where to get lead for my boat?

Malibuwake · Newbie Joined: 21 Jun 2005 Posts: 19 City: Raleigh

I want to put lead in the back of my boat instead of more ballast...... 1 question..... were do i get the lead?.. any help?

pooser · Wakeboarder.com Freak Joined: 13 Jan 2003 Posts: 4738

if you are looking fo it cheap, tire stores. you should be able to get it for next to nothing if not for free. if you don't want to work on making weights they sell lead weights at online boardshops.

Dip_Krew · Posted: Mar 05, 2006 6:58 pm Post subject:

u could always melt down 10000000000 sinkers? to i 10lb block lol!

SuprAir · Outlaw Joined: 10 Jul 2003 Posts: 180 City: Columbus

Another possibility is a local shooting range. They should literally have TONS of lead onsite, although it will probably be mixed in with some brass and a few other non-lead materials.

That's the avenue I took and plan on making canvas bags to hold the weight in 20ish lb increments, which should make them easy to move and easy to fit most anywhere on the boat.

buckshot · Outlaw Joined: 22 Apr 2005 Posts: 213 City: Charlotte, NC

suprair - I was thinking about asking around at a shooting range as well. Couple questions....

1-Did you have to collect the lead yourself or did they have it in containers already?
2-How much did you pay for the lead?

SuprAir · Outlaw Joined: 10 Jul 2003 Posts: 180 City: Columbus

1 - they had it in 55 gallon drums already, so you don't have to collect it yourself.

2 - originally they told me it would be around 8 cents/lb, which is cheap as heck (even though it's mixed with brass and some other stuff). However, they didn't have a good way to get it from the 55 gallon drums to my 5 gallon buckets, so they told me if I scooped it myself I could have it at no charge. They handed me a really small shovel, I shovelled for about 20 minutes and walked out with some good, inexpensive ballast.

Keep in mind, it's some UGLY stuff. The lead is in smashed up and flattened pieces of all sizes, plus there's weirdo shaped brass in there and an occasional plastic shotgun wad, but for 8 cents/lb (or free, in my case) i dont think you can beat it. I plan on hiding it in bags, anyway.