PS26 Variable Ballast options?

[Scott Dufour]

I'm not sure if this has been discussed on the forum before or not- I can't find anything in a search.

 

On Graham and Carla's B&B website, they've got this quote:

 

"The boat has been designed for variable draft/ballast.  Whether you need ultra shallow draft for creeping into hidden creeks and the minimum trailering weight, or a bit more stability for open water, the boat can be built to suit your specific needs.  The boat is not intended to cruise around the world and pass the Great Capes, but if you choose the deeper draft and greater ballast, it is a boat that will not mind being caught out in a blow - and you will not have to wait out the weather until that one perfect day!  It will not disappoint in light air and takes the heavy stuff on the chin."

 

I'm curious if anybody's looked into the two options.  My plans call for 700# of ballast in the keel.  What's the other option, and why might I consider it?  How much better draft would I get with a lower ballast? 

 

-Curious in Connecticut

 

 

[Howard]

Curious.......err Scott:

 

My plans actually have two different ballast references. On the Construction page, it is 700 pounds. On the Keel and Ballast page, it is 750 pounds. On the Keel and Ballast page, the deadwood portion appears to be two planks of 1 1/2" stock, plus maybe a 3/4" piece. The ballast half is 3 3/4". I am thinking the two options may be either 6" keel and 700 pounds or 7 1/2" keel and 750 pounds. Been meaning to talk to Graham about that myself.

 

I think I have that much lead, so if we are talking an extra 1 1/2" of draft, I would opt for the deeper one myself.

[Scott Dufour]

Hmm. I can change the weight of my boat by fifty pound based simply on what I ate last night.  If the stability is increased as much as Graham indicates in the write-up, I definitely agree with you:  I'll take the extra weight and another 1.5 inches of draft.

[GAP333]

Hello,

I am looking for a source to purchase lead. Any suggestions?

Thanks

[Howard]

Cheap lead may be hard to find. I got lucky when I found a guy with a wash tub full of wheel weights and several buckets of lead shot he no longer wanted. A year ago, commercial sources of lead ingots were $2+ per pound. Probably higher today.

 

Others might not agree, but I have it in the back of my mind that if a guy could build a boat, he could also salvage (recycle?) one. There are literally thousands of derelict boats strewn up and down the coasts and many of them will have at least 1,000 pounds of lead still clinging to the bottom of them. Beyond that, they may have all manner of cleats, blocks, pintles, gudgeons, anchors, etc. and other useful bits that might be put to use on another boat, not to mention some mahogany or teak trim still hiding around inside. For a true derelict that will never sail again, yards and owners (if you can find them) may be happy to see you show up. I'd check the legality of title, and have a plan for the carcass (chop saw and dumpster comes to mind), but if you solve that, it might work.

 

BTW, I would not limit my search to yards. I have observed these derelicts as far as 10 miles or more inland from large bodies of navigable waters. You see them hiding behind barns, under shade trees (sometimes with trees growing out of them). When I have asked about those, the answer has always been the same........."you can have it for free if you will get rid of it".

[Howard]

Hmmm.....it is actually less expensive now than what I was quoted last year:

 

http://www.zipmetals.com/Ballast-Weight-Lead-Ingot-500-LB_p_90.html

 

I paid 60 cents a pound for all mine, but had to melt down and clean up the wheel weights. I've got an additional $40 in propane to go with that.

[ptvansickle]

I bought the lead for my sailboat from a scrap yard at $.27/lb. It included a variety of lead products, but I had little cleaning to do.

 

Peter

[Scott Dufour]

So nobody's weighed in (see what I did there?) with knowledge of the variable draft, huh?  I know there's smartness somewhere out here...