Ballast ?

[wijnendael]

My boat needs ballast at the front, I have relocated everything that i can think of (fuel tank, water tanks, batteries etc) but still slightly lower at the back. As this will again alter as the fuel and water tanks empty can any one suggest what is the best to use to add more fixed ballast. May be a stupid question but are sand bags ok ?

 

[BrokerBen]

Pig Iron is often used, but I would suggest lead if you can get it as it's inert. I would say get some builders merchant scrap from roofing, and you'll have all the weight you can handle, in the smallest possible space /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

 

[Moody]

I have had sand bags as ballast in two of my boats. The latest for the last 6 years now. Seems to work fine.

I just got some 25kg ones from B&Q and sealed them in heavy duty black bags.

Neil

 

[wijnendael]

Thanks for the replies, I will try the sand bags as dont really know anywhere i can get hold of used lead here

 

[oceanfroggie]

Take a former labour deputy PM for a spin /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif

 

[wijnendael]

Cool suggestion OceanFroggie but they are harder to locate than the lead in Belgium !!

 

[Bajansailor]

I am just wondering if you do really need extra ballast.
You say that she is 'slightly lower at the back', but surely this is no bad attribute? Certainly a lot better than being too low at the front!

Could you perhaps post a photo of your boat, and / or a description about what type of hull form she has please?

 

[bobmay]

You can get lead from car tyre dealers they discard old balance weights and re-balance tyres with new ones.