Question of Keels

[James ThomasParticipant @jamesthomas81838]

Is it possible?

[James ThomasParticipant @jamesthomas81838]

As you can see, I am building this fishing cutter, she is 1 Metre 10 cms long OWL.  I have poured moulten lead into the hull along the keel line. She still needs several kilos more as ballast. As I am a creaky ol’ Git that doesn’t bend like he used to, I want to make the ballast removable for transport of the boat from the lake side

 I thought of getting some lengths of 15mm square iron bar, cut to length of the original keel and bolt on underneath. I reckon 3cms deeper will do the trick. will this be OK? I do not want a hang down keel, as I sail from a sloping beach with no deep water close in. Ideas anyone?

[TelstarParticipant @telstar]

Hi James  As another creaky old one,  have you thought of useing square steel tube instead of bar, (speedframe is about 3/4″ sq. )  then fill it with lead, it will give more ballest for the same space,  I used a similar method on a schooner useing the metal tube as the bottom of the keel and the lower rudder pintol (think thats what its called)

 

have fun Tom

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