Jerry did go to lead ballast. the ballast used is lead shot, the same product used in #6 or #8 shotgun shells. with the added description i agree with others that this is someones effort to ad trim ballast. if there is no more than about 50lbs of lead you should be fine. this is about the same as the weight i had on my M15 after i installed the electrical system (a group 24 battery weights about 50 lbs). another check is to put the boat in the water. look at how she is sitting. if she no more than a 'bit' bow down you are OK. the M15 isn't under-ballasted so what you want to do is assure the boat is not sitting off her lines. -- :: Dave Scobie :: former M15 owner - www.freewebs.com/m15-named-scred :: M17 #375 SWEET PEA - www.m17-375.webs.com
On Oct 6, 2014, at 6:55 PM, AM wrote:
http://icenine.smugmug.com/Sailing/i-fpFGP2J/0/L/M15%20ballast-L.jpg
Dave: You are correct - I misspoke... I meant to say forward most compartment (usually screwed shut). Take a look at photo in link. These are directly against bulkhead in the bow compartment. I've read that Monty's eventually went to lead ballast - is this what replaced all the little steel punchings? Or does this look added?
The boat sails well, but of course it's my first M-15 so I would not necessarily know if it's been mucked with.
Cheers, a