bowten

No feckin wonder there has been some well known names in the boating fraternity left this site,L.O.L.I will get mi calculator out and determine the ratio of little stones to big stones and their effect on air swirl in and around the bilge.Hopefully any of you who have used cast iron,pig iron or any other metal have suitably smothered it in an anti rust formulation .Having said that you could probably sell yer ballast to the Chinese for more than yer boats worth.My regards to yer and all the top boat fitters on this site.Next time any of yer are in Skipton ask fer the Boatman and have a look at a proper boat.Oh and for Gods sake sort yer battery calculations out and I mean real world calculations,oh no yer can't can yer he's left the site.Ian the Boatman.

Dont yer get alot of rattling when yer old engine is tickin over.

There is no sand in pea gravel sir a little dust perhaps.Pea stones are well rounded LITTLE STONES with little or no dust present and no active corrosion properties to damage steel.9 tons of ballast in a 10ft x 55ft shell spreads well and leaves plenty of space to add underfloor insulation.A boat I built several years ago had serious leak when the water tank breather became detached and every time the owner Paul filled his stainless steel water tank he also filled his boat.Some water fillings later the depth was such that he noticed the water had risen and reached the floor covering at the stern.We pumped out the water with no detriment to the drill pump and the LITTLE STONES and underfloor dried naturally within a few weeks.I went back to see his boat a few weeks later and placed my hand within the LITTLE STONES and lo and behold it was dry and even warming to my skin.A bilge pump is used in a engine room and that,in modern boats,is separate from the main shell where ballast is lain.The whole idea is to have air pockets so that air can circulate.I came to this conclusion several boats ago after seeing the effects of concrete or cement slabs on steel.You have of course seen the results of steel reinforcement bars running through concrete structures i.e.road bridges.However please carry on with your own preference.Long live the LITTLE STONES and get rid of the big stones.Regards Ian.

Large slabs of concrete paving are more likely to shift in those circumstances.

Pea gravel.Small rounded pebbles as used on drive ways.Solid stone pebbles which give air spaces between each pebble.The pebbles are about the size of the tip of your little finger,are you with me now.

How does solid stone hold water?and if air can circulate then water can and does.

As I said,if you already have an inverter it makes sense to use a 240volt domestic fridge.

Botany Bay,near Chorley

I have always used pea gravel,small very hard stones and round in shape.These are easy to move around when ballasting,use a shovel.Because of their shape (round)air can easily circulate.They do not retain moisture.

I would agree with this, I have had 5 widebeams off them over the years and they are pretty good for the money.

Hi there,this is only my 2nd post so I would like to say hello to everyone.I remember reading an article in one of the canal magazines several years ago where they had tested 12volt fridges against 240volt and an inverter,they ran the test over several weeks and came to the conclusion that there was very little difference in battery usage and if you were already using an inverter it would make sense to buy a 240 volt fridge.Regards Ian

Diesel Do Pysorph

Hi there,buy a new one....................if the new one does the same you have leak,if not then you can renovate the original pump at your leisure.

Well I have just read this and I think it is very relevant to the seller.Good piece of common sense.Ta.

Pee in the sink lad.