Lead weight at rudder post Cal 39

Well I've come across something that I've never seen before. while removing the thru-hulls for the cockpit drains (the ones that exit right above the rudder), I noticed the forward one was sitting in a bed of lead shot. The whole mess was fiberglassed in. I can't for the life of me figure out what lead is doing at the rudder post. Any ideas?

Trim ballast. Joe On 9/24/2012 11:23 AM, Greg vanDalen wrote: > > > Well I've come across something that I've never seen before. while > removing the thru-hulls for the cockpit drains (the ones that exit > right above the rudder), I noticed the forward one was sitting in a > bed of lead shot. The whole mess was fiberglassed in. I can't for > the life of me figure out what lead is doing at the rudder post. > Any ideas? > > > > > > No virus found in this message. > Checked by AVG - www.avg.com <http://www.avg.com> > Version: 2012.0.2221 / Virus Database: 2441/5288 - Release Date: 09/23/12 > -- *Joe DeMers - owner* Sound Marine Diesel LLC SoundMarineDiesel.com <http://www.soundmarinediesel.com/> *phone & fax (860) 666-2184*

Joe, Interesting. I was wondering if that is what it could be, but it only looks like about 50 lbs or so. I will glass over it and leave it be! Thanks, Greg --- On Mon, 9/24/12, Joe DeMers <je… [at] mindspring.com> wrote: From: Joe DeMers <je… [at] mindspring.com> Subject: Re: [Cal_Boats] Lead weight at rudder post Cal 39 To: Ca… [at] yahoogroups.com Date: Monday, September 24, 2012, 10:02 AM Trim ballast. Joe On 9/24/2012 11:23 AM, Greg vanDalen wrote: Well I've come across something that I've never seen before. while removing the thru-hulls for the cockpit drains (the ones that exit right above the rudder), I noticed the forward one was sitting in a bed of lead shot. The whole mess was fiberglassed in. I can't for the life of me figure out what lead is doing at the rudder post. Any ideas? No virus found in this message. Checked by AVG - www.avg.com Version: 2012.0.2221 / Virus Database: 2441/5288 - Release Date: 09/23/12 -- Joe DeMers - owner Sound Marine Diesel LLCSoundMarineDiesel.com phone & fax (860) 666-2184

Greg, /Marlyn/, my 1878 Cal 2-39 #18* had* a large slab of lead shot and resin just forward of the rudder post. I'm guessing that it was added, apparently by the factory, to achieve proper longitudinal trim. I estimate that it was about 400 pounds. Over the years I asked many Cal 39 owners (earlier and later models) if they had similar ballast; no one did. Marlyn floated low in the stern; about 1" below the top of the bottom paint. Having added a radar tower and larger than stock batteries, I figured that I no longer needed the extra ballast. Last year I bought a double circular saw and cut throught the resin layer (fortunately only the top 2" was resin saturated; there was loose lead shot below). She still sits low in the stern but not as bad. I considered replacing the plastic cockpit drain through hulls with proper seacocks when I had the bottom done last year. I couldn't figure a way to fit them in. The plastic through hulls with no good way to close them in case of failure still bothers me. Wooden plugs will interfere with rudder movement. I know of one Cal 39, /Zalika/, modified to have oversized 2" cockpit drains led through the stern. Is that where you are leading your drains? Regards, Duane Knize S/V /Marlyn/ 1979 Cal 2-39 #18 On 9/24/2012 8:23 AM, Greg vanDalen wrote: > > Well I've come across something that I've never seen before. while > removing the thru-hulls for the cockpit drains (the ones that exit > right above the rudder), I noticed the forward one was sitting in a > bed of lead shot. The whole mess was fiberglassed in. I can't for > the life of me figure out what lead is doing at the rudder post. > Any ideas? > >

Duane, I'm planning on putting them just to port and starboard of the rudder post (just above the water line). I wasn't planning on ball valves because it is such a low risk installation. I need to measure everything first, but in the mean time my wife just glassed over the old holes and we will epoxy over the top area for now. Eventually we will get a proper lower rudder bearing, but in the mean time this will get us back in the water. Thanks for the information on the lead. At least I know where to remove some weight some day! Greg --- On Mon, 9/24/12, Duane Knize <kn… [at] san.rr.com> wrote: From: Duane Knize <kn… [at] san.rr.com> Subject: Re: [Cal_Boats] Lead weight at rudder post Cal 39 (Greg) To: Ca… [at] yahoogroups.com Date: Monday, September 24, 2012, 3:22 PM Greg, Marlyn, my 1878 Cal 2-39 #18 had a large slab of lead shot and resin just forward of the rudder post. I'm guessing that it was added, apparently by the factory, to achieve proper longitudinal trim. I estimate that it was about 400 pounds. Over the years I asked many Cal 39 owners (earlier and later models) if they had similar ballast; no one did. Marlyn floated low in the stern; about 1" below the top of the bottom paint. Having added a radar tower and larger than stock batteries, I figured that I no longer needed the extra ballast. Last year I bought a double circular saw and cut throught the resin layer (fortunately only the top 2" was resin saturated; there was loose lead shot below). She still sits low in the stern but not as bad. I considered replacing the plastic cockpit drain through hulls with proper seacocks when I had the bottom done last year. I couldn't figure a way to fit them in. The plastic through hulls with no good way to close them in case of failure still bothers me. Wooden plugs will interfere with rudder movement. I know of one Cal 39, Zalika, modified to have oversized 2" cockpit drains led through the stern. Is that where you are leading your drains? Regards, Duane Knize S/V Marlyn 1979 Cal 2-39 #18 On 9/24/2012 8:23 AM, Greg vanDalen wrote: Well I've come across something that I've never seen before. while removing the thru-hulls for the cockpit drains (the ones that exit right above the rudder), I noticed the forward one was sitting in a bed of lead shot. The whole mess was fiberglassed in. I can't for the life of me figure out what lead is doing at the rudder post. Any ideas?

Greg, 'Just a note about Cal 39's re drain outlet placement. In a following swell the water can come half-way up the transom; the diesel exhaust pipe is often under water. When heeling, at times, the leeward aft corner of the cockpit is apparently below the water line. We can get an inch or so of sea water in the low corner. This water enters through the drain. Regards, Duane On 9/25/2012 5:26 AM, Greg vanDalen wrote: > > Duane, > I'm planning on putting them just to port and starboard of the rudder > post (just above the water line). I wasn't planning on ball valves > because it is such a low risk installation. I need to measure > everything first, but in the mean time my wife just glassed over the > old holes and we will epoxy over the top area for now. Eventually we > will get a proper lower rudder bearing, but in the mean time this will > get us back in the water. > Thanks for the information on the lead. At least I know where to > remove some weight some day! > Greg > > --- On *Mon, 9/24/12, Duane Knize /<kn… [at] san.rr.com>/* wrote: > > > From: Duane Knize <kn… [at] san.rr.com> > Subject: Re: [Cal_Boats] Lead weight at rudder post Cal 39 (Greg) > To: Ca… [at] yahoogroups.com > Date: Monday, September 24, 2012, 3:22 PM > > Greg, > > /Marlyn/, my 1878 Cal 2-39 #18* had* a large slab of lead shot and > resin just forward of the rudder post. > I'm guessing that it was added, apparently by the factory, to > achieve proper longitudinal trim. > I estimate that it was about 400 pounds. > > Over the years I asked many Cal 39 owners (earlier and later > models) if they had similar ballast; no one did. > > Marlyn floated low in the stern; about 1" below the top of the > bottom paint. > Having added a radar tower and larger than stock batteries, I > figured that I no longer needed the extra ballast. > Last year I bought a double circular saw and cut throught the > resin layer (fortunately only the top 2" was resin saturated; > there was loose lead shot below). > > She still sits low in the stern but not as bad. > > I considered replacing the plastic cockpit drain through hulls > with proper seacocks when I had the bottom done last year. I > couldn't figure a way to fit them in. The plastic through hulls > with no good way to close them in case of failure still bothers > me. Wooden plugs will interfere with rudder movement. > > I know of one Cal 39, /Zalika/, modified to have oversized 2" > cockpit drains led through the stern. Is that where you are > leading your drains? > > Regards, > Duane Knize > S/V /Marlyn/ > 1979 Cal 2-39 #18 > > On 9/24/2012 8:23 AM, Greg vanDalen wrote: >> Well I've come across something that I've never seen before. >> while removing the thru-hulls for the cockpit drains (the ones >> that exit right above the rudder), I noticed the forward one was >> sitting in a bed of lead shot. The whole mess was fiberglassed >> in. I can't for the life of me figure out what lead is doing at >> the rudder post. >> Any ideas? >> >

My plan was to cross the drain lines so that the starboard drain exits on the port side and vice-versa. I don't want to obstruct access to the rudder quandrant, but also want to make sure the thru hulls are low enough that they drain well. I'm heading out there today to do some sight lines to see where the best location is. It may well be that I install new ones right where the old ones were! Greg --- On Tue, 9/25/12, Duane Knize <kn… [at] san.rr.com> wrote: From: Duane Knize <kn… [at] san.rr.com> Subject: Re: [Cal_Boats] Lead weight at rudder post Cal 39 (Greg) To: Ca… [at] yahoogroups.com Date: Tuesday, September 25, 2012, 5:31 PM Greg, 'Just a note about Cal 39's re drain outlet placement. In a following swell the water can come half-way up the transom; the diesel exhaust pipe is often under water. When heeling, at times, the leeward aft corner of the cockpit is apparently below the water line. We can get an inch or so of sea water in the low corner. This water enters through the drain. Regards, Duane On 9/25/2012 5:26 AM, Greg vanDalen wrote: Duane, I'm planning on putting them just to port and starboard of the rudder post (just above the water line). I wasn't planning on ball valves because it is such a low risk installation. I need to measure everything first, but in the mean time my wife just glassed over the old holes and we will epoxy over the top area for now. Eventually we will get a proper lower rudder bearing, but in the mean time this will get us back in the water. Thanks for the information on the lead. At least I know where to remove some weight some day! Greg --- On Mon, 9/24/12, Duane Knize <kn… [at] san.rr.com> wrote: From: Duane Knize <kn… [at] san.rr.com> Subject: Re: [Cal_Boats] Lead weight at rudder post Cal 39 (Greg) To: Ca… [at] yahoogroups.com Date: Monday, September 24, 2012, 3:22 PM Greg, Marlyn, my 1878 Cal 2-39 #18 had a large slab of lead shot and resin just forward of the rudder post. I'm guessing that it was added, apparently by the factory, to achieve proper longitudinal trim. I estimate that it was about 400 pounds. Over the years I asked many Cal 39 owners (earlier and later models) if they had similar ballast; no one did. Marlyn floated low in the stern; about 1" below the top of the bottom paint. Having added a radar tower and larger than stock batteries, I figured that I no longer needed the extra ballast. Last year I bought a double circular saw and cut throught the resin layer (fortunately only the top 2" was resin saturated; there was loose lead shot below). She still sits low in the stern but not as bad. I considered replacing the plastic cockpit drain through hulls with proper seacocks when I had the bottom done last year. I couldn't figure a way to fit them in. The plastic through hulls with no good way to close them in case of failure still bothers me. Wooden plugs will interfere with rudder movement. I know of one Cal 39, Zalika, modified to have oversized 2" cockpit drains led through the stern. Is that where you are leading your drains? Regards, Duane Knize S/V Marlyn 1979 Cal 2-39 #18 On 9/24/2012 8:23 AM, Greg vanDalen wrote: Well I've come across something that I've never seen before. while removing the thru-hulls for the cockpit drains (the ones that exit right above the rudder), I noticed the forward one was sitting in a bed of lead shot. The whole mess was fiberglassed in. I can't for the life of me figure out what lead is doing at the rudder post. Any ideas?