mdxdm
05-19-2013, 06:27 AM
As I have stated months ago, I could not find lead locally in any form. So after some searching I learned that the keels on some sailboats are made of lead. I was able to pick up a free sailboat and give it a go. For anyone that is going to attempt to do this please learn from my mistakes.
I found the boat on craigslist, struck a deal and then had to figure out how to get it home. Let’s just say this has been a very odd and enjoyable adventure. I have never laughed and shook my head so much asi did on this journey.
To get the boat home I had one of many options, I would have to load it on a trailer at a boat ramp somewhere that much I knew so I modified a small boat trailer to "work" with a sail boat HUGE MISTAKE!!! After I finished the trailer I did not have much faith in it so I towed the sailboat to a ramp about 5 miles from my house. All I Can say is thank God it broke while I was at the ramp.
My brother holding on to the boat due to the fact he was laughing so hard.
http://i899.photobucket.com/albums/ac198/fishnub/lead%20casting/IMG953027.jpg (http://s899.photobucket.com/user/fishnub/media/lead%20casting/IMG953027.jpg.html)
http://i899.photobucket.com/albums/ac198/fishnub/lead%20casting/IMG_9269.jpg (http://s899.photobucket.com/user/fishnub/media/lead%20casting/IMG_9269.jpg.html)
So after this epic failure, I shoved the Boat back in the water and did what I originally thought I should do, use a car trailer. To put on perspective I fought my modified trailer for about 2 hours at the ramp trying to get the keel centered once it finally broke. I had it on the car trailer and home in about 30 min.
http://i899.photobucket.com/albums/ac198/fishnub/lead%20casting/IMG_1530.jpg (http://s899.photobucket.com/user/fishnub/media/lead%20casting/IMG_1530.jpg.html)
On to the funny of this epic adventure. ...As you can see the outboard motor mount on the sailboat is broken. I was blessed enough to have some good friends and family along for this trip. We set out on Jet Ski’s to pick up the boat and tow it to my local ramp. The sailboat came with an outboard motor, never have I laughed as hard as I did when it broke off the mount and went spinning into the river. (Yes it was running and full throttle at the time) Now I have something to hold against one of my best friends for the rest of our lives.
Once I got this boat home I began cutting it up in small sections to take to the local landfill
http://i899.photobucket.com/albums/ac198/fishnub/lead%20casting/2013-05-01_18-44-44_265.jpg (http://s899.photobucket.com/user/fishnub/media/lead%20casting/2013-05-01_18-44-44_265.jpg.html)
Top off with my littlest helper.
Got family to help chop it up
http://i899.photobucket.com/albums/ac198/fishnub/lead%20casting/2013-05-05_15-57-31_945.jpg (http://s899.photobucket.com/user/fishnub/media/lead%20casting/2013-05-05_15-57-31_945.jpg.html)
http://i899.photobucket.com/albums/ac198/fishnub/lead%20casting/2013-05-17_16-38-26_346.jpg (http://s899.photobucket.com/user/fishnub/media/lead%20casting/2013-05-17_16-38-26_346.jpg.html)
http://i899.photobucket.com/albums/ac198/fishnub/lead%20casting/2013-05-05_17-42-46_995.jpg (http://s899.photobucket.com/user/fishnub/media/lead%20casting/2013-05-05_17-42-46_995.jpg.html)
Here I am cutting away at the keel
http://i899.photobucket.com/albums/ac198/fishnub/lead%20casting/100MEDIA36IMAG0889.jpg (http://s899.photobucket.com/user/fishnub/media/lead%20casting/100MEDIA36IMAG0889.jpg.html)
And here is what all the work was for. About 600 lbs. of lead.
http://i899.photobucket.com/albums/ac198/fishnub/lead%20casting/2013-05-18_13-08-56_213.jpg (http://s899.photobucket.com/user/fishnub/media/lead%20casting/2013-05-18_13-08-56_213.jpg.html)
http://i899.photobucket.com/albums/ac198/fishnub/lead%20casting/2013-05-18_13-24-13_918.jpg (http://s899.photobucket.com/user/fishnub/media/lead%20casting/2013-05-18_13-24-13_918.jpg.html)
Was it worth it? YES
Will I do it again? YES
Thanks for looking
I found the boat on craigslist, struck a deal and then had to figure out how to get it home. Let’s just say this has been a very odd and enjoyable adventure. I have never laughed and shook my head so much asi did on this journey.
