Big lead

[mmd]

Well, even this jaded old fart (well, semi-old fart; I don't want to take anything away from Dave Flemming <spurious jibe at my betters>) can suffer a bit of nervous anticipation. I've seen big ballast keels; I've busted my knuckles on big ballast keels, but in the near future I'll get to hang out while an MFB (that is M-F Big) ballast keel is poured. I just finished the drawings for the steel mould for a 14,500kg (32,000 lb) lead keel that is going to be poured in about two weeks. Twenty feet long, four feet high, almost two feet wide; a serious hunk of lead. I get to be on-site for the pour - biggest one I've ever seen up close in liquid form.

This should be interesting.

Damn, that's BIG!

[Dave Fleming]

Ach MMD, vee vil haf der details schnell, ver damt!

At your convenience if you please?

[mmd]

Jeeze, just 'cause I poke fun at yer chronological advantage, ya think I owe ya bunches of info, eh?

Whaddaya wanna know? :D

[Dave Fleming]

Like I really have'ta ask????

C'mon spill da beans ya skreech swilling Novi.

[mmd]

Oh, you silver-tongued devil! You sure know how to butter up, doncha?

The keel is for a 1927 W. Starling Burgess design of a 59-ft ocean racing staysail schooner called "Nina". I believe that the original is still sailing out of Florida, but I'm not sure of this. The client wants the boat to be an exact replica outside, but with a few more "creature comforts" inside than what was installed in the stripped-out racer that she originally was.

She is being built at Covey Island Boatworks out of strip-planked Douglas fir on laminated frames (I posted pics of her being planked a few weeks ago). Planking is now complete and deadwoods are being fabricated. Pete Tanner at Stand Fast Fittings over in Blue Rocks is fabricating the ballast mould with 3/8" steel CNC plasma-cut plates developed from my 3-D model of the hull.

The plan is to complete the hull & deadwoods, bring the casting mould to the yard and cast the ballast keel en situ, and haul the hull outside. A big mobile crane will pull the ballast keel out of the mould and sit it on chocks, then lift the hull, roll it over, and place it atop the ballast keel. The hull will then be hauled back into the shop for completion.

The good crew at CIB are booming right along on this project, and are pushing me to keep ahead of them with construction drawings. I sure do love the smell of all that fresh lumber when I walk into their shop. John and Larry and the crew are on their way to creating yet another floating masterpiece.

This is a pic of a model of the boat that the owner built to confirm his interior layout:

http://www.coveyisland.com/nina002.jpg

[Dave Fleming]

Oh m'gosh Burgess of Ranger and Rainbow as well as one of my earliest favourite designs NINA?

Wow, some project to be associated with.

So they are going to pour 27K+ of lead in house?
You have to take photos of that and the ingots prior to pouring too, please?

Again that is one sweet vessel, gonna check and see if Covey has a web site and if so what they might show on it about NINA.

Edited to add, yes they have some info and some few photos of the vessel but not enough for me,sigh.

Thanks MMD.
Did youse t'row a'way da cork from dat bottle of skreech fer gettin' rid of thim terrible vapors lad?

[ 09-13-2003, 12:47 AM: Message edited by: Dave Fleming ]

[mmd]

Well, my son, 'twasn't screech; 'twas Mr. Austin's finest, some o' dat Kaintucky bourbon wi' da Thanksgiving dinner on th' label, an' I has learnt not t' t'row th' cork away 'cause dat always hurts me noggin'. Sakes alive, I've even learnt to have a two-snort limit (most times) so's I kin perambulate in the moanin' - er, mornin'.

I'll keep takin' pics at the boatshop for ya.

[NormMessinger]

WOW! That has to be on honkin' big ladle to melt and pour that much lead in one shot. Or, is there a way to do it in several pours without getting cold joints?

You will post pictures, yes?

Oh, and I don't think Fleming is all that old. 'Course, everything is relative.

[paladin]

gee Norm..I didn't know youse and Fleming were relatives.....

[NormMessinger]

Yes, we are. You've no doubt heard about our famous ancestor, Lucy.

[mmd]

Oh, Jeeze! A pissin' contest over who is the most decrepit. :rolleyes: Whaddaya gonna do, have canefights or wheelchair demolition derbies? :D :D

[Dave Fleming]

Nah, he who has the most Medications wins!

<insert big wide grin here>

[Ian Wright]

Originally posted by Dave Fleming:
Nah, he who has the most Medications wins!

<insert big wide grin here>Not to upset a Union brother, but you show me yours an' I'll show you mine,,,,,,,,,,,,,, ;)

IanW.

[Dave Fleming]

Not to upset a Union brother, but you show me yours an' I'll show you mine,,ROFLOL!!!!!