Weight

[Seanp3]

Anyone have any good source for weight (lead) to add to your boat. I have two studs on the inside of my transom that would be a good spot to attach it. The local hardware stores don't seem to carry lead any longer. Any ideas?

[bill boyes]

Go to a dive shop they will have weights that Scuba Divers use.
or for raw lead try your local plumbing supply.

[Seanp3]

Thanks Bill. I'll look into that.

I also found about 15 lbs of lead I could melt down. Is there a safe way to melt it down and make a flat sheet out of it say 1/4 inch thick?

[David Mason]

Don't tell Ma, but you can melt it down in a frying pan on the stove.

A less painful method is to melt it down in a pot over a bed of coals from a nice bon fire. They make eletric heater elements that will do the jon I imagine. I know for duck decoy anchors you can buy a kit that melts lead and make your own decoy anchors.

Lead has a lower melting point than most any cooking pan or pot in the kitchen............

Best Advice is above. Use dive weight. You can find ankle weights in 1 - 5 increments at your local sporting store. They use them in areobics. The bag has five zippered openings, and you can have up to five filled for 5 pounds. I think they make them larger as well. Use these, and you can move the weight around in your boat to where it is best suited.

[one eight-w]

Contact a roofing supply company near you. Some sell sheets that are used in commercial applications. That is where I got my last sheet. It was roughly 30"x30". Then I found beer and lead is now not an issue.

[jphii1]

I use lead shot. You can buy it at any sporting goods store that sells reloading equipment. Just put the amount you need in a bag and duct tape it. I have a couple of battery boxes mounted that allow me to move it around depending on conditions.

[bill boyes]

Don't tell Ma, but you can melt it down in a frying pan on the stove.

A less painful method is to melt it down in a pot over a bed of coals from a nice bon fire. They make eletric heater elements that will do the jon I imagine. I know for duck decoy anchors you can buy a kit that melts lead and make your own decoy anchors.

Lead has a lower melting point than most any cooking pan or pot in the kitchen............

Best Advice is above. Use dive weight. You can find ankle weights in 1 - 5 increments at your local sporting store. They use them in areobics. The bag has five zippered openings, and you can have up to five filled for 5 pounds. I think they make them larger as well. Use these, and you can move the weight around in your boat to where it is best suited.
Be sure to throw the frying pan away. Lead is TOXIC Remember all the fuss about lead in paint and ceramic food containers.

[Cameraboy]

Anyone have any good source for weight (lead) to add to your boat. I have two studs on the inside of my transom that would be a good spot to attach it. The local hardware stores don't seem to carry lead any longer. Any ideas?

Sean, stop by Saturday and I'll show you what I do with the dive weight bags. If you need some weight, there's bound to be extra on the beach. I could drop 20 lbs myself :D

[Seanp3]

Sean, stop by Saturday and I'll show you what I do with the dive weight bags. If you need some weight, there's bound to be extra on the beach. I could drop 20 lbs myself :D


See you there Mike. I think I've got a system worked out. I'll let you take a look and you can tell me if it looks safe. I just don't want 20 lbs coming lose and tearing a hole in the bottom :eek:

[Ted March]

a hole in your head? Bottoms can be fixed!!!!

[Skoontz]

Hit a Discount Tire and ask them if you can get some old tire weights from them, either that or an old gas station.

[Winger Ed.]

I do alot of bullet casting, and scrounge Lead from the scrap yard, or as mentioned, places that work on tires.

If you want to mold something basic- it ain't pretty, it smells & smokes really bad, but will work-- is to make your mold from old and real dry wood. Make your mold, melt the lead preferably outside while staying 'up wind' of it , and pour it slowly into the mold all at once. You can get 3-4 castings from a wood mold before it sort of trashes out.

But be careful:
If the wood is wet, you can get a steam explosion that will throw that 500+ degree molten lead about 20 feet in all directions.

I dry my mold in the oven for about a hour at 250 to chase out any moisture.
Then, pour slowly, and watch that the mold doesn't make a bunch of hissing noises. If it does, stop there.

If you're only needing a plate 1/4 inch or so thick, you could just make a impression in the ground and put a steel or Alum. sheet metal plate at the bottom and pour it there. It won't stick to the steel or Alum., trim the edges with a saw after it cools, and it should do OK.

[oldalkydriver]

When I raced, I was pretty light. My grandfather gave me some old canvas bags. I soon learned to fill them with 'beach sand'. When wet (after a race) it weighed more then dry! Helped in 'A', 'B' & 'C' Hydro. Really helped out the few times I was able to run Torprahanian's 'F' runabout. Only weighed 160lbs then. Oh what I'd give for those days again. The best thing is you could place the weight where you wanted it during a race. Lots of times I put it by the steering wheel on a windy stretch, or throw between my feet going with the wind. Usually had three or four bags with 7lbs. each.:confused:

[Tomtall]

One of the larger lead suppliers in the mid west. The downside, shipping cost.:D

AMES Metal Prod. Co.
4323 south western blvd.
Chicago,Ill.,60609
Ph.# 773-523-3230

They offer 12"+12" lead sheets in varying thickness. Work good under the kneeling pads in hydros and runabouts.:cool:

Note: Lead is poisionous! Handle with gloves or clearcoat sheets to avoid direct contact.

[hydroc888]

Melting lead is very bad for your health . It can be done in a safe way . DONT I repete DONT breath the fumes . When the lead gets in your lungs it doesnt go away .Check the web to see what doctors have to do to to get the lead out of your system. Scary. If you are melting lead and can smell it and taste it it is going in your lungs. A fan on high, blowing everything away from you is just a start. If your kids decide to get down wind then its going in ther lungs. Lead is something that is necessary for boat racing but caution MUST be taken on how you work with it, Use your head , just like you would with any other substance you use while building a fine raceboat,just a safety thought .
Jack