What is the ballast ratio of my Hurley and what is the ballast made from? Also why does it heel over so much?
The displacement of the Hurley 18 was 1,100 kg. The ballast was 450kg giving a ballast ratio of just under 41%. Most fin or long keel Hurleys have a similar ballast ratio. However the boats aren t that beamy and so have a slightly low buoyancy ratio compared to modern flat-bottomed beamy yachts. The Hurley 18s that I have sailed performed very well but they are only 18′ and have a waterline length not much longer than a big dinghy. The Hurley 22 is stiffer; the 27 stiffer still and of course the 30 are stiffer still. The Ian Anderson yachts were inspired by the Folkboat but had slightly shorter keels to give better turning performance. Other Folk boat derived designs also heel a bit alarmingly as they lack buoyancy. No harm in that though. Other examples include the Contessa 26, Achilles, Twister, Varne 27 and Cutlass 27 etc. The Hurley 18 had several builders after the demise of Hurley Marine. Including Arthur Curnow Ltd and so knowing the exact material used for the ballast will be p
