The keel is the first thing you build and has been what gave me the most problems. My keel was not straight after epoxying it togeather. I cut one side of the keel and moved it till it was straight. Then I tappered the plywood on both sides of the cut and filled it with epoxy and 8-10 layers of fiberglass cloth. Not sure this is the best fix, this is my first build, but it seems to have worked and seams strong.

ROGER

I think it was just a little optical illusion and a little me worrying.  I took the clamps off and flipped it over and put an eye down the length.  It looks perfect to me. 

Here is where i'm at now.  I have been giving the pieces some time to set up then carrying them into the house to cure so i can turn off the heat in the garage. 

[IMG]http://i146.photobucket.com/albums/r280/shyland83/P2040012.jpg[/IMG]

[IMG]http://i146.photobucket.com/albums/r280/shyland83/P2040013.jpg[/IMG]

Ok apparently i can't post pictures on this forum.  I guess i'll find a new place to document my build.  I'll post a link when i get it figured out.

  I haven't figured out how to post pictures on this sight yet, have to wait for the granddaughter to come by. You'll be ready to pour lead in your keel soon. A five gallon bucket full did mine and the cast iron tea pot, found on the inter net, worked great.

Yeah I plan on pouring lead this weekend.  Luckily my dad had a huge box of lead hiding in his garage, i think i'm all set.  Does anyone know if it matters if some of it is a lead alloy, mixed with zinc or tin? Some of what i have is pure lead some is not, don't know how to tell the difference.  I can't imagine it matters much?  Zinc and tin are half the density of lead, but i think car weights are a mix also and that seems to be what most people use so i figure i'm good. 

I plan on starting a thread on wooden boat forum eventually, i'll let everyone know.

To post pictures, click on the icon with the tree at the bottom of the reply box, then paste in the url (link) without the <img> tags:

http://i146.photobucket.com/albums/r280/shyland83/P2040012.jpg

I also set the size to 400 x 300...

Car weights are a lead/antimony alloy to make them harder. I think that the percentages are 97 to 3, or something close. For ballast that will have threaded rods going through it, that would be an ideal alloy. For ballast which is completely contained within a keel box, it doesn't really matter.

As far as the zinc or tin goes, unless you have ridiculous amounts mixed in, it shouldn't matter from a mass perspective, and as long as it's permanently sealed from the water, corrosion shouldn't be an issue, either.

Laszlo

 

Thanks ron, thats awesome. 

 And thanks Laszlo, that makes me feel better.