External balast keel on GATO?

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  • beeryboats
    Lieutenant Commander
    • Jun 2011
    • 124

    #1

    External balast keel on GATO?

    I'm thinking of adding an external lead keel to my GATO for added stability. You wouldn't even notice it unless you picked up the boat and looked. I've already covered the botton of the boat with lead seals used for tamper proofing. They are about the size of a pencil eraser with a hole for the wire to pass through. Very simualar to what most household electric meters have on them. I can't add any more without going up the sides of the hull.
  • He Who Shall Not Be Named
    Moderator

    • Aug 2008
    • 13390

    #2
    Eeee ... Yuck!
    Who is John Galt?

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    • beeryboats
      Lieutenant Commander
      • Jun 2011
      • 124

      #3
      Well, it did help a lot. A little too much. Very stable on the surface but sensitive to the keel being off center. To get a good surface trim I had to move the lead aft but then when diving she went stern first and sank like a rock. Thinking a little less lead further forward and foam below the waterline in the bow.

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