how many of yall use lead? ballast questions SN2001

orzech

well, you see, i am thiinking of running my pumps under my rear seat to each side sac. THen i was thinking of melting a crapload of lead to fit under the rear seat also. Having the pump for each sac in each of the side comparments under the seat. And then in the middle have all the lead bricks melted and under the seat. This way i will have all the weight i need and still keep the rear passenger seating in out tiny little ski nautiquea. I want a total of about 500 lbs. this is all be done in a ski nautique 2001.

I was wondering

1. techniques used to melt the lead.
2. is a tire shop the only place to get lead.
3. how do you design/make "lead bricks"
4. how many lbs should i make each brick
5. would i be able to get 500 lbs and 2 pumps underneath the rear seat

I searched until my eyes were red but couldnt find the right answers.

orzech · Posted: Mar 08, 2004 6:55 pm Post subject:

woops..... MODS can you please move this to the boats and accessories????

Lusty · Newbie Joined: 13 Feb 2004 Posts: 19 City: The Dalles

Hey, i just melted some led myself actually yesturday. We got our led from the tire factory we knew a guy so he said we just had to pay him in beer. But if not the buckets will probably be around 20 bucks. Each bucket of lead weighs in at about 100 to 120lbs. There will be alot of trash in it so you will have to pic all of it out. Make sure the led is dry if water gets in melting like it explodes. When melting it just go ahead and melt the led in a those things you cook turkeys in. Just put that on the flame and put the led in the pot dont worry it wont stick to the pan. 1 bucket of led will melt down in it just fine, when it is all melted there will be a bunch of clips floating on top, those are from the tire weights and are made of a different metal, just skim all of that stuff off the top and put it in a bucket, the led should be really clean looking and looking like water now. Just turn off the stove and let it cool right in the pan no need for water to cool. In about 30 min you can just turn over the pan and pop it out. IT will come out as a 100lb brick the size of a browny backing sheet. So they are very small but weight alot. Easy way to make ballast. Make sure you do it in a well venalated area because led gas is poison! And out of water water = explosion. So make as many led bricks as you want.

boarditup · Addict Joined: 01 Dec 2003 Posts: 731 City: Allendale, MI

I do not recommend you plan. Here is why:

1. The lead would likely overload your trailer.
2. Your towing capability would be severely dimished with the tongue to light. You would fish-tail and emergency stops would be dangerous.
3. Smelting lead is hazardous to your health. You will need a properly fitted full face respriator with P-100 cartridges to be safe.
4. The boat is designed to float if swamped. With the lead it will become a bottom decoration very soon.

If you do go lead, keep the weight total to less than about 200 lbs to avoid the problems above. The reason for the water weight is to avoid those problems. It can be emptied.

There is a guy out of MI that sells steel shot in bags for your purpose. It would be less expensive and easier to handle. It is coated to avoid corrosion.

Best wishes in whatever you decide to do.

Maestro · Posted: Mar 08, 2004 7:04 pm Post subject:

I never really gave much thought to making my own lead weights, but I just starting working at an automotive garage and today I was working with tires - found a huge stash of old tire weights - talked to my boss and he said I could take them - so I'm gonna give it a go and see how the stuff turns out. Hopefully it will work nicely!

Lusty · Newbie Joined: 13 Feb 2004 Posts: 19 City: The Dalles

You do not need all of that stuff like the face mask just be in a well vented area it will not kill you, i have melted lots of lead. Also the 100lb bricks i was talking about you do not have to keep them in the boat the whole year, you can just haul them in your truck/ car and then place them in the boat at the launch.. so you dont have to worry about all that stuff happening. Its a cheep way to get weight, i say its very doable!

Lusty · Newbie Joined: 13 Feb 2004 Posts: 19 City: The Dalles

Just follow my steps if you want 100lb bricks you do not want to make them more then that because you could not carry them at all... So just find a turkey pan and it should be about half full when 1 bucket of led is melted, clean off the scum on the top with a spoon metal of course. Then just let it dry in the pan, pop it out 30 min later and you have yourself a 100 lb brick

orzech · Posted: Mar 08, 2004 8:36 pm Post subject:

boarditup, i know what i want to do, just not sure how to get there.

1. I only trailor my boat 2 times a year. the other times thw boat will be on a lift
2. When trailoring the weight will NOT be in the boat
3. I alleady have a hoist that is rated high enough to carry the extra weight
4. this is the best solution to save some space but still add rear ballast. Otherwise you are still tripping over the rear and side sacs. with this solution you can hop over the side sacs and hav the rear seat completey open.

ontrider · Ladies Man Joined: 30 Jul 2003 Posts: 16491 City: Russia

Maestro, my mechanic has been saving them all winter Laughing

I'm probably gonna go get some pvc and make 50-75 pound weights.

JimCampbell · Newbie Joined: 25 Feb 2003 Posts: 9 City: Sydney NSW OZ

This may help http://www.rutuonline.com/html/wheel_weights.html

Cheers

boarditup · Addict Joined: 01 Dec 2003 Posts: 731 City: Allendale, MI

Then your only situation will be safety when swamped. If you add weight, then you will need to add foam or another material. Water weighs about 56 lbs per cubic foot. You could simply add some additional foam in the number of cubic feet to balance the lead in unused void spaces to increase your safety margin. This sounds picky, but I am a former USCG member and have been on a lot of sinkings with overloaded boats (mainly fishing).

The lead fume will not immediately kill you. It does, however, build in your body and does not naturally leave. It bio-accumulates. It only makes sense to protect yourself. In all cases, keep yourself upwind of the molten lead.

If the lead will be movable, be sure to properly coat it. I have seen the vinyl tool handle coating applied to the lead to keep it from oxidizing. I would also recommed you cast in a handle to make it easy to move about.

Whatever your decision, think it through. We need as many people out there riding as possible. A boat on the bottom can ruin your whole day.

Funkster · Posted: Mar 09, 2004 9:08 am Post subject:

orzech, lead is a good way to weigh down your boat. It is easy to switch a brick to one side or the other to get the wake dialed in just right. I used to weigh mine down with tube sand. I have sacs now due to the fact I have to trailor to get to a lake but it is alot harder to get the wake dialed in just right. I have a few friends that have lead bricks(80lbs) and they bought them from a local shop and then they coverd them with the same color carpet that is in there boat,it looks good.

orzech · Posted: Mar 09, 2004 11:35 am Post subject:

Funkster, i just plan on hiding the lead under the rear seat so this way i have all my rear seating still available with foor room. Then doing auto ballast witht he side sacs. I dont want to have to touch a single pump this year out on the water. I got sickof doing that last year.

i am thinking of doing some bricks with fold own handles or osmething so i can stack then side by side and still rest the rear seat on them or osmething. This way there is no high points that stick out and i will be able to move them if needed.

how would you coat these bricks in a plastic or osmething like that?

orzech · Posted: Mar 09, 2004 11:39 am Post subject:

boarditup, i am not worried about overloading my boat too much, i have run it with 1600 lbs and 4 people no propblem.

also, i am going to be running about 500 in the rear under the seat, 350's on the side or maybe even upgrade to 550's and then 200 in the bow in lead.

the boat will be on a lift so trailoring is not a problem. Will the weight at both ends of the boat cause a dramtic ammount of added stress. Like the effect of snapped a pencil by putting pessure on each end?

TubeNazi · Soul Rider Joined: 27 Aug 2003 Posts: 368 City: Dallas

We use lead weights in the boat. A friend made some "small" 40 lb(I think) weights. He does browse this forum; i'll tell him to holla back.

They are excellent. I especially like them for wakesurfing, you can shift all of the weights to one side relatively easy to create the "perfect" wake.

domslude · Posted: Mar 09, 2004 1:06 pm Post subject:

My room mate and I have been melting the lead into pvc pipes. A pipe 9 inches long and 4 inches in diameter makes a 50 pound weight. It works great, and with the pvc covering you dont' have to worry about any impurities in the lead rusting your carpet. do it outside and the fumes will be fine and not bother you. Now don't go sucking all the air right by the fumes, but you know what I mean. Here's what my weights look like.

Dom

http://forums.wakeboarder.com/viewtopic.php?t=19623

orzech · Posted: Mar 09, 2004 3:49 pm Post subject:

i dont want PVC tubes b/c i lose a lot of valuable space i need under my rear seat. I want bricks that i can stack up and next to each other so i get all the volume possible

Funkster · Posted: Mar 09, 2004 9:10 pm Post subject:

orzech,I'am not sure. Maybe you can use that "spray on" bed liner. It is pretty thick stuck. I would just throw some carpet over them myself,its seems alot easier.

wpnauty · Newbie Joined: 28 Aug 2003 Posts: 7

Lead is the only way for a 2001, if you are not in tow. If you are, throw it in the back for your truck. I made 12 plates ranging form 55 to 107 lbs. I made a wood mold and poured the lead in the mold with a square peice of wood at the top for a handle. The best covering is yet to be determined. Right now I'm using carpet, but make sure you use stainless steel staples. I looked into Rhino liner, but it will not apply to lead. I'm considering silcone, but it might be more trouble than its worth. I will probably just stick with the carpet. I have some pics if you would like to see. Hollar!

orzech · Posted: Mar 10, 2004 2:23 pm Post subject:

some pics would be awesome. What are your plans for your mold. Like how big. This would be a hug help. Thanks a lot

orzech · Posted: Mar 11, 2004 7:00 pm Post subject:

any pics?