Hey guys,
Don't know if some of the other 23's were lead or not. A heavy duty magnet
should tell you, though.
I agree with everything the guys have already written on this. First, Bones
and Dave are correct. If everything is intact on the 23 (like the 17 and
15's) then no problem. I'd certainly leave it alone. The job that John, Theo,
and
myself did is totally do-able, but for me at least, it was NO fun. Second,
John is correct that Lead is expensive! I thought I was going to be able to
acquire "scrap" lead for next to nothing. In my case at least, that did not
happen. I ended up getting it from a cartridge company in Phoenix for about
$1/lb but that was a few years ago. Then you have to ship it or go get it. If
I'm not mistaken, when they opened up Theo's keel they found a combination of
lead ingots and steel punchings.
The one benefit I think I have obtained from replacing the steel with lead
is that concentration of the weight is lower and more compact, and I used the
extra room achieved to add some extra weight in there (after emailing back and
forth with Jerry M). I think Dauntless sails a little stiffer than some
other 23's we've been around, although I'm sure we suffer a little from that
in
lighter breezes. We sit a little lower in the water. It sure comes in handy
when it blows.
Not that it has anything to do with the ballast job, but I don't think I
have ever sailed a trailerable boat in heavier type winds that I felt so
comfortable on. She seems to love just diggin' her shoulder in an going. If we
get
overpowered she takes care of us while we get the sail plan changed and then
we are off and running again. I have read similar accounts from Mark up in
Oregon about he and Roberta pushing "Faith" through some pretty rough
conditions
up there.
Of course your question, Brian, leads me to wonder??? Have you located one
of the "missing 23's" ??? I hope so! (There's only about 5 left that we don't
know the whereabouts of) If you have I'd grab it! There was a run there for
a while where they were turning up quite a bit, but things have gotten
pretty quiet on the "available 23" market lately! Fred an Lily's '02 is for
sale
though in Tucson and I believe it is not only all lead, but if I'm not
mistaken it has a stainless centerboard trunk and a bronze swing keel, doesn't
it??
Let us know what you found!
Sean
M23 "Dauntless"
_www.havasumontgomerys.piczo.com_ (http://www.havasumontgomerys.piczo.com)
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