Ballast in Hartley South Seas
Ballast in Hartley South Seas
I have recently bought this boat constuction of this boat started about 1974 and it was launched about 1988 .In the constuction of the boat the 3500lbs of steel and concrete ballast was not added but the owner opted for lead ballast of which I still have to procure another 600 KG my question is what is the best way to secure this ballast. The ballast I have at present is in the form of ingots ,the next lot is going to be in lead shot.( by the way the boat has never had the mast stepped and has only had limited use as a motor boat).
Ron O'Neill...raoneill@chariot.net.au
Hi Ron, First of all the drawings did not show the use of lead as ballast, iron/steel set in plaster was described clearly. The solid ballasted area is part of the vessels structure. There is no advantage in using lead as the ballast in the South Seas. The stability and sea-kindly motion of the South Seas has been well proven at it's designed specifications. For you the problem gets worse, as you are also unable to successfully integrate the lead in a plaster mix, and further integrate the ballast mix in to the structure of the hull. The steel/iron is added when it has a film of rust so that it makes a good bond to the other materials in the ballst mix. Lead does not bond within a plaster mix. My recommendation to you is that you sell the lead, use the materials and their placement in the manner specified in the plans utilising a bonding agent to attain the adherance to the hull, and thus giving the hull it's designed strength characterics. As an unrigged motor vessel at the time of your purchase, she would have been adequately constructed, and loose lead ballast in the form of ingots would not be inapropriate. Regards
Colin Brookes...colb@xtra.co.nz
