Pouring lead for added rudder weight

[richg99]

My 13 yr. old grandson got a small sailboat for Christmas. It has a plywood rudder. The rudder works OK but it still wants to float up sometimes.

Today, we got some lead wheel weights and melted them down. We drilled a hole in the rudder; tapered the edges with a chamfer bit; and melted lead.

I did find out that most of the newer weights are NOT all lead. Many wouldn't melt at all with the propane torch that I had. We had enough lead ones to allow us to finish the project, though.

regards, richg99

 

[fool4fish1226]

Nice work

 

[Jim]

Nice job! When is the sea test?

 

[richg99]

We hit 22 degrees Saturday morning. Cold for Houston TX.

But, we will be back near 80 degrees by Thursday. My guess is he will be sailing this coming weekend.

richg99

 

[lovedr79]

NICE! i wish i would have thought of that when i was a teen, my now ex-wife had a "sunfish" sailboat where the keel would rise up.

 

[RiverBottomOutdoors]

Pouring lead into wood could be dangerous. Any moisture content and boom! Liquid lead to the face.

 

[Johnny]

Rich - what size of sailboat are you talking about?
a RC model or one that he can actually ride in ?

 

[richg99]

It's 12 feet long. Smaller than a sailfish in width and height.