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[bikerdude666]

where do you get lead ballast, took my boat out for the 1st time on sunday and it kept wanting to capsize so i had to fill a bottle of water and put that and half a brick in but it still wasn't properly stable.  My uncle said to get some sheets of lead to line the bottom of the boat to keep all the weight as low down as possible but he didnt say where to get it from.

cheers.

[Shipmate60]

Lead can be found in lead/acid Gel cell batteries.
Lead Flashing can be bought from builders merchants (but an arm and a leg now).
Plumbers replacing lead piping (but getting rarer).
Any lumps of cast iron or anything you can find that is dense and reasonably compact.
Even old 12 volt Gel Cells that are dead can be used and can be sourced from the local tip (sorry Recycling Centre)

Bob

[Popeye]

I use either:
* lead flashing molded into briquettes, or laid as sheet between frames or cut into small pieces (very tedious) ; the latter method is ideal where there are small compartments  into which the cut pieces can be poured and retained with automobile GRP resin.

*the best , though more expensive material , as far as I'm concerned is No. 6 buckshot which can be purchased from your local gunsmith in tubs of between 5 - 7kg. This stuff pours like water and is best resined in place to prevent it sloshing around in the bilges.

* also try your local tyre supplier for scrap wheel weights  though these will have to be melted down and made into briquettes before use.

[funtimefrankie]

I don't think you should consider using lead from batteries, unless of course you are using the battery complete.

Taking batteries apart for the lead is not the way to go.

[barriew]

You can also buy lead or steel shot from here - http://www.leadshotballast.co.uk/

Not cheap, but it is delivered to your door

Barrie

[Shipmate60]

Sorry,
I should have made it clearer.
Use OLD batteries, not remove the lead from a battery.
Thanks for that.

Bob

[Popeye]

Re Buckshot.

I bought my most recent 7kg keg of No. 6 shot for £10 a couple of years ago -  pricy but not outrageous considering how versatile it is.

Haven't got any idea what it'll cost now, though I expect to find out soon coz I need to re-stock.

[gwa84]

the best thing to use for me is if you go to your local dive shop you can get pelleted weights designed to go into mesh bags in a waits belt and its not that expensive

this kind of thing i use them for diving

http://www.mikesdivestore.com/1013/Lumb-Lead-shot-dive-weights.html?referrer=froogle&utm_source=google&utm_medium=froogle&utm_campaign=pid1013

[bikerdude666]

the best thing to use for me is if you go to your local dive shop you can get pelleted weights designed to go into mesh bags in a waits belt and its not that expensive

this kind of thing i use them for diving

http://www.mikesdivestore.com/1013/Lumb-Lead-shot-dive-weights.html?referrer=froogle&utm_source=google&utm_medium=froogle&utm_campaign=pid1013

thanks i didnt think of diving stores, found 1KG of lead on ebay for £4.10 so about £15 with postage for the amount i need, not bad!

[DickyD]

I use either:
* lead flashing molded into briquettes, or laid as sheet between frames or cut into small pieces (very tedious) ; the latter method is ideal where there are small compartments  into which the cut pieces can be poured and retained with automobile GRP resin.

 

I sincerely hope you didn't mean poured as you said. Should it not have said placed ?

[Islander1951]

That would be poured like rice, not as a liquid   

Edward.