ballast.

[mike]

we have launched the boat!!! Mr Rat and Daniel TD5 were sadly missed this weekend as the boat was set up to carry 12 pasengers and we needed the weight! No offence.

we do need some lead shot ballast in waterproofand leakproof bags so that I can go out solo safely.

can you suggest any sources other than caldwell for the lead?

thanks mike

[Jono]

Local Church roof......?

I use Galv chain... and lots of it... in a "shit hitting fan" incident it also gives me the ability to anchor in about 100 meters depth..

[Simon B]

? x 25 litre drums of seawater?

[pettal]

How come ballast as I'd have thought an 8m rib would be plenty heavy enough to control??

[Jono]

Originally Posted by pettal

How come ballast as I'd have thought an 8m rib would be plenty heavy enough to control??

...even with my "little" 7m rib, if you put a ferkin great weight on the transom and have the seating towards the arse end you will find her a touch "nose light"... about 150Kg in my case....

[pettal]

Ah......point taken!

Glad I kept my console a fair way up the boat now as I do like a little play on my own! The bint reckons I'm suited to playing on my own (or was it with myself???)!

[Daniel TD5]

me and mr rat are not fat at all maybe we would have been the same weight
as four paying pasengers but we want a free ride

mike i have two meters of lead flashing removed from my vailant it quiet a weight you can hve it next time i come down

the best ballast on you boat would be from plastic jerry cans as the don,t
damage any thing if they bump about just fill them up with water and off you go

can you get any flexie water carryers in the front seat pods
try
http://www.bristolplasticcontainers....html#jerricans

see you soon

dan

[Ed the Duck]

Have used 59 litre Ortleib dry bags for holding water as ballast. They dont do any damage to the boat, and if they should come away when punching through a wave, arent likely to do break your crew. (they 'sploge' around things, rather than smashing them).

http://www.ryedale-rambler.co.uk/drybags.htm

When you are running with the sea, it's easy enough to trim the boat by empting the bags and folding them up. On days when you dont need the ballast, ideal for keeping stuff dry.

Only down side to having several black bags strapped to your deck is that customs seem to get interested.

Ed

[codprawn]

What's wrong with sand??? Pretty cheap really and can be dumped in the sea without too many concerns!!!

[Searider]

Surely a case where a bow tank would be well worthwhile fitting?

Having to ballast and then un-ballast the boat depending on load is a massive faff.