Lead keels...
- Thread starter Brian D
- Start date
- Status
Lead is still the best for inside or outside
ballast. I think most keel boats still use it. It doesn't rust and it's a lot heavier than iron. Cast iron has been used on some production boats, but it's a lot harder to work with. You need to make a lot of keels to justily a production run at an iron foundry.
ballast. I think most keel boats still use it. It doesn't rust and it's a lot heavier than iron. Cast iron has been used on some production boats, but it's a lot harder to work with. You need to make a lot of keels to justily a production run at an iron foundry.
Baffling question, baffling responces...
I know I certainly haven't a clue about the components a builder uses to decide between iron or lead, BUT...there's a fleet of Beneteau First 42's in Chicago that race 'One Design' with the LK version tagged with a PHRF of 93 and the IK model enjoying a PHRF of 96. 'LK' = lead keel & 'IK' = iron keel. Same manufacturer, same boat, two different keel materials, 2 PHRF ratings and both racing within a 'One Design' fleet. Go figure. Not sure if this helps or muddies the water, but remember, I began by saying I haven't a clue. I know my little h28.5 was always been built with an iron keel and every season I have to deal with the 'smile' @ the keel to hull joint. Not a problem, just something that's dealt w/ pre-splash every season. Carry on!
I know I certainly haven't a clue about the components a builder uses to decide between iron or lead, BUT...there's a fleet of Beneteau First 42's in Chicago that race 'One Design' with the LK version tagged with a PHRF of 93 and the IK model enjoying a PHRF of 96. 'LK' = lead keel & 'IK' = iron keel. Same manufacturer, same boat, two different keel materials, 2 PHRF ratings and both racing within a 'One Design' fleet. Go figure. Not sure if this helps or muddies the water, but remember, I began by saying I haven't a clue. I know my little h28.5 was always been built with an iron keel and every season I have to deal with the 'smile' @ the keel to hull joint. Not a problem, just something that's dealt w/ pre-splash every season. Carry on!
I thought, but maybe "heard" wrong...
That lead was no longer allowed in keels because of environmental reasons. Maybe I am mixing up 'lead based products' with real lead. Is there a difference? The reason I ask is because this morning I saw an ad in Craig's List for boat disposals. That sailboats with lead keels are disposed of for free. Makes sense since lead is so expensive per pound. The guy would make a profit off the lead alone.
That lead was no longer allowed in keels because of environmental reasons. Maybe I am mixing up 'lead based products' with real lead. Is there a difference? The reason I ask is because this morning I saw an ad in Craig's List for boat disposals. That sailboats with lead keels are disposed of for free. Makes sense since lead is so expensive per pound. The guy would make a profit off the lead alone.
I thought, but maybe "heard" wrong...
That lead was no longer allowed in keels because of environmental reasons. Maybe I am mixing up 'lead based products' with real lead. Is there a difference? The reason I ask is because this morning I saw an ad in Craig's List for boat disposals. That sailboats with lead keels are disposed of for free. Makes sense since lead is so expensive per pound. The guy would make a profit off the lead alone.
That lead was no longer allowed in keels because of environmental reasons. Maybe I am mixing up 'lead based products' with real lead. Is there a difference? The reason I ask is because this morning I saw an ad in Craig's List for boat disposals. That sailboats with lead keels are disposed of for free. Makes sense since lead is so expensive per pound. The guy would make a profit off the lead alone.
You can cut a lead keel with a chain saw.
That's why the scrap boys love lead. Don't try cutting a cast iron keel with a chainsaw though. Type "lead keel" into the archives here and you will find some lengthy discussions on the differences.
That's why the scrap boys love lead. Don't try cutting a cast iron keel with a chainsaw though. Type "lead keel" into the archives here and you will find some lengthy discussions on the differences.
Hunter's Rep Said Lead +250%
...but they were going to stick with it. I would guess that's only for now; he also talked about how all the other components have also gone way up, as you'd expect for petroleum based material. RD
...but they were going to stick with it. I would guess that's only for now; he also talked about how all the other components have also gone way up, as you'd expect for petroleum based material. RD
Getting the lead out
Has anyone purchased a brand new sailboat and got hit with a lead surcharge?? As a battery buyer(I buy thousands), my prices went up 75 percent in one year. We transferred the costs to the customer. Boat manufacturers must be doing the same thing. For a 5,000 lb. keel, the cost increase was almost $4,000 from last years prices. Cant see how mfgrs. could hold prices. Iron may be getting used more in the next year simply because of costs.
Has anyone purchased a brand new sailboat and got hit with a lead surcharge?? As a battery buyer(I buy thousands), my prices went up 75 percent in one year. We transferred the costs to the customer. Boat manufacturers must be doing the same thing. For a 5,000 lb. keel, the cost increase was almost $4,000 from last years prices. Cant see how mfgrs. could hold prices. Iron may be getting used more in the next year simply because of costs.
I think the surcharge is the result of
environmental damage involved with mining and smelting and disposal. Probably soon old boats will be broken up for the value of their metals and then we may be able to buy used ballast. I don't know about lead loss on keels but we had lead lined tanks for the plating solutions that we used in the metal shop in the Air Force.
environmental damage involved with mining and smelting and disposal. Probably soon old boats will be broken up for the value of their metals and then we may be able to buy used ballast. I don't know about lead loss on keels but we had lead lined tanks for the plating solutions that we used in the metal shop in the Air Force.
Lead surcharge
My local Hunter dealer told me that efftive immediately Hunter is adding a lead surcharge to all of its prices. Reflects the massive price increase in lead over the past year. He tells me that the surcharge ranges from about $1000 to almost $7000 depending on the model. I saw an '08 36 sitting in his yard and the keel looked different from previous keels. Service Manager said that the Hunter 36 is now coming with a iron blade and a lead bulb to keep costs down. What with oil prices somewhere over $78 per barrell and the increasing costs of lead, the price of new boats will be even more unreachable for we middle class folks.
My local Hunter dealer told me that efftive immediately Hunter is adding a lead surcharge to all of its prices. Reflects the massive price increase in lead over the past year. He tells me that the surcharge ranges from about $1000 to almost $7000 depending on the model. I saw an '08 36 sitting in his yard and the keel looked different from previous keels. Service Manager said that the Hunter 36 is now coming with a iron blade and a lead bulb to keep costs down. What with oil prices somewhere over $78 per barrell and the increasing costs of lead, the price of new boats will be even more unreachable for we middle class folks.
lead
Sorry about the bad spelling. Need to check a post before I send it effective, "an" iron blade, not "a" iron blade barrel, not barrell sorry
Sorry about the bad spelling. Need to check a post before I send it effective, "an" iron blade, not "a" iron blade barrel, not barrell sorry
- Status