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 |
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