Bulkhead ballast decision.

[lowangle al]

For my next project, to improve the trim of my Bell Seliga Tripper I plan on removing the foam from the bulkhead and replacing it with either pea gravel or lead pellets. Because the bulkhead is small I'm leaning heavily towards the lead pellets but I'm concerned they might be toxic. Any thoughts ?

 

[Chip]

Rather than break up the bulkhead, I suggest you consider adding a concrete skid plate on the bow. Concrete is a versatile material. There’s an annual concrete canoe race held among college engineering teams. Your concrete skid plates will add ballast and hull protection at the same time, while leaving the floatation chambers intact for safety.

 

[MrPoling]

Yeah, I've been thinking about adding ballast too. My Yellowstone solo is a little light and twitchy. I've got this nice granite countertop cut out. It should really help with stability.

Any ideas what kind of glue I should use to glue it in?

 

[Glenn MacGrady]

to improve the trim of my Bell Seliga Tripper

You should just get a trimming bow paddler. This guy is available:

 

[Alan Gage]

I'm going to be completely honest and blunt here but that's about the dumbest thing I've ever heard.

I always carry an empty dry bag when I think I might want some ballast and it's a simple matter to fill it with water, roll the top shut, and place it where needed.

Oh, I just realized what day it is. Never mind.

Alan

 

[clemency]

You could drill some holes in the hull just abaft the bulkhead. That would let water into the bow and help trim the boat that way.

 

[GeoBoy]

Wait until tomorrow to decide

 

[stevet]

You got me…forgot what day it is

 

[Gamma1214]

Great thread Al! (it seems that retirement has left you with too much time on your hands LOL)

 

[lowangle al]

I'm glad you guys got it, for a while there I was afraid it was going to go over like a lead balloon, or more accurately a lead bulkhead.

 

[Gamma1214]

I'll admit that my first thought was along the same lines as Alan's: "WTH... WHY!?..."

Then my desire to be helpful kicked in and I was thinking that wheel weights are coated so toxicity is moot and used ones are cheap...

Finally, I realized what day it was. Well done.

 

[Alan Gage]

I'll admit that my first thought was along the same lines as Alan's: "WTH... WHY!?..."

In my defense: Al does paddle a tandem canoe from the rear seat so this cockamamie idea didn't seem too out of character.

Alan