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How to weigh a boat? #235583
08/02/11 07:14 AM
08/02/11 07:14 AM
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 267
Ocean Springs, MS
Capt_Cardiac Offline OP
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Capt_Cardiac  Offline OP
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Ocean Springs, MS
put it on a scale right? I've heard of a few methods (bathroom scales, truck scales). What is a reliable, reproducible method for getting an accurate weight?
thanks

cc


Capt Cardiac
Ocean Springs Yacht Club
Sailor
Nacra20 - Flight of Ideas #5
-- Have You Seen This? --
Re: How to weigh a boat? [Re: Capt_Cardiac] #235584
08/02/11 07:24 AM
08/02/11 07:24 AM
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 1,203
uk
TEAMVMG Offline
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TEAMVMG  Offline
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Balance the boat on a pair of bathroom scales
Take the mast down or wait for a windless day


Paul

teamvmg.weebly.com
Re: How to weigh a boat? [Re: TEAMVMG] #235593
08/02/11 09:49 AM
08/02/11 09:49 AM

M
MN3
Unregistered
MN3
Unregistered
M



I have also driven onto a truck scale (at a dump that my friend had a garage at) and then removed the cat from the trailer. i found out my cat was fat... very very very

Re: How to weigh a boat? [Re: ] #235599
08/02/11 10:55 AM
08/02/11 10:55 AM
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 3,224
Roanoke Island ,N.C.
Team_Cat_Fever Offline
Carpal Tunnel
Team_Cat_Fever  Offline
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Roanoke Island ,N.C.
The most accurate way is to get someone with class scales i.e. Dave Ingram (sorry Dave) and ply him with rum and cash and have him weigh it for you at his convenience, where he chooses.
There are a couple of folks on here with race car scales (same thing) that may do it also.


"I said, now, I said ,pay attention boy!"

The cure for anything is salt water - sweat, tears, or the sea
Isak Dinesen
If a man is to be obsessed by something.... I suppose a boat is as good as anything... perhaps a bit better than most.
E. B. White
Re: How to weigh a boat? [Re: Team_Cat_Fever] #235601
08/02/11 11:40 AM
08/02/11 11:40 AM
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 330
S
srm Offline
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srm  Offline
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Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 330
What level of precision are you looking for? It all comes down to the the accuracy and precision of the scales (load cells) you're using.

A high quality scale might have an accuracy of +/- .1%. If it's intended for a 5000lb race car, that would be +/- 5lb. Maybe that's good enough for you, maybe it isn't. I suspect a truck scale would not provide a sufficiently accurate reading for a 400lb catamaran. Same goes with using a couple bathroom scales. They may get you in the ballpark, but if you're looking to get within say +/- a pound, they're probably not going to cut it.

McMaster Carr has 1000lb capacity dial scales good to +/- 5lb for $1k, or a digital version good to +/- 1lb for $1800 just to put things in perspective.

Sailors love to talk about weighing boats, but without an understanding of the accuracy of the measuring equipment, the data is basically useless.

sm

Re: How to weigh a boat? [Re: Team_Cat_Fever] #235602
08/02/11 11:45 AM
08/02/11 11:45 AM
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 3,906
Clermont, FL, USA
David Ingram Offline
Carpal Tunnel
David Ingram  Offline
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Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 3,906
Clermont, FL, USA
They are no longer in my care (hurray!)


David Ingram
F18 USA 242
http://www.solarwind.solar

"Do or do not. There is no try." - Yoda
"Excuses are the tools of the weak and incompetent" - Two sista's I overheard in the hall
"You don't have to be a brain surgeon to be a complete idiot, but it helps"
Re: How to weigh a boat? [Re: David Ingram] #235608
08/02/11 01:47 PM
08/02/11 01:47 PM
Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 5,590
Naples, FL
waterbug_wpb Offline
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waterbug_wpb  Offline
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Naples, FL
pulley, rope and a few weights? How about a barrel of water (known volume)?


Jay

Re: How to weigh a boat? [Re: waterbug_wpb] #235611
08/02/11 01:54 PM
08/02/11 01:54 PM
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 1,152
tampa, fl
K
ksurfer2 Offline
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ksurfer2  Offline
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K

Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 1,152
tampa, fl
Originally Posted by waterbug_wpb
pulley, rope and a few weights? How about a barrel of water (known volume)?


Otherwise know as the Fred Flintstone method.


If your havin girl problems i feel bad for you son
I got 99 problems but my beautiful wife ain't one
Re: How to weigh a boat? [Re: ksurfer2] #235614
08/02/11 02:26 PM
08/02/11 02:26 PM
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 3,906
Clermont, FL, USA
David Ingram Offline
Carpal Tunnel
David Ingram  Offline
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That one made me laugh... just in time too!


David Ingram
F18 USA 242
http://www.solarwind.solar

"Do or do not. There is no try." - Yoda
"Excuses are the tools of the weak and incompetent" - Two sista's I overheard in the hall
"You don't have to be a brain surgeon to be a complete idiot, but it helps"
Re: How to weigh a boat? [Re: David Ingram] #235618
08/02/11 03:21 PM
08/02/11 03:21 PM
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 3,293
Long Beach, California
John Williams Offline
Carpal Tunnel
John Williams  Offline
Carpal Tunnel

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Posts: 3,293
Long Beach, California
"What else floats in water?"


John Williams

- The harder you practice, the luckier you get -
Gary Player, pro golfer

After watching Lionel Messi play, I realize I need to sail harder.
Re: How to weigh a boat? [Re: John Williams] #235619
08/02/11 03:27 PM
08/02/11 03:27 PM
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 72
B
BadLatitude1337 Offline
journeyman
BadLatitude1337  Offline
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B

Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 72
very small rocks no wait a duck?

Last edited by BadLatitude1337; 08/02/11 03:28 PM.

Open20NA 1337 FOR THE WIN!!!
Re: How to weigh a boat? [Re: BadLatitude1337] #235620
08/02/11 03:35 PM
08/02/11 03:35 PM
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 12,310
South Carolina
Jake Offline
Carpal Tunnel
Jake  Offline
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Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 12,310
South Carolina
Witches? No...wait, they sink.


Jake Kohl
Re: How to weigh a boat? [Re: Jake] #235623
08/02/11 03:49 PM
08/02/11 03:49 PM
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 1,203
uk
TEAMVMG Offline
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TEAMVMG  Offline
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Posts: 1,203
uk
turds?


Paul

teamvmg.weebly.com
Re: How to weigh a boat? [Re: TEAMVMG] #235624
08/02/11 03:57 PM
08/02/11 03:57 PM
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 271
Atlanta, Ga
BLR_0719 Offline
enthusiast
BLR_0719  Offline
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Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 271
Atlanta, Ga
testes?



Re: How to weigh a boat? [Re: John Williams] #235628
08/02/11 04:46 PM
08/02/11 04:46 PM
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 890
Dunedin Causeway, FL
David Parker Offline
old hand
David Parker  Offline
old hand

Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 890
Dunedin Causeway, FL
Quote
"What else floats in water?"


"They all float down here." Pennywise

Re: How to weigh a boat? [Re: John Williams] #235634
08/02/11 05:37 PM
08/02/11 05:37 PM
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 127
Rock Hill,SC
KevinRejda Offline
member
KevinRejda  Offline
member

Joined: May 2007
Posts: 127
Rock Hill,SC
Witches!!!!


Kevin Rejda
Rock Hill, SC

Re: How to weigh a boat? [Re: KevinRejda] #235640
08/02/11 07:51 PM
08/02/11 07:51 PM
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 267
Ocean Springs, MS
Capt_Cardiac Offline OP
enthusiast
Capt_Cardiac  Offline OP
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Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 267
Ocean Springs, MS
yep, that's what i thought. I expected a serious discussion of how to accurately weigh a catamaran. We have a responsibility to have a proper measurement to maintain consistency in our sport and you make jokes.
Ha! This is funny. This just adds so much to the argument that no matter what you set a weight for a class it doesn't matter. the ability to measure the weight is too variable. The weight is dependent on the manufacturer and their reputation to weigh and report it accurately.
note: i only responded with the hurt feelings routine to get your attention. I just want to know how much my boat weighs. I have no plan to weigh boats before races. in the Open 20 class i want to know how big your sails are and how long your boat is. lets race!!!!!!


Capt Cardiac
Ocean Springs Yacht Club
Sailor
Nacra20 - Flight of Ideas #5
Re: How to weigh a boat? [Re: Capt_Cardiac] #235642
08/02/11 08:25 PM
08/02/11 08:25 PM
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 699
SE Pa. or Chesapeak Bay
HMurphey Offline
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HMurphey  Offline
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Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 699
SE Pa. or Chesapeak Bay
At our YC we have two hoists .... the best would be to borrow/aquire/purchase a "loadcell" of a suitable range & accuracy (Mr SRM is quite correct in his analysis/comments) ...hang it on the hoist ... make up a bridle/harness ... and pick the boat up. (This is basically the set-up they had at the 2007 Hobie TheMightyHobie18/17/Youth/Womans North Americans in Geneva NY ... worked nice!!!)

Harry
H18Mag/P19MX

Re: How to weigh a boat? [Re: Capt_Cardiac] #235643
08/02/11 08:37 PM
08/02/11 08:37 PM
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 12,310
South Carolina
Jake Offline
Carpal Tunnel
Jake  Offline
Carpal Tunnel

Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 12,310
South Carolina
Originally Posted by Capt_Cardiac
yep, that's what i thought. I expected a serious discussion of how to accurately weigh a catamaran. We have a responsibility to have a proper measurement to maintain consistency in our sport and you make jokes.
Ha! This is funny. This just adds so much to the argument that no matter what you set a weight for a class it doesn't matter. the ability to measure the weight is too variable. The weight is dependent on the manufacturer and their reputation to weigh and report it accurately.
note: i only responded with the hurt feelings routine to get your attention. I just want to know how much my boat weighs. I have no plan to weigh boats before races. in the Open 20 class i want to know how big your sails are and how long your boat is. lets race!!!!!!


The F18 scales with four measurement pads wired back to a main processing unit is very accurate. If I recall, it's well within 1/10 of a lb.


Jake Kohl
Re: How to weigh a boat? [Re: Jake] #235646
08/02/11 09:20 PM
08/02/11 09:20 PM
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 3,969
B
brucat Offline
Carpal Tunnel
brucat  Offline
Carpal Tunnel
B

Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 3,969
To echo the others above, I've seen two basic types:

Four load cells, placed under the fore and aft of each hull, connected back to a central display.

One load cell, hanging from a winch on a frame (an old steel swing set works well).

As mentioned, weigh the boat with the mast down. Be sure to include all boat equipment (sails, blocks, tiller), empty the hulls of water or other gear, and remove all removable gear (tramp bags, etc.).

Putting this weighing gear together is somewhat of a PITA, so I would not suggest bothering unless you have reason to suspect the weight is WAY off, and you intend to race at a major regatta where the boat will be weighed, and you need to make corrections in advance. Otherwise, just sail it and get it weighed at a major regatta when the time comes.

Hope this helps.

Mike

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