[Public-List] What is the ballast bedded in?

[Gordon Laco]

Hello Adam - 

The glass above the iron casting isn’t intended to be watertight… its purpose is to keep the encapsulated casting down in position should the yacht assume an extreme angle of heel.   If you’ve got water coming up, that’s an indication that there’s damage to the exterior of the keel.  This is a common issue caused by striking rocks etc over the years of service.   Alberg 30’s can develop a crack down the centre of the ‘knuckle’ of the keel, the part down low where the keel would strike something.  

The cure is to grind away damaged lamination and repair with thickened epoxy and cloth held in place with waxed paper, cardboard and tape till it cures.  Messy, but not very difficult to do.

Traditionally tar was poured down into keel voids… we supply Jeffrey’s #2 for this purpose, also for laid deck seams in large vessels.  It comes in blocks which one chips off pieces as needed, melts then pours into the voids with an iron ladle.  It has rubber in the ingredients, so remains flexible.  It adheres, but not so much you can’t get it out if you have to.  


Gordon Laco
#426 Surprise
www.gordonlaco.com




> On Apr 24, 2020, at 6:49 PM, Adam Quenneville via Public-List <public-list at lists.alberg30.org> wrote:
> 
> Hi all,
> 
> Hull #581 here. 1975.
> 
> The fiberglass covering the ballast was compromised and leaking. It had been repaired previously but unfortunately the bond did not hold. I've removed the fiberglass and exposed the ballast/keel cavity.
> 
> The iron ballast is set in some type of sandy compound, which is wet with water and some oil. It almost seems like a clay and sand mix, but from what I've heard about other boats, some times vermiculite was used. I have come across a lot of vermiculite in my life, and none of it looked like what surrounds my ballast.
> 
> Does anyone know with certainty what was used to bed/set the ballast in the keel cavity in Alberg 30s?
> 
> I ask because the bedding compound (if we can call it that) is about 1" below the top of the ballast. I would like to fill it flush before fibreglassing over it.
> 
> If a direct replacement isn't available, can anyone suggest an alternative material? Either foam of topping/sand mix crossed my mind.
> 
> Many thanks,
> 
> Adam
> 
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