Happiness is a Warm Spool Gun

[Panope]

Lead melting/casting done.

Some cold shaping is needed. These tapered slabs where trimed with a saw to fit the forward most area of the keel. It is the only area of the keel with curvature. 160 pounds:



Those shapes fit in here:



Steve

[Panope]

I've spent a few weaks trying to dream up an elegant means of mechanically lifting the roughly 1500 pounds of lead up onto the boat.

Today, I got sick of thinking about it and just carried all the ingots up the ladder, one at a time.

A 95 pound lead slab:

[GILow]

Originally Posted by Panope

I've spent a few weaks trying to dream up an elegant means of mechanically lifting the roughly 1500 pounds of lead up onto the boat.

Today, I got sick of thinking about it and just carried all the ingots up the ladder, one at a time.

A 95 pound lead slab:

Strangely, this is close to my threshold where I say if it will require 100 iterations or more then it is worth TRYING to figure out if it can be automated. Of course, sometimes there just does not seem to be a simple automation process available.

[Matt Johnson]

Just cut the keel open and load from the side

Matt

[Panope]

Originally Posted by funjohnson

Just cut the keel open and load from the side

Matt

Not a bad idea, Matt.

About the same practicality as my alternate plan of digging a deep pit and backing the boat down inside so the gunwale is right at ground level.

Steve

[minaret]

No way to swing the main boom over the side and use the sheet tackle as a hoist? I often do this in the yard, usually only takes a few minutes to set up.

[Panope]

Minaret,

Unfortunately, the mast is not stepped. I do have the ability to step the mast myself, but it would have taken much more time than just walking the stuff aboard.

Steve

[rustypirate]

I had a similar decision to make when I started refitting my Bruce Roberts.
What I did was to get a small crane for a pickup truck bed like this one;
1/2 Ton Capacity Pickup Truck Crane with Cable Winch
and I extended the mast tube so that it could stand on the ground and still clear the deck with enough room:


The base is anchored into the ground and the top is fixed to the deck. I was able to lift the 200lb + generator with relative ease and you can see the basket I use for smaller heavy items.

[Panope]

Nice crane, Rusty.

Nice boat, too.

Steve

[Panope]

The metal is cleaning up nicely.

Ballast cover plates are starting to go in. I pounded a crude "pan" shape into this bay as it will be the low point of the bilge. Reason for the pan shape is that a small amount of nuisance water will remain here and my welds may not be completely water tight.

I am looking forward to having a bilge that drains properly and has a cleanable sump that I can reach easily.

Steve

Note: The cabin sole hangs from that motor mount flange.

[meatservo]

Your craftsmanship and skill are impeccable!






meatservo

[minaret]

Saw you last summer at PT around the beginning of August, blasting along in a stiff breeze headed S from town as I came in from the Straight. She sure is a beaut. Hope to see her again this season!

[Panope]

Originally Posted by meatservo

Your craftsmanship and skill are impeccable!






meatservo

Thanks, Meat.

Impeccable might be a bit overstated. Plenty of flaws, but I am happy with the results.

Steve

[Panope]

Originally Posted by minaret

Saw you last summer at PT around the beginning of August, blasting along in a stiff breeze headed S from town as I came in from the Straight. She sure is a beaut. Hope to see her again this season!

Sorry I missed you, Minaret.

Next time you are in PT, give me a shout.

I'll PM my contact info.

Steve

[Panope]

All lead has been reinstalled.

"Table Top" Epoxy:


Fiberglass cloth surrounds the lead:


3 forward most keel bays. 1400 lbs of lead and 4 gallons of epoxy:


I am VERY glad that job is over.

Steve