To get the boat home I had one of many options, I would have to load it on a trailer at a boat ramp somewhere that much I knew so I modified a small boat trailer to "work" with a sail boat HUGE MISTAKE!!! After I finished the trailer I did not have much faith in it so I towed the sailboat to a ramp about 5 miles from my house. All I Can say is thank God it broke while I was at the ramp.
My brother holding on to the boat due to the fact he was laughing so hard.
http://i899.photobucket.com/albums/ac198/fishnub/lead%20casting/IMG953027.jpg (http://s899.photobucket.com/user/fishnub/media/lead%20casting/IMG953027.jpg.html)
http://i899.photobucket.com/albums/ac198/fishnub/lead%20casting/IMG_9269.jpg (http://s899.photobucket.com/user/fishnub/media/lead%20casting/IMG_9269.jpg.html)
So after this epic failure, I shoved the Boat back in the water and did what I originally thought I should do, use a car trailer. To put on perspective I fought my modified trailer for about 2 hours at the ramp trying to get the keel centered once it finally broke. I had it on the car trailer and home in about 30 min.
http://i899.photobucket.com/albums/ac198/fishnub/lead%20casting/IMG_1530.jpg (http://s899.photobucket.com/user/fishnub/media/lead%20casting/IMG_1530.jpg.html)
On to the funny of this epic adventure. ...As you can see the outboard motor mount on the sailboat is broken. I was blessed enough to have some good friends and family along for this trip. We set out on Jet Ski’s to pick up the boat and tow it to my local ramp. The sailboat came with an outboard motor, never have I laughed as hard as I did when it broke off the mount and went spinning into the river. (Yes it was running and full throttle at the time) Now I have something to hold against one of my best friends for the rest of our lives.
Once I got this boat home I began cutting it up in small sections to take to the local landfill
http://i899.photobucket.com/albums/ac198/fishnub/lead%20casting/2013-05-01_18-44-44_265.jpg (http://s899.photobucket.com/user/fishnub/media/lead%20casting/2013-05-01_18-44-44_265.jpg.html)
Top off with my littlest helper.
Got family to help chop it up
http://i899.photobucket.com/albums/ac198/fishnub/lead%20casting/2013-05-05_15-57-31_945.jpg (http://s899.photobucket.com/user/fishnub/media/lead%20casting/2013-05-05_15-57-31_945.jpg.html)
http://i899.photobucket.com/albums/ac198/fishnub/lead%20casting/2013-05-17_16-38-26_346.jpg (http://s899.photobucket.com/user/fishnub/media/lead%20casting/2013-05-17_16-38-26_346.jpg.html)
http://i899.photobucket.com/albums/ac198/fishnub/lead%20casting/2013-05-05_17-42-46_995.jpg (http://s899.photobucket.com/user/fishnub/media/lead%20casting/2013-05-05_17-42-46_995.jpg.html)
Here I am cutting away at the keel
http://i899.photobucket.com/albums/ac198/fishnub/lead%20casting/100MEDIA36IMAG0889.jpg (http://s899.photobucket.com/user/fishnub/media/lead%20casting/100MEDIA36IMAG0889.jpg.html)
And here is what all the work was for. About 600 lbs. of lead.
http://i899.photobucket.com/albums/ac198/fishnub/lead%20casting/2013-05-18_13-08-56_213.jpg (http://s899.photobucket.com/user/fishnub/media/lead%20casting/2013-05-18_13-08-56_213.jpg.html)
http://i899.photobucket.com/albums/ac198/fishnub/lead%20casting/2013-05-18_13-24-13_918.jpg (http://s899.photobucket.com/user/fishnub/media/lead%20casting/2013-05-18_13-24-13_918.jpg.html)
Was it worth it? YES
Will I do it again? YES
Thanks for looking