Ballast

[aphay]

Whilst looking for something completely different I came across this: http://www.punchdeckingstore.co.uk/steel-punchings-ballast-p-83.html which I thought could be of interest

 

[Bobobolinsky]

Just a caveat, it takes far more resin than you think to encapsulate the ballast. We have used PU. Talking barrels.
I have a source of chrome ore, from wash out pits

 

[Tranona]

I would be very wary of using these. They were common in the 60's and 70's as a cheap way of ballasting GRP hulls. I used them in a Sadler Sea Wych.

However, if the GRP gets damaged and water gets in (as happened to my boat after I sold it) the mess is indescribable. The subsequesnt owner got the boat for virtually nothing, spent weeks chipping out the rusty mess and re-making the keels.

 

[DownWest]

I liked the bit where ' You could spread them over the entire area of the hull and then encapsulate with resin'. Not sure if they are saily types. Might help against pyrates tho.
A

More to the point, even sized lead shot only occupies 63% of the space allowed. Makes casting look attractive.

 

[mylo]

For something that is ultimately scrap, £275/ton undelivered is a bit pricey. Scrap steel is around £100/tonne when you weigh it in. Its not even that cheap an alternative to lead.

 

[DownWest]

Lead from the recovery yards is around €2 / kg at the moment here. They are still pulling it out of the streets, but I need to find the right guy to talk to....

 

[monkey_trousers]

and the amount of resin you'd pour will get quite toasty hot as it cures.... especially with all that nice steel to conduct the heat

£275 a ton, plus many many gallons of resin per ton and your not far away from lead prices (of which you'd need less cos its heavier!)

 

[Rum_Pirate]

Philip Walwyn melted and cast the 11.5 ton keel for KATE (a 1908 12 metre gaff rigged design by Alfred Mylne) in his back yard.

The keel is attached with 18 bronze keel bolts

http://www.1906-twelvemetre.com/

 

[aphay]

As I said - was actually looking for something else at the time. I didn't give it any real thought as I'm a long way from needing ballast at the moment but appreciate the comments.

 

[DownWest]

and the amount of resin you'd pour will get quite toasty hot as it cures.... especially with all that nice steel to conduct the heat

£275 a ton, plus many many gallons of resin per ton and your not far away from lead prices (of which you'd need less cos its heavier!)

Oh dear, can't help myself... Pendant. Cos it's heavier.. per ton...? As for the resin, lots out there that cure slowly without the heat build up.

Off to bed before I get strung up.
A

 

[oldharry]

Like Tranona, a friend had to spend half a season digging boiler punchings out of his boat after water reached them and rust started blowing the keel apart. He ended up having to use a ligthweight pneumatic drill! Wouldnt touch the stuff particularly at that price!

Or will the supplier acccept liability for the damage caused to boats by his product?