SO42.2 concrete ballast behind starboard bunk - Needed?

[jez]

While routing new pipes for an air-con unit, I have had the starboard saloon bunk apart on my 1999 SO42.2.

The void created by the bunk surface going back to the hull and the floor of the storage space behind the bolster cushion is filled with a black concrete ballast which looks factory fit.

My boat has a 3rd 120 litre stainless water tank as original fitment in the saloon bunk and I've always attributed the slight lean to starboard the boat has on this. (When I fill the tank the lean is obviously more pronounced)

My thought is that the ballast is there to level up boats that did not have this extra tank, and that its not needed in mine.

Does anyone know of any reason why I cannot just get rid of this seemingly useless weight?

Cheers

Jez

[MalcolmP]

Jeanneau certainly did fit "balancing" weights to some models. On my previous boat a 2001 SO34.2 there was a large lead weight on the starboard side, outboard behind the dinette.  As you correctly assume this was just to make the unloaded boat float approximately level, guess they did not account for the lack of this requirement when they fitted the 3rd tank

[jez]

Thanks for that Malcolm. Its going to come out next trip.