Well I am trying to get this thing ready to turn over so I can get it inside the shop where it might stay a little dryer and warmer to continue the work. So paint is the next thing to do to the outside of the hull. I could just take it into the barn and do the painting later but it sorta makes sense to me to do this first.

Green.....

Making a lead ballast keel

I wanted to get a couple hundred pounds way down low in the boat since I am building the boast larger than the plans show. It will be considerably more buoyant and so will need the extra weight to sit down on her designed water line. Also this should help in giving a more comfortable and stiffer ride. Anyway I scored some lead in the form of large ocean type fishing weights ranging from 20 to 35 pounds each. I had a total of 168 lbs worth. I made a form in the shape that I wanted out of MDF (medium density fiberboard) and painted the inside with waterglass (sodium silicate) to help keep the molten lead from burning it up. Then I melted the lead in a large pot over the burner from my turkey roaster and ladled it into the form. Now I have this thing that weighs more than I can pick up sitting in front of my shop. Hopefully soon I can get a couple of strong young backs to help me get it into place on the boat so I can bolt it into place.

Melting the lead

The lead has been poured into the mold.

I used my router to flatten the surface of the lead casting.
Now all I need is some help to get it into place on the boat.
The slot in the middle of the keel is for the centerboard to pass thru
when it is lowered.