by GreenLake » Thu May 03, 2012 4:18 am
A couple of bathroom scales should allow you to get some decent measurements. The total weight is less than double the maximum weight range of such scales, so the trick is to set things up so that each scale doesn't get the full weight.
I can think of a number of schemes.
Here's one: Support the transom on one scale, with a few shims so the boat stays upright. Place a 2x4 underneath the front 3rd of the boat (across). Mark the center and place the "keel" on the mark. Support one end of the 2x4 on a fixed point and the other end on the scale.
The total weight should be double the reading of the second scale plus the reading from the first scale.
If you can move the scale without disturbing the positioning of the arrangement, you should be able to use a single scale by doing the measurements in sequence in the two locations.
Just don't use the brand of digital scale we had in our house. After wowing everybody with it's apparent precision, it suddenly lost its brain and started first to read low, then to drift, and finally it amused itself by alternating random readings....nothing helped, so we finally gave it away to a good recycling program.
~ green ~ lake ~ ~