Keel material?

[Dennis]

I have been thinking about making a new swing keel for my V-222. Ive thought about many materials, and thought about asking those who may be more in the know than myself! Could a viable swing keel be constructed from underwater concrete (Ive used it, and the cost is not that much more than reg.) with a metal welded frame for strength and to hold the weight of the pivot area? All just as long as the weight was maintained to the proper levels! A mold could be made from the original keel, and the frame submersed within the poured concrete! Just a thought!

 

[Dave M26D]

Interesting idea..but here's the rub

The weight per cu.ft. of steel and iron is between 400 and 483 lbs.The weight of concrete is around 137 lbs. So, your keel would have to be more than 3 times bigger to achieve the equivelant ballast.Now, you might be able to somehow come up with something like that if you were to incorporate lead shot in the mix. Lead weighs 700 lbs.Source: Machinery's Handbook

 

[John Dawson]

Find a small foundry

and get a solid castiron keel made if you don't have one already; its what the later V-222s had, and its the best.