Adding weight to keel

[Guest]

I have a 32' yacht with a cast iron fin keel. The keel weighs 1070kg which I find
is too light for the boat/rig. I would like to add more weight at the base
of the keel, a wing or torpedo shape. Does anybody know how I could do this or if
there are companies that do this type of work, metals to use/not use etc.

 

[salamicollie]

You need to be a bit careful and talk to the yacht designer or a naval architect as the keel/balast/hull/mast/rigging are designed with certain assumptions - increase the ballast changes these and can cause (lots) of additional strain on the mast and rigging...

 

[castaway]

I agree with the caution mentioned before, however if you do go ahead, it is possible to cast your own keel or ballast weights if you are practical, and happy to spend a while doing it.

I cast a 700kg lead fin keel for a 29ft yacht using a cast that I had made from ply wood and a furnace fabricated from water tanks... All worked very well but there are dangers involved!!

On another occasion I used Iron Brothers in Wadebridge Cornwall. They cast me a 1300kg keel to a pattern plug I made.

I should think that casting a pair of saddle tanks to fit yr keel should not be too hard as long as you think it all out first. You might find more probs with the attachment. ie drilling yr existing keel.

If you do take this course I may be able to offer some further amateur advice on a PM.

Regds Nick