Where are you guys getting lead for your boats?

[WakeSlayer]

If you put lead in your boat, doesnt't it negate your positive upright flotation?
Dave

Using lead definitely has it's risks. Lead will help run you to the bottom in the event of a catastrophe. Water will not. Water ballast becomes neutral when submerged.

[JWAT]

Using lead definitely has it's risks. Lead will help run you to the bottom in the event of a catastrophe. Water will not. Water ballast becomes neutral when submerged.

I never really understood this argument. Yes, I agree that water ballast is neutrally bouyant when submerged. But, if my fat sacs are completely submerged under water...so is my boat and it's going to the bottom of the lake no matter if the weight I have in it is lead or fat sacs.

The only downside I see to lead is the inability to tow it around if you tow your boat a lot. Other than that, lead is great because it takes up A LOT less space.

[WakeSlayer]

Don't get me wrong. I have plenty o' lead in my boat.

The boats have flotation foam in them when are built and as I understand it, they are required to float at the gunnel for 18 hours after a void in the hull, accident, etc.
Water ballast will not affect this, lead will.

Read this:

http://www.uscgboating.org/regulatio...n_part1_d.aspx