Centerboard Lead Ballast question

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Centerboard Lead Ballast question

Postby airmech on Wed Jun 02, 2021 12:08 pm

I poured the lead in the centerboard and it has some relatively large voids that appear to have happened to the lead gassing out. I will fill these with fairing compound before glassing.
My question is, I'm concerned that I may not have enough lead to sink the centerboard. I seem to remember some builders were punching another hole in the centerboard and adding more lead to the centerboard. I'm curious if this is a good idea?....especially now since I have not glassed yet.
Jon Edwards
Portland OR
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Re: Centerboard Lead Ballast question

Postby riverron on Sat Jun 05, 2021 6:53 pm

Not sure how big the voids are. Can you do a re-pour to fill the voids? That would probably be my first suggestion.

Thanks
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Re: Centerboard Lead Ballast question

Postby airmech on Mon Jun 07, 2021 4:26 pm

I did pour more lead in the voids, but that didn't work out too well. I would have to heat (soften) the whole thing first and I didn't want to do that. I removed the lead that I used to fill the voids and weighed it. It came out to about 10oz. I figured I probably have enough in lead in there as it is and went ahead and glassed the centerboard.
Jon Edwards
Portland OR
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Re: Centerboard Lead Ballast question

Postby Arjen on Sun Jul 18, 2021 9:45 am

As I read somewhere the lead in the centerboard is only to help lowering it.
I don’t think it is very critical. However if you find out that it doesn’t lower easily it can be a hustle to add extra lead afterwards.
If adding lead in lead doesn’t work well, I would suggest to make the hole a bit bigger and add the lead there.
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