Day 122

The time has come to put in the lead. Partially because we need to get that done before the plate can be put over top (of course! ) but also because we are tired of it being in the way!
Most of what we have is scrap, two large peices 800 and 1000 lbs from a crane counterweight, flat pieces from around chimneys, pipe and cable covering, wheel weights, and other odd chunks.
The rest, about 2400 lbs is ingots about 100 lbs each. Totalling to about 5600 lbs, the required preplaced amount before balance distribution once in the water.
Gena discovered that indeed a chainsaw is the best way to cut through large chunks of lead, after trying a circular saw, the grinder, even the plasma cutter! ( Messy splatter don't try it!! )

What she didn't count on was the crane weights were ribbed almost solid with 3" x 3/8" flatbar, hidden about 3" into the lead. Worse yet the bolt holes had a 2" flange of even thicker steel, yuk! Needless to say things moved very slowly. Our happy new little electric chainsaw, which had cut down 2 or 3 trees already, seemed to handle the lead with almost the same ease. That is until it hit the steel and it's blade became more dull each time, making it work harder, and harder. Sometime later, while cutting an ingot at the other end of the boat, smoke billowed out of it's motor and it died.
Luckily, Genas dad had given us his chainsaw which was exactly the same type. This may last but we are considering getting a gas model anyway!
The steel ribbing was cut out with the grinder and finally the big peices were becoming smaller. One peice we carried up was 270 lbs, our limit on the end of a rope. We then suspended it between us on a pole over the keel, and pulled the pole quickly though to allow it to fall in.
While Gena was cutting up lead, I was cutting up this stainless steel tank ( pic to right ) with the plasma cutter. It's mostly 1/8" and was 800 lbs of high grade SS perfect for building the water tanks out of.

Lead in the keel with shavings over top and in cracks
( approx 900lbs in here! )

Day 122:
10 hours -Cut up one lead chunk and put in keel. Cut up stainless for tanks...