just think someday you will get po'd because zebra mussels clocked the intake for freshwater and your pooor impellear became taost and so did motor because not water could cool the $10K motor.

Lake Michigan Intake cribs have to be cleaned constantly to get those Zebra Mussels off so water can be pumped.

So to answer you question yes ballast water can cause damage looking at big picture.

Rant Off

Obviously the issue of bilge/ballast water commuting in the boat and possibly being let out in a different body of water hits a nerve with me and I am very sensitive to the issue that this practice can have on the environment. I wish keeping ballast/bilge water could not potentially destroy a lake / river but I have seen it affecttwo rivers I boat on and 2 lake chains. To clarify my anger and frustration is directed at the issue and not the TigeOwner.

[talltigeguy]

MP,

That obviously touched a nerve.

Good thought for those who keep their ballast full to drain it only in the same lake they got it from or on land.

To play some devil's advocate here though there aren't any fish or mussels that are going to live more than a few days in a ballast bag with no fresh air, and warmed up to ambient summer temperature. So remembering when you got the ballast water is as important as where.

[wallacmc]

Wow, Money - I'm sure glad you put that disclaimer on the end of that rant, since you spent your whole tirade slamming the guy that started the thread. There is nothing wrong with educating us that have not had to deal with this issue before. Since some of us have never dealt with the problem and don't have the same experience you do, we don't even know to look out for it. That is why we are on TO: so we can be better educated and more responsible boaters that learn from others' mistakes and experiences before we commit them ourselves. I love the information in your post. However, despite the fact that I'm not generally a overly sensitive guy, it was a pain sifting through your hot air and angry faces to get it. When you write parts of your post in the second person, directed at the thread-starter, it makes your little disclaimer sound like He didn't even say this is his normal practice. He is wondering if it is acceptable. You have an answer. TO has served its pupose.

[andrzej77ff]

Wow....I had no idea about a zebra mussel problem. Also in anticipation of leaving the ballast full for the whole season I filled them up with water from my garden hose instead of lake water.

[MoneyPity]

MP,

That obviously touched a nerve.

Good thought for those who keep their ballast full to drain it only in the same lake they got it from or on land.

To play some devil's advocate here though there aren't any fish or mussels that are going to live more than a few days in a ballast bag with no fresh air, and warmed up to ambient summer temperature. So remembering when you got the ballast water is as important as where.

Yep, it caught a nerve because I have to deal with da_n zebra mussels.

With Zebra Mussels you can pick up their eggs and if they dry out and then are re-intoduced to water they will hatch out. A fish and game guy told me this so it might slso be a scare tactic.

[MoneyPity]

My rant was not directed at Andzej77f intentionally but at the issue of keeping ballast water potentially in another lake and that was the reason I posted.

Yes I was mad about the issue and I purposely indicated it with Rant ON notice at the top. This is an issue I am passionate about. I have to deal with it at my dads dock once a month to scrape and collect ferilizer from off his dock and seaweed

Andzej77ff if I insulted you please accept my apology. I did not mean it to be directed at you. The intent was the issue of bilge and ballast being great places for eggs and larva to take a ride to another habitat. Once they get a foot hold the are virtually impossible to get rid of. Your innocent question and the answers hit a nerve very sensitive issue to me.

Have a great Memorial Day weekend.

[Waterski-Rebel]

Yep, it caught a nerve because I have to deal with da_n zebra mussels.

With Zebra Mussels you can pick up their eggs and if they dry out and then are re-intoduced to water they will hatch out. A fish and game guy told me this so it might slso be a scare tactic.

Thanks for backing up point.

I was told by the ranger at one of our only lakes that do have the zebra mussels, that only the adults can live out of water, the eggs and the babies are not that hardy. he also said they can only survive out of water for 10 or so days.

Who knows which person is correct, but I do agree we should do our best to stop the spread of them.

[andrzej77ff]

No insult taken, thanks for the heads up though. Happy Memorial day!!

[scoot18]

Does anyone know the current geographic range of these little critters? I'm sure it is possible everywhere, with boats that launch in various places. Just curious what the current area or areas of the country these little guys exist.

Anything in the eastern states?

Not trying to hi-jack the tread, since it was mentioned I am now wondering about it.