Closing the keel shouldn't present that much of a problem. I'll grind and taper the sides of the cuts and the sides of the pieces I've removed and then layer glass over them in narrowing strips unitil the correct level is achieved. Then it's just a matter of fairing with filler and a long board and that'll be done.
With respect to if I'll fill it to the top or not? Well, if I'm pouring shot , which is what I intend to do at this point, I wouldn't be able to fill to the top unless I actually went through the floor of the cabin. I REALLY don't want to do that. Also, I am going to send an email to Jerry and see how he felt about the 23's characterisitics and if he ever felt it would benefit from additional ballast. If not, there'd be not reason to add any extra weight other than what I have removed (with the exception of the 70lbs I want to add to make up for the weight of the swing keel being light) What I have considered doing is experimenting with casting a few ingots that would be correctly shaped to fit the contour of the keel. Then when I got to the top I could slide them into place from the "window" and seal her up. With the increased density of the lead I shouldn't have to fill it as high as it was filled with the steel to get the same weight, and the weight that I do install should have a lower CG. I really don't want to get into the "casting" business, though. I did, however, discuss it with the Hazmat supervisor at work yesterday and much to my surprise she said no problem! Huh? I thought for sure I'd get told NO way!. Go Figure. So I guess that concern was totaly unfounded. I'll continue to ponder this whole lead installation process and take as much input as I can get from all you guys right up to the time we start installing the lead. Nothing "cast" in stone (lead) yet! Thanks for all the suggestions, comments, etc. Keep em coming! Sean If I sealed her up right now I'd have the largest Montgomery dinghy ever built! Little hard to right when she went over though! _______________________________________________ http://mailman.xmission.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/montgomery_boats
