1/17/2022

Once we got the keel poured, I finished my days off and went back to driving. On my next days off which were over Christmas and New Years. Mike and I decided to set the ballast so that I could continue the fabrication. We used an engine lift to hoist it up and onto the hull so I can encapsulate it. Typically, this is done with the hull right side up, but I want to completely encapsulate it in fiberglass, and this seemed easier to do the way it is sitting. The first thing we had to do was tip the ballast out of the form which was surprisingly easy. Once we tipped it, it slid right out on to the blocks. Once we had it tipped out onto the blocks we threw some straps around the ballast and started to hoist it. We lifted it most of the way up and then we had to set it back down again because we had to shorten the chain in order to pick it up above the hull of the boat. We built a small rack out of 2x4s to set it on temporarily, because the lift wouldn’t reach out to where it actually set. From there we readjusted the hoist and picked it again and set it into place with blocks underneath it to release the chains from under the ballast. Once it was in place but on blocks, we used wood clamps to pick it up off the blocks and then set it down without having anything underneath it then we just use some pry bars to put it exactly where we wanted it.

This is where we started. The ballast is still in the form.
We have it flipped over, now what.
Close, now we have to get the blocks out.
I can’t believe that worked. clamped the sides with wood clamps and picked up on the clamps.
A little prying the heavy thing around and it’s in place.
Happy helper with all our fingers and toes. Thanks Mike for the help!

With the ballast in place, I ordered the stainless-steel bolts and nuts and washers to attach the ballast to the keelson. Then I will epoxy and glass the whole thing in place